Niaspan ER

Common Side Effects of Niacin:

• Itching under the skin
• Warmth, redness, or tingly skin
• Mild dizziness
• Sweating or chills
• Nausea, burping, diarrhea
• Leg cramps, muscle pain
• Insomnia

Serious Side Effects of Niacin:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin flushing combined with dizziness
• Severe allergic reaction
• Light headedness, fainting
• Uneven or fast-pounding heartbeat
• Grayish stool color
• Skin itching or rash
• Severe stomach pain
• Shortness of breath
• Dark-colored urine
• Yellowing of skin or eyes
• Muscle pain
• Flu-like symptoms

Niacin and Other Drug Interactions

Patients should not take niacin if they have severe liver disease, a stomach ulcer, or bleeding. Patients should avoid taking colestipol (Colestid) or cholestyamine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran) when taking niacin, or take them four to six hours before taking niacin.

Niacin can also cause unusual results with urine tests, so alert the tester if you are having a drug test.

Niacin comes in various forms including tablets, capsules, and extended release tablets and capsules. It should be taken as directed, sometimes at bedtime with a low-fat snack. Using a medication such as ibuprofen (Advil) or aspirin (Anacin, Bayer, Bufferin) 30 minutes prior to taking niacin may help prevent side effects such as flushing.

Take niacin with a full glass of cold water. The capsule should be swallowed whole. Breaking or crushing the capsule may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

The recommended dose of niacin varies according to the type of capsules or tablets you are using, and the condition being treated. It is important to consult with your doctor to take the correct dose for you.