Get Informed: Niaspan

80

Patient Comments about
Niaspan

Active Ingredient(s)

Nicotinic Acid

What does it do?

Niaspan

This product is used in the treatment of patients with high lipid levels (including cholesterol). It's exact mechanism of action is not well understood.

Last Text Update:
 2009-Nov-20 6:08 PM
Last Data Update:
 2009-Nov-20 6:53 PM

Other Names

  • Niacin
  • Niaspan
  • Niacin NO Flush
  • Niaspan ER
  • SLO-Niacin

How Safe Is It?

Your Risk Rating
Please log in
Average Risk Rating
2: General
Pregnancy Category:
C
Black Box Warning:
No

Facts & Figures

Date Approved
28 Jul 1997
Est US Patients*
1,364,000
Generic Available
Yes
OTC Available
Yes

User Age Distribution*

1

< 21

4

21-39

30

40-59

65

60+

Age (Years)

* Estimated number of US people currently taking Niaspan or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.

Other Resources

Recent alerts for Niaspan

There have been no alerts regarding Niaspan during the past year.

Niaspan Safety Report

2: General

The iGuard risk rating for Niaspan is blue. It means that Niaspan normally has a low risk of serious or long-term side effects if used under normal medical supervision.

Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings

  • Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Niaspan interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.

What is Niaspan used for?

iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 8,000 patients that use Niaspan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.

Disease / Condition % Average Severity
High Cholesterol 74% 5
High Triglycerides 32% 5
Immune Support 2% 5
Heart Disease Prevention 2% 5
Other 13% 5

How well does Niaspan work?

iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 8,000 users taking Niaspan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.

Average Satisfaction Score

(out of 10)

Average Effectiveness Score

(out of 10)

62 63
75%
of patients are confident that the good things about Niaspan outweigh the bad things.
16%
of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Niaspan.

Common Side Effects of Niaspan

iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 8,000 users taking Niaspan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.

57%

57% of patients experience side-effects on Niaspan

2%

2% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Niaspan


Most Common Side Effects...

  • 45% Flushing
  • 5% Itch/Rash
  • 5% Itch
  • = 10%

Less than 1%: Constipation, Diarrhea, Dizziness, Insomnia, Memory/Speech Problems, Muscle Pain, Numbness/Tingling


Global Patient Feedback for Niaspan (Nicotinic Acid) ( Post a comment )

Comments, Questions, and Answers
Show Newest | Oldest first

Question/Comment:

Started on Moderate dose Niacin B3 because of deficiency. I had gastric bypass almost 5 years ago and believe the deficiecies I have are related. I had a Niacin level checked in my labs and it is a specialized test. I do not have high cholesterol and my HDL is high so it good. Niacin will just make HDL better so better for me.

39 year old Female

Posted: 2009-10-17 11:36:23

Question/Comment:

I have been taking Niaspan at 1000 mg per day for about 1.5 years. Approximately two months ago I started to experience mild to sometimes moderate low back pain on the left side which I cannot attribute to any injury or strain. I have had back pain only rarely, perhaps 10 times in my 55 years. Such pain has always been easily attributed to muscle strain and disappears in a few days. Consequently, the low back pain I am experiencing is unusual in duration. I have noted in my web research that some persons have attributed back pain to Niaspan. Anyone have any similar experiences or know of reports corroborating back pain as a side effect? Thanks.

55 year old Male

Posted: 2009-10-11 03:03:16

iGuard.org Answer/Reply:

Approximately 1% of iGuard patients reported muscle pain while taking oral Niacin, the active ingredient in Niaspan. Muscle pain that is chronic could also indicate some serious underlying medical conditions. You should contact your doctor and be evaluated as soon as possible.

Posted: 2009-11-03 21:15:08

Question/Comment:

I was prescribed niaspan for my hi cholesterol. I've tried other meds, but the muscle and joint pain was too much for me after about a month of use. I was instructed to take an asperin 1/2 hr b4 taking and to take it with a light snack. On day 4 I was awakened frm a sound sleep with a burning in my face. It felt like my blood was boiling. The brning went down to my feet. Nothing helped. Ended up going to the ER where I was tld this was normal. My skin was cold to the touch but the inside was on fire. Sutent for kidney cancer increases the taste & feel of everything.Wll see my internal med Dr this wk to see if any relation. 4 days since I stopped niaspan & face still burning

58 year old Female

Posted: 2009-09-08 14:42:05

Question/Comment:

I have had trouble with statins and Zetia. Sttins I get elevated enzymes and muscle aches. My muscle aches continued for a long time after I stopped all prescribed medications. I substituted no-flush niacin, garlic, and a full regiment of vitamins, minerals, and herbs. My LDL's decreased, triglycerides decreased. I'm satisfied!

56 year old Male

Posted: 2009-08-25 17:33:56

Question/Comment:

According to this site taking Niacin (I take 500) and Vit D(1000 total spaced throughout the day) together gets a danger warning. I have not had problems and don't see the connection since Niacin is Vit B and Vit D is, well, Vit D. Iguard says taking the 2 together can cause overdose. Am I really in danger?

62 year old Female

Posted: 2009-08-20 21:02:09

Answer/Reply:

I have been taking 1000 mg of niacin and 40 mg of pravastatin for over six years and I have not had any problems. Quintuple bypass in 1997. Stress test yearly and blood workup quarterly.

Male 79 (80 in Nov 09)

81 year old Male

Posted: 2009-08-22 18:27:03

Return to main page Page 1 of 5

You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.

Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.

Your Comments or Questions:

Simply type the text you wish to publish and click submit. Please confine comments to those that may be useful to other patients.

characters remaining

DISCLAIMER: iGuard is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. iGuard cannot and does not take into consideration every possible interaction or account for individual responses to medicine. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have before making any changes to your treatment. The use of the iGuard site and its content is at your own risk. The iGuard site and the information contained in it is intended for users in the United States and information in other countries may be different.

HACKER SAFE certified sites prevent over 99.9% of hacker crime.
Bookmark and Share