Been on this med for 1 yr. My dr. was very clear: This is the best shot at saving my life. Have heart problems on both sides of my family. Dr. was also clear about *325 mg* aspirin, NOT baby aspirin, take at night w/ applesauce. He told me this med can actually take out the plaque in my arteries and the flush is worth it. Got through first week on this knowledge and it's not easy, but I have kids to live for. Flush WILL get better. STICK WITH IT!!

I have been taking this med for about 8 months now. I have had a bad problem with the itching and needles feeling all over my body. My skin has totally dried out to a scaley point. My eyes stay swollen and red, itching constantly. Not even eye shadow can cover it up. Totally fed up with it. Will seek new medication this week. I do not recommend this med for anyone.

I take 1500 mg once a day of the Niaspan, prior to bedtime. In the beginning I used to get flushed and itching. I learned that if I eat 20-30 minutes prior to taking this (nothing spicy) and take 1-2 asprin's/ibrophen ( spelling) no flushing or itching. If I have spicy foods for dinner I make sure I wait 3 hours prior to taking the drug. Cholesterol is doing much much better. I have been taking this drug for a little over a year. In the beginning I had the same problems as everyone else but they have pretty much subsided. Good luck:)

I took this for five days and did not feel well in general while taking it. I have had chronic hives for five years and am on Zyrtec, Singulair, Claritin daily. On the fifth day of this medication I had my hives break through my normal meds. I took my niaspan dose went to bed and woke up at 1AM bright red all over my body with burning pain like there was a hot iron on my whole body. I started to feel like I was having trouble breathing. I called 911. The perimedics said my blood pressure dropped sharply. I had to lay on the floor so I wouldn't pass out. They gave me Benedryl and the burning redness disappeared. It was not flushing -this was very painful burning. I know what flushing is I've had hives for over five years. I will never take it again. My doctor denied that this was a possible reaction. When I got to the hospital the male nurse said his wife had had a similar reaction recently and would never take it again either. I was scared to death. I thought I was going to die. It was not fun.

Been taking for 3 months with very minimal side effects, even without taking asprin. the asprin caused swelling/pressure behind my right knee. stopped the asprin and the swelling went away. Flush was minimal, even if I had a few drinks before hand. But at 2am this morning woke up on fire! burning/itching/red skin like sunburn. I had eaten a Heath bar and a couple oreo cookies right before i took it. Read here that chocolate or coco butter will intensify flushing. That is an understatement! DO NOT EAT ANY FORM OF CHOCOLATE TOO SOON BEFORE OR AFTER YOU TAKE THE MED! Will NEVER do that again! Think I am going to go to urgent care now to see if I can get a shot to stop this, its almost unbearable.

I've been on this drug for about 6 months. Started at 5500mg and went to 1000 after one month. The flushing was bad at first, even taking it WITH a meal and an anti-inflammatory, but has subsided to a couple of times per week. The main complaint, side effect wise, is the itching I get most every day. It's so bad I have drawn blood, even taking Benedryl didn't help the itching. My numbers? LDL and Triglycerides went UP! HDL still low. My numbers have actually gotten worse. LDL=300+/HDL=still around 35/Triglycerides went from my normal 800-1000 to 1200. I eat only whole grain cereal for breakfast AND dinner and have a bowl of canned fruit with dinner bowl of cereal(Cheerios). I have no idea what to do. Can't take Statins as I get the "rare buit dangerous side effect" and Zetia seemed to help but doc thinks it is dangerous. I am up the creek I think. I didn't know other things that have been going on are side effects either(gout attacks, arrhythmia,light-headedness,sweating to chills to sweating to chills all in one minutes time, all night long. Will talk to doc about dropping this horrible drug!