Difference Between Niacin and Niaspan

Niacin (nicotinic acid) is a B vitamin that your body uses to help turn food into energy. NIASPAN is a prescription medication that, when used along with diet and exercise, has been shown to provide cholesterol benefits. NIASPAN is available in 500-mg, 750-mg, and 1000-mg tablets.

1. Is there an over the counter Niaspan?
2. Why is niacin not recommended?
3. What is the best form of niacin?
4. What is the generic name for Niaspan?
5. Is niacin bad for your liver?
6. Is it safe to take 500mg of niacin a day?
7. Who should not take niacin?
8. Can niacin cause heart attack?
9. When should you take niacin?
10. Why do you flush with niacin?
11. How fast does niacin lower cholesterol?
12. Does niacin help you lose weight?

Is there an over the counter Niaspan?

Nicotinic acid, also known as vitamin B₃ and more commonly known as niacin, is available in several formulations that include immediate-release (IR), sustained-release (SR), and extended-release (ER) products such as Niaspan (AbbVie). Only the IR and SR niacin formulations are available OTC in the United States.

Why is niacin not recommended?

CHICAGO --- After 50 years of being a mainstay cholesterol therapy, niacin should no longer be prescribed for most patients due to potential increased risk of death, dangerous side effects and no benefit in reducing heart attacks and strokes, writes Northwestern Medicine® preventive cardiologist Donald Lloyd-Jones, ...

What is the best form of niacin?

Nicotinic acid: As a supplement, nicotinic acid is a form of niacin used to reduce cholesterol levels and lower your risk of heart disease ( 1 ). Niacinamide or nicotinamide: Unlike nicotinic acid, niacinamide doesn't lower cholesterol.

What is the generic name for Niaspan?

The popular extended-release cholesterol medication, Niaspan is now available as generic niacin ER. What is niacin ER? Niaspan (Niacin ER) is used to treat high cholesterol, along with diet and exercise. Niacin decreases triglyceride levels, lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL).

Is niacin bad for your liver?

If you have liver disease, peptic ulcer disease or severe low blood pressure (hypotension), don't take large amounts of niacin. The supplement has been linked with liver damage, can cause hypotension and might activate a peptic ulcer.

Is it safe to take 500mg of niacin a day?

Niacin in the form of nicotinamide has fewer side effects than nicotinic acid. However, at high doses of 500 mg/day or more, nicotinamide can cause diarrhea, easy bruising, and can increase bleeding from wounds. Even higher doses of 3,000 mg/day or more can cause nausea, vomiting, and liver damage.

Who should not take niacin?

People with any health condition including liver or kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular problems need to talk to a doctor before using niacin supplements. Do not treat high cholesterol on your own with over-the-counter niacin supplements.

Can niacin cause heart attack?

Niacin, or vitamin B3, is too dangerous and should not be used routinely by people looking to control their cholesterol levels or prevent heart disease, doctors say.

When should you take niacin?

Adults and children older than 16 years of age—At first, 500 milligrams (mg) per day, taken at bedtime. After 4 weeks, your doctor will increase your dose to 1000 mg per day, taken at bedtime.

Why do you flush with niacin?

Niacin flush is a common reaction to high doses of niacin. It happens when capillaries expand, increasing blood flow to the skin's surface.

How fast does niacin lower cholesterol?

The problem is that sometimes high cholesterol can't be lowered through healthy habits alone. Choosing between statins and niacin depends greatly on where your own levels stand, as well as the methods you have tried thus far. You should see changes within two to four weeks of taking statins or niacin.

Does niacin help you lose weight?

The vitamin niacin (B3, or nicotinic acid), already known for its cholesterol-lowering effects, may also reduce central or abdominal fat accumulation in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, according to the results of a small 16 person study reported today at the Ninth Annual Retroviruses Conference in Seattle.