Niacin User Reviews & Ratings (Page 3)

• Jes...
• October 15, 2009

Niacin for High Cholesterol "I participate in a Niaspan clinical trial and take 2000 mg/day along with Zocor and Zetia. I'm 65 and have severe arteriosclerosis. This combination of drugs has made a dramatic difference in my cholesterol numbers. I find that I don't have the 'flushing' (actually more like BURNING) if I take the Niaspan EVERY night and follow the aspirin, applesauce, and wheat crackers technique. It's rather a hassle, but I think worth the trouble."

• che...
• December 27, 2010

For High Cholesterol "I've been taking 500 mg niacin tablets twice daily (morning and night) for 5 years to treat congenitally low levels of HDL. Over that time, my HDL levels have increased from 25 to 60, and triglycerides have dropped from 150 to 60. The niacin treatment has been so successful that I have managed to drop simvastatin (Zocor) from my regimen. I still get mild flushing symptoms occasionally, but it is a small price to pay for the great results."

• bab...
• March 19, 2013

Niacin for High Cholesterol "Woke up and felt like I was on fire. Skin was red, and my heart was pounding. Nauseated and very itchy. Calling my doctor in the morning. It is not worth it. This has happened twice, but this time it is worse. Feel very sick from it. My skin is so red."

• Anonymous
• September 19, 2011

Niacin for High Cholesterol "When major diet changes and exercise hardly changed cholesterol at all, I was started on 1500 mg Niaspan. I do experience flushing several times a month. Wake up hot and feel like I am burning up and itchy all over. If it delays another heart attack like 14 years ago, it is a small price to pay."

• Fod...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2021

For Niacin Deficiency "Niacin supplements have been miraculous in eliminating my symptoms. I had both psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety, and I also had skin issues. On the skin, I had a thick, scaly, darkly pigmented rash around my genitalia. Dark, scaly, pigmented skin is a classic symptom of pellagra that often manifests around the neck or hands. For me, it was around my genitalia. Two weeks on niacin, and the rash has completely cleared up. I also no longer suffer from depression or anxiety."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 6, 2012

For High Cholesterol "I started taking niacin for my high cholesterol about two years ago. I was taking 500 mg at dinner every day with no noticeable side effects for about a year. I decided to increase the dosage: 1000 mg at dinner time. My teeth began to bother me. I didn't make the connection at first. I never have problems with my teeth. I eventually figured out it was the niacin. I quit taking it and my teeth quit aching. Anyway, I wanted to put this out there for others that might be having this experience."

• Anonymous
• January 16, 2011

Niacin for High Cholesterol "Went on niacin @ 8000 mg fifteen years ago. Now on Niaspan at 2000 mg for the last five years. First medicine that has worked well with my body. My HDL stays in the 70s and total cholesterol under 120. Dosing time and other foods have to be managed to suppress flushing."

• Lol...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 29, 2018

Niacin for High Cholesterol "I took the maximum dose of Niaspan for over ten years. The drug raised the uric acid levels in my body and gave me horrible gout attacks and raised my blood sugar levels to prediabetic. Do not take this drug."

• Tra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 16, 2014

Niacin for High Cholesterol "Posted about a year ago here after I first started a 500 mg nightly regimen of Niaspan. For a while, it appeared as though I would not have the usual side effect of burning skin. However, the acid reflux I began experiencing began to worsen over time along with gastric problems at night. Then, as an active person who is involved in teaching cardio boxing classes, I began to experience weird feelings in my chest along with a more pronounced heartbeat during and after exercise. Felt like I swallowed a basketball at times. Also could not have any alcohol, beer, or wine while taking this. I decided to stop taking it in fear of creating an arrhythmia or stroke during my exercise, which also is my job. This is day one off of it and I feel better."

