I took it for one week complete with the asprin before and the 400 mgm of ibuprofen after....the reactions of deep flushing,itching, tingling were just too much for me. Even after I stopped the niacin (500 mgm) I continued to itch for 2 days and over all felt terrible...not way to spend what is left of your life...

My cardiologist started me with 500 then 1,000 and now I am on 1,500 (almost 4 months on it). He was smart enough to tell me to take a full asprin AND a Benadryl about an hour before taking Niaspan, and then to take the Niaspan right beore I jump in bed. My worst side effect so far has been minor itching occassionally but more so the "tingling" feeling all over if I wake up in the middle of the night to potty. Have not had blood test yet so do not know how effective it is yet.

I have taken Niaspan for 2-3 years (2000mg)with very little side effects. I take this once a day at bedtime. I found it was very important to take a regular aspirin a 1/2 hour bedfore and to take the Niaspan with food. Without the aspirin or when taken on an empty stomach I would have flushing and hot flashes.

The first day I took this drug I looked and felt like I was sunburned. Now after 3 months on the drug nothing I have hd the flushing once since then but it goes away after about 10 minutes. my trigicerides and coloestoral have come down some total effectivness remains to be seen. Can't tkae aspirin but find that an apple helps at the outset or a peanut butter sandwich will help with the side effects.