User Reviews for niacin and niacinamide (vitamin b3)

My first review here because this stuff CAN be a miracle. Take it with Inositol (makes it flush-free), and be careful not to over do this as liver toxicity can happen! I was already on generic Lipitor, but not getting good results as my lipid profile was horrid. So-so cholesterol, but triglycerides of 700+ and I was recovering from an early age stroke. Niacin/flush free, with the small amount of generic Lipitor (that didn't work alone before), and I now have a trig level of 120. And cholesterol that is better/acceptable. I take two, high-concentrate Omega-3 fish oils (make sure it is at least 50% Omega-3)and one 500mg niacin flush free(400 niacin/100 inositol), twice a day. Once in the morning and again in the afternoon/evening. May have saved my life. Be careful not to overdo this though. I work in a lab and have seen my own liver enzymes (ALT mostly) climb if I take too much. Take it only twice a day!Read More Read Less

for skin irritation.

Using niacin (flush) with lysine and Vit C, and Cal/Mag drink (Ron Hubard), am able to physically feel periodic improvements in my circulation. Also take 2 heaped tea spoons cayenne pepper and mistletoe tea. Cal/Mag recently started, has sped up the improvement sensations.

I have taken Niaspan (prescription Niacan) for about two years. I started with 500mg and my doctor increased to 1000mg about 60 days later. I have had flushing on occasion and two very severe experiences with exteme itching. It was intollerable to the point that my legs would tremble uncontrolably. I have decided to stop taking this medication because the reaction was so severe.

I've taken niacin for nearly 5 years. Started w/250mg twice/day. Increased by 250mg as flushing subsided at each level. Now taking 1000mg twice/day. HDL up 50%, LDL reduced 50%, triglycerides now in normal range. No side effects except for flusing. MD advised not to take no flush, it does not have the chloesterol reducing effect.

I have taken Niacin for many years because of cholesterol out of the range thought by the majority of doctors to be healthy. I have read that only niacin in the form of Nicotinic Acid has the the best result of lowering LDL and raising HDL. I use a specific product called Enduracin produced by Endurance Products for the specific purpose of improving Cholesterol levels. Sometimes I have found it in the chain drug stores, but usually order it directly from Endurance Products over the internet. I take 500 mg nightly and never have flushing. I have taken other brands years ago with some flushing but none with this product. My cholesterol is always in tolerance when I have my six month Primary Care visits.Read More Read Less

My total cholesterol was 269. I began with 250 mg niacin for 2 weeks, then increased to 500 mg.for another 2 weeks. I moved up to 750 mg for the next two weeks and my next cholesterol level was down to 194. Six short weeks. I read that only the niacin that causes flushing would work on cholesterol levels and this took some getting used to but now at 750 mg I have very little flushing that lasts only minutes and not everyday. I did not want to go on statins because I believe there may by a link between statins and dementia. Read More Read Less

Paradontal problems.

Had intense flushing with niacin and ER niacin, even with aspirin pretreatment. Switched to FF niacin, 1000mg qAM, which I take with 2000mg fish oil qAM for past 7 years. Zero flushing or other side effects. Only intervention taken (no exercise change, weight loss, etc.). Total cholesterol 260, now down below 190. Triglycerides now normal. HDL from 44 to 85. Not powerful drops, but all measures now in normal range. Started when I was 35 - best decision I ever made.

I was taking Gemfibrozil (1200mg/day) to lower Triglycerides and LDL's, and was advised to take statins for additional reductions in total cholesterol and HDL improvement. I opted for Niaspan. I was also taking Avapro and Metoprolol for high blood pressure. I worked up to 1500 mg/d of Niaspan, but cut back due to increasing flushing incidents and unusual tiredness and weekness in quadriceps. After settling in at 1000 mg/d of Niaspan, blood tests showed no improvement in total cholesterol, no change on HDL's, increased LDL's, and a doubling of triglycerides to about 260; all versus pre-Niaspan measures. Decreased Gemfibrozil progressively in 30 day increments(1200-600-0 mg/d) to see if unusual tiredness and muscle weakness would subside. Noticed little improvement in those areas, but Triglycerides went to 560 and LDL's could not be measured due to high Triglycerides. It appears that for me Niaspan at 1000 mg/d is ineffective, and perhaps counterproductive compared to Gemfibrozil at 1200 mg/d. Given the unusual tiredness and other side effects that I have tolerated in over 25 years of high blood pressure/high cholesterol prescription drug therapy, I am starting to think that it may be time to start exploring natural medicines.Read More Read Less