• lov...
• August 19, 2009

Niacin for High Cholesterol "I started on Niaspan for 2 months, 500 at night. I had no problems at all. I took an aspirin 1/2 hr. before, then ate a snack, cottage cheese, and never had flushing or anything. I was to take two 500 a night. But when I checked the price at Wal-Mart, they were $15.00 for a 30-day supply. I just bought the flush-free niacin, been taking them now for a week, and still no flushing or felt no different. I have no problems so far with them. As soon as I have my blood test again, I will let you know how they did for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2012

Niacin for Hyperlipoproteinemia Type IV, Elevated VLDL "I have been taking Niaspan ER 2000 mg for three months. I am scheduled to get my first lab tests to determine its effectiveness in lowering my elevated Lpa level and whether my liver function is okay. I have noticed that the medicine needs to be taken by 9:30 or 10:00 pm. If I take the medication too late in the evening, I still can feel the effects of Niaspan when I get up for work the next morning. I also noticed that taking it with water alone causes the symptoms to be much worse than taking it with a small glass of milk or snack. So I take it before 10 pm with a small glass of milk or snack, and there seems to be very few symptoms."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 15, 2019

"Niacin is good stuff for benzo withdrawal, though watch out to take after meal, and avoid if heart rate is already too high. Still, I take it while heart rate from the benzo withdrawal is higher than normal, throws the anxiety flat on ground, and erases the withdrawals for a short period, 3 hours. Just enough to kick it down from morning anxiety and depression. For fatigue, this is a godsend!"

• RJP...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 10, 2024

For Depression "For years, I have dealt with mild anxiety and mild to moderate depression (sometimes with suicidal ideation). I was reluctant to take traditional depression drugs due to the many side effects. I read an NIH report that niacin does seem to help some people. The scientific article stated a U-shaped relationship with niacin. The increased incremental amount of niacin you take helps relieve depressive symptoms, and the ideal dosage is 36.5 mg. When you start taking more than 36.5 mg of niacin, the relief from depression starts to go away. Too much niacin takes away the benefits of relieving depression. I can't find 36.5 mg, but 50 mg of niacin has been wonderful for me--no more depression! And this has been going on for several months for me. The only side effect is the niacin flush, which does not bother me in the least. Thank you, NIH and niacin!"

• Bra...
• May 6, 2022

For Hyperlipoproteinemia "In combination with a low-carb diet and intermittent fasting, I have been having a good experience so far. Keto will initially raise serum lipid levels, and this has become my “more natural” solution to that hiccup. I experienced flushing initially, but, for me, that subsided by the fourth day. I actually look forward to my next dose due to the feeling of calm and well-being I experience. Additional benefits seem to be that I have been sleeping deeper and longer and wake feeling rested. I’m not taking a prescription form-just a down-and-dirty supplement form."

• bew...
• February 13, 2011

Niacin for High Cholesterol "I've been on Niaspan for about 2 months, and it has been like a miracle medicine for my condition. I suffer from ulcers really bad on my fingers. Before starting the Niaspan, I had ulcers on every finger on both hands (very, very painful). I was on pain medications constantly, however, I'm now off the pain medications since last week. Ulcers are drying up tremendously. The flushing is awful, the burning and itching are hard to describe. I called my doctor, and he said we can try something else, but this is working, and I'm trying to hang with it."

• Coc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2019

Niacin "Can't tolerate niacin (flush), try niacinamide. It is as effective for schizophrenia and depression! My son weaned off Abilify/Lorazepam using niacinamide 3,000 mg a day, all after 2 weeks! My sister uses 500 mg 2x/day for long-standing depression, it is gone after 2 weeks! Truth: ecstatic!"

• Jer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2023

"Started taking 1 gram of niacin in the morning. The first few days, I felt "spaced out". On the fourth day, something happened to me. All at once, a sensation of immense relief, relaxation, and joy occurred. It was as if my nervous system and brain had been stuck my whole life and finally relaxed. My chronic sleep issues were instantly gone. My GI issues were corrected. Sense of smell increased, and vision became higher definition. It felt like all my cells started working in perfect harmony. Made me feel like I had been severely deficient, and it was corrected. This lasted a few days and then stopped. Everything reverted back to how it was before. All I know is that L-arginine would prolong the effect, and that IV infusion of acetylcysteine (NAC) seems to produce this same shift within me. Eventually, I'll figure this out..."

