Get Informed: Niaspan
Active Ingredient(s)
Nicotinic Acid
What does it do?
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:
- 2010-Mar-20 6:24 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-19 9:03 PM
Other Names
- Niacin
- Niaspan
- Niacin NO Flush
- Niaspan ER
- SLO-Niacin
- Nicotinic Acid
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 28 Jul 1997
- Est US Patients*
- 1,317,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- Yes
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
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.
Recent alerts for Niaspan
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Niaspan during the past year.
Niaspan Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Niaspan used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 8,700 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 | 82% | 
|
| High Triglycerides | 38% |
|
| Migraine/Headache | 2% |
|
| Heart Disease/Stroke Prevention | 2% | 
|
| Other | 3% | 
|
How well does Niaspan work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 8,700 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)
- 81%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Niaspan outweigh the bad things.
- 9%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Niaspan.
Common Side Effects of Niaspan
iGuard regularly polls our more than 8,700 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.
50% of patients experience side-effects on Niaspan
3% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Niaspan
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Hot Flashes
-
Itch/Rash
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Fatigue, Grogginess/Confusion, Headache, Insomnia, Muscle Pain/Cramps, Numbness/Tingling
Global Patient Feedback for Niaspan (Nicotinic Acid) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
After too many problems with statin drugs--pain, lethargy--the doctor prescribed Lovaza and nicotinic acid as Niaspan. I took one 500 mg capsule around 7 in the evening and 3 hours later I had a lot of itching on my arms, then legs that went away after 30 min.
The next night I took it closer to bedtime, woke up at 4 AM with burning sensation and discovered I was beet red from head to toe, itching, followed by chills and nausea lasting 1 hr. Dr. agreed with me, no more Niaspan.
62 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-12 07:14:17
Question/Comment:
FOR NIASPAN ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT A PROGRAM OFFERED BY DRUG MAKER SO THAT COST IS $5 A MONTH FOR ONE YEAR. YOU MUST SIGN UP AND RECEIVE AN ACTIVATED CARD.
60 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-10 09:53:59
Question/Comment:
I am taking Lipitor, 80mg, and was taking 1500mg of Niaspan. Lipitor seemed to bring my Cholesterol down but the numbers were reversed. The niaspan seemed to correct this but caused other problems. Doctor has taken me off Niaspan and is putting me on Zetia.
Will this help correct the numbers like the Niaspan did?
59 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-01 09:20:33
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Zetia will help with cholesterol but in a different way. Zetia actually blocks absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine, while Niaspan decreases production of VLDL in the liver, among other actions. Many patients do very well on Zetia, especially when combined with a medication like Lipitor. The most important factor is that your doctor is monitoring you by checking your cholesterol levels. When on medications for cholesterol, be sure to tell your doctor if you are experiencing any muscle pain or muscle weakness.
Posted: 2010-03-03 12:21:54
Question/Comment:
Due to expense involved, can an over the counter product be substituted for Niaspan & still be able to do a reasonably sufficient job of helping regulate cholesterol/triglyceride levels.
73 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-15 03:34:57
iGuard Answer/Reply:
There are some over-the-counter products that are similar to Niaspan, such as Slo-Niacin. You would need to check with your doctor to see how much he/she recommends that you take based on your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. You will probably need to take the over-the-counter products more frequently.
Posted: 2010-02-19 09:43:46
Answer/Reply:
In 1987 I began using EndurAcin-SR. Currently I take 2 (500 mgs) tabs per day in addition to simvastatin 40 mgs. I have experienced no problems. No itching, no rash. No weakeness in muscles. Last blood test in Dec. 2009. Total cholersterol-162, HDL-55, LDL-92, Triglycerides -79.
I am a 70 year old male.
You can contact Endurance at www. Endur.com. They are located in Tigard, OR. Spend $40 and First Class shipping is Free. Last order I made 200 Tabs cost $ 21.
70 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-03-16 16:45:48
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Niaspan since April of 2008. Slowly increasing the amount to the present Jan 2010, to 2000 mg per day. I can't take ANY statins due to severe muscle/nerve pain as well as other horrible side effects. Niaspan has reduced my bad numbers substantially as well as increase my good numbers to new highs. It is working for me but since I am taking 2000 mgs I have noticed extreme dryness of the mouth, nose and eyes. I take as many mgs of Vit. C with my Niaspan to elimnate the flushing. I am a 55 year old women.
56 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-08 10:57:35
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments about
Niaspan