I wanted to take something natural for my schizophrenia. Doctor wanted me to keep me on Ambilify but suggested I take Niacin (B3) along with some other things like Ginko Biloba and Vitamin C. I eventually found a supplement called SBX that contained all 3 and some other things. I do feel better but its hard to say which ingredient did it. I am on a reduced dosage of Amibilify now (10mgs) and the doctor doesn't want to drop it much more. I would also say exercise is very important!

I cant take statins so now Im on 500mg niacin. Niaspan too expensive and tried it and didnt like but tried the niacin and yes my skin turned bright red and had the flushing but I sat in front of two fans only lasted about 45 minutes then went away I split the dosage in half I take 250mg with a full meal dinner and then the other half with breakfast. As long as you remember it will stop to me worth the benefits for sure. I also cant take regular aspirin so I have to take enteric coated which takes about four hours to break down I take two 81 mg and fish oil and cq10 and a good multi to me this wasnt as bad as the niaspan had a sample and it made my pupils big and my skin was burning longer so Im glad its cheap enough the pharmacist said that the stuff you buy on shelf isnt the same though. I got 90 pills for 4.00. I get a little anxiety when I have to take it but I have MS too and have to give myself shots and was the same way. DOnt let all these reviews scare you its worth a try vs those nasty statins.Read More Read Less

I tried taking 500mg of Niaspan for my cholesterol per doctor's recommendation. I took it for about a month and had 4 episodes of burning up, not just flushing as the pharmacist said might happen. The pharmacist recommended taking 81mg of low dose aspirin about 20 to 30 min. before I took Niaspan which I did. I also had a snack as I had read in other reviews saying it helped. None of these things worked for me as I was burning up and my face swelled, I had pink skin where I was burning up all over my body and I mean burning. I was very worried as I have never had a problem with medication like this before in my life. I will never take this drug again.Read More Read Less

I started on Niaspan about 5 months ago. At the beginning there were episodes of flushing - some were very intense. AS time went on, the flushing subsided. I am slowly increasing my dosage - went from 500 mg to 1000 mg - soon to go up to 1500 mg. I go up every 2-3 months. The only issue that I have found is a Niaspan-chocolate interaction. This has happened to me twice - after eating chocolate and taking Niaspan I had terrible flushing episodes that woke me up from sleep, and 8-9 hours after taking the medication I was still red and tingly all over. Be very careful not to take the Niaspan after eating chocolate. Other than the issues with chocolate, the flushing is not a big issue - it diminishes in incidence over time and the severity of the flushing goes down as well.Read More Read Less

took niacin otc and every time i took it i ezperienced my ears burning felt like they was on fire not sure what to do

My dr. originally recommended I take a statin drug but when I didn't want to, then recommended I take a 500 dose if niacin and work my way up to 2000 a day. I took the 500 for a week and started having a lot of joint pain, especially in my left elbow. Also, strangely, my old scars all started hurting and looking puffy and tender. I used the no-flush brand and had no problems with that part. I decided to quit taking it and try to control my level with my diet. I read only 80% of your cholestral numbers are controlled by your diet and only 67% have any success with taking mega doses of Niacin. I also read that taking mega doses of any medicine is not good for you in the long run. I also just started on a thyroid hormone and went through menapause so I think my body is going through a lot of other changes that affect my numbers and I am going to just watch my diet instead of medicating.Read More Read Less