• Coc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2019

"Try niacin in the niacinamide form for schizophrenia. Niacin causes a flush, niacinamide does not. Son diagnosed with schizophrenia. Has been on Geodon, Invega, Abilify, and Lorazepam. Used Dr. Abram Hoffer's regimen: niacinamide 3,000 mg per day and vitamin C 3,000 mg per day. Half AM, half PM. Took 1 week with regular medicines (Abilify 15 mg a day and Lorazepam 1 mg 3 times a day), started decreasing the Abilify. Taking 1/2 of the Abilify for 1 week and then 1/2 tablet of Abilify every other day. Third week, cut the Abilify out altogether. Have to take at least 3,000 mg a day of the niacinamide (niacin) for optimal benefit. After 21 days of niacinamide, he was on no Abilify and 1/2 mg of Lorazepam 2x a day. Lowering that too. Has no compulsive thoughts or paranoia/hallucinations. Peace, no more depersonalization. Niacinamide in 1500 mg dosage."

• toc...
• October 16, 2011

For High Cholesterol "After two years of taking 1 g per day, I developed a rash; at first with itch, then it seemed to be like a very bad sunburn. Areas affected included ankles, legs, thighs, belly, and biceps. A trip to the doctor, I stopped taking and went home to lots of cool showers. After a week of walking around the house naked (just the touch of clothes caused burning and itching), the rash has begun to subside."

• Tik...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 16, 2019

Niacin for High Cholesterol "I have taken Niaspan 1000 mg for several years now. It has had great success in raising my HDL (from 31 to 39) and keeping my triglycerides low. The first time I took it, my heart rate went up to 160. I went to the emergency room not knowing what was going on with my heart, my heart rate came down in an hour. No problem since then, I take it with milk and mix it with cereal. I tried to stop it for six months and my HDL went low to 34 and my triglycerides went high to 203."

• Anonymous
• November 24, 2010

Niacin for High Cholesterol "Been taking time-release 2000 mg at night for three years now, don't know why it's so expensive, but it's the only thing that has ever raised my good cholesterol. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I do have the heat feelings, but can live with it. Whatever raises my good cholesterol is the best I can do, since it's so low!"

• Anonymous
• August 4, 2009

Niacin for High Cholesterol "After a few days of taking this medication, I was awoken in the middle of the night with the warm red rash on my abdomen, which was also extremely itchy. After 3 consecutive nights of the same reaction, I discontinued the medicine and called my doctor. He changed my prescription to another cholesterol medicine."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2021

For High Cholesterol "After 4 days only on flush niacin 500 mg x 3 times per day, I developed eye floaters. An ophthalmologist confirms I have floaters and some bleeding behind the eye retina. I’m devastated that my vision is impaired and I have this bleeding. I asked the ophthalmologist if the niacin could’ve been the cause, and she says it’s quite possible. I’m not a niacin basher, as I had purchased lots to treat my cholesterol. I vape nicotine, and I’m on a blood pressure med and olanzapine and Effexor following some serious stress in my life a few years back. Just be careful with flush nicotine, as it is implicated in causing 'niacin-induced cystoid maculopathy, a form of retinal swelling.'"

• bru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2021

For High Cholesterol "Niacin has caused depression for me. I was feeling fine mentally prior to taking niacin. I was taking it for long COVID symptoms, but now I feel extremely depressed. I was taking it for just over a week. Be wary, it can have the opposite effect!"

• Dal...
• September 28, 2013

For High Cholesterol "I've just started niacin. 250 mg daily for a week, now 500 mg. I'm concerned because it shoots my blood pressure up from 125/79 to 166/99 for the hour that the flush lasts. I take it with food at supper time. I get strong flushes about every other day."