Before Niaspan: T-Chol 328, Trig 304, LDL 222, HDL 46. After Niaspan: T-Chol 181, Trig 150, LDL 100, HDL 52. I've taken 3000 mg Niaspan daily, at bedtime, for over 3 years now. This is the highest therapeutic dose recommended. Side effects include flushing and itching, and occational tightening of tendens behind knees. Niaspan should only be taken at bed time as the liver produces cholesterol during the sleep cycle. The other benefit is that the flushing and itching is significantly reduced or eliminated during sleep. The flushing never really bothered me too much... at least not to the point that I ever thought about discontinuing Niaspan. My triglicerides can fluctuate upwards of 300 at times, which I attibute 100% to alcohol and sweet mixers. Cutting out alcohol and sugar drops my Triglicerides down to 150. If flushing and itching are your only side effects, I highly recommend sticking with Niaspan as the flushing and itching will subside. Start with a low dose and build up tollerence before increasing dose. I had taken niacin a number of times years earlier, so I knew about the flushing and itching in advance of starting Niaspan. Niaspan side effects are nothing in comparison to immediate release niacin. I rarely get any flushing or itching now... and not a big deal when I do. I just expose my skin to the air and go back to sleep. I've tried verious statins over a 7 year period and none of them lowered my cholesterol to the level that Niaspan did. And Niaspan side effects are nothing compared to the side effects statins cause. In summary... Niaspan has given me the best results for high cholesterol treatment... far better than statins... with the least side effects for the treatment of cholesterol. Best of luck.

The second night that I took this medication I had a major physical reaction. I followed the instructions and took it right before I went to bed with a low fat snack. Three hours later I woke up in burning pain. My entire body was tingling severaly and I felt like my body was on fire. I couldn't even stand the sheets touching my body. I was getting up to go to the bathroom because I was nauseous and when I stood up I blacked out. My wife said I hit the floor. My wife had to call for an ambulance because I was passed out. I was conscious again once the paramedics arrived. My blood pressure had dropped, my heart rate was fast, my entire body was red, I was tingling from head to toe and I still felt like I was going to burst into flames. When I arrived at the emergency room I was dehydrated. The doctor advised that many people experience this type of reaction with this medication. Over the next 24 hours I continued to feel tingling throughout my body. I will not be taking this medication again because the physical trauma is not worth it to me.

I have been on Niaspan for a week and did not experience any side effects. I followed my MD's advice of taking an aprin i/2 hr. before and taking it with a low fat snack at night. That is, until last night when I got a full blown episode of flushing and intense itching on my arms, chest, back and legs. Is there something that can be done when this occurs to lessen the side effect?

I was very hesitant to take this medication at first being afraid of the side effects. What I have learned is very important to take an aspirin 10-20 minutes before taking the Niaspan. It has worked GREAT for me!

I started taking and became hot and prickly burning sensation. Niaspan is niacin which is a vitamin in the B family. I bought slow released niacin at the drug store ( OTC) 500mg and take a baby aspirin 1/2 hour prior and have no side effects. The slow released niacin is the same thing but without side effects. The drug company is capitalizing on a vitamin and charging a lot of money for something thats available at any health food or drug store. Try the more natural kind!

I TAKE A FULL SIZED ASPIRIN ONE HOUR BEFORE TAKING THE NIASPAN IT HELPS GREATLY WITH THE FLUSHING. I HAVE RARE INCIDENTS.

The flushing is tolreable. The itching is intolerable. I'd rather have heart surgery all over again than suffer with the infernal itching. My cardiologist believes the severe itching is unrelated to the Niaspan because it has occured only twice since I started taking the medication 6 months ago. I disagree. It seems to me the unbearable itching is caused by the Niaspan, together with some other unknown factor. There may be something to the "spicy food" connection posted by others. Last night, I ate a bunch of hot peppers an hour or so before taking the Niaspan. I woke at 3 am, with a tolerable hot wave, followed by the dreaded itching. Pure torment! My chest, back and legs were bright red. A cold (very cold) shower helped a little. (The only thing worse than a cold cold shower is the itching from Hell). On the first occasion, two months ago, Benedril helpped some, but relief did not begin for over an hour after taking it. (Take at least two tablets!) But last night, I didn't mess around with Benedril. Instead, I took two codine tablets I had left over from surgery. Relief! If you are suffering from this terrible side-effect, may God be with you!