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2.9 Overall Rating

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Most voted positive review

44 People found this comment helpful

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 chole...

Most voted negative review

6 People found this comment helpful

using for high cholesterol

Shared reviews and ratings

GG | 45-54 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
12/28/2022
Condition: High Cholesterol
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My Physician Assistant put me on 1000mg. Took it for 1 month and I had extreme vomiting and nausea as a side effect. From a person who never gets nauseous this was very concerning. Doctor had me going for all these test and was ready to take out my gall bladder. My wife figure out that it was this poison Niaspan. Stopped taking it and I was cured. I have take 250mg and 500mg over the counter pills with no problem. Doctor almost killed me and my wife saved me.

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Sjkkot | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
4/1/2019
Condition: High Cholesterol
Overall rating 2.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

This medicine caused my skin to become all blotchy and my doctor said that was a possible side effect. I now have what looks like age spots all over my legs

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Anonymous | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
11/3/2016
Condition: Low HDL Cholesterol
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I took Niaspan for one month and was ok. The second month, I started to feel a burning on my legs, then my legs and arms and one night I thought I was going to spontaneous combust. I was told to stop the drug immediately as I must be allergic to it.

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VentureMan | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
1/27/2015
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Been taking 3000 mg Niaspan for 9 years which keep levels out of red zone. Added Welchol two years ago, and Chol levels in normal range now... HDL above 80. T-Chol/HDL are below 3.5 for two years now.

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K | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
9/13/2014
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Have been taking 1000 mg for years. No apparent side effects. Great results in blood work. Dr satisfied with results. Now I am concerned with most recent studies though.

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Me | 65-74 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
6/1/2014
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

It cause me to have red man when I took Niaspan 500mg.

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Guest | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Caregiver
3/19/2014
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My husband was diagnosed 5 years ago with fatty liver syndrome. Since then he's had high cholesterol, rising glucose, fatigue, extreme muscle cramps in his arm and constipation. If that wasn't enough, he was hospitalized twice in the last three months for acute pancreatitis. Since he had a bad experience with statins , our GP decided to try him on 500 mg of Niaspan SR, describing it as some folksy "old school" remedy for cholesterol. Well, less than an hour after the first dose he complained that his face felt hot. Then came three days of stomach cramps, gas, shivering, hemorrhoids so painful he thought he would die, liver pain and the ominous chalk-white colored stool signaling the return of his pancreatitis! I went online and was horrified to discover all the clear warnings and contraidications for liver disease and hypothyroidism which the good doctor overlooked. My husband stopped taking that poison after three nights. I only pray it didn't mess up his pancreas to the point where he finds himself back in the ER.Read More Read Less

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fran | 55-64 | Female | Patient
9/23/2013
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 1.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Started with 500mg doctor increased it to 1500mg liver enzymes and potassium levels went up. I was throwing up and light headed feeling very tired. Doctor took me off Niaspan for 3 weeks and redo blood work.

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RB | 65-74 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
8/12/2013
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Along with 160mg of fenofibrate, 2000 mg of Niaspan in 4 months reduced my Chol. fm 243 to 188; TG fm 497 to 107; HDL raised from 35 to 49. Very satisfied.

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Anonymous | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
7/27/2013
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
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Sargent | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
5/11/2013
Condition: High Cholesterol
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have had several things that seemed unusual during the use of Niaspan. I have weakness of legs, pain in legs and joints. Recently I have the hiccups for three days now and no sign of relief. Will stop Niaspan for now and see if these symptoms go away. Statins are worse. I did not read side effects until now so as not to get sympathy symptoms.

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June | 55-64 | Female | On medication for less than 1 month | Patient
2/5/2013
Condition: High Cholesterol
Overall rating 1.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I took 500 mg for 8 days. Felt achy and tired, but attributed it to the statins I had just dropped. Then went to 1000 mg per my doctor. Immediately became very lethargic, disoriented and more achy. Have not taken any since. Urine was discolored about 5 days. Aches and lethargy gradually went away after discontinuing.

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gerdeselwood | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 6 months to less than 1 year | Patient
11/16/2012
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 4.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My doctor recently upped my doseage to 2000 mg a day. Has anyone else had trouble of being tired all the time and can't seem to get enough sleep?

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zelda | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 5 to less than 10 years | Patient
11/9/2012
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 3.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

My Trig were over 600, cholesterol over 425. With Lescol they were reduces to TG 400 and Chol 350. With NIASPAN I now enjoy a chol of 180 and a TRIG of 80. The flushing is the worst problem I have and I agree with another patient that this is severe flushing, itching, burning. It lasts about 1 hour. I WILL try applesauce before I take the pill. I have had trouble taking antibiotic with the Niaspan. I break out in hives and I previously had not been allergic to antibiotic. If I only take the antibiotic and not the niaspan I don't have a problem. I was switched to Lescol XL because of the pain in my muscles. Lescol does not involve the liver so I can take it without side affects. Read More Read Less

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ihatethisdrug | 55-64 | Female | On medication for 1 to less than 2 years | Patient
10/16/2012
Condition: High Cholesterol
Overall rating 3.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

On 500mg per day for 6 months then 1000mg. Chol has come down somewhat but tingling burning skin makes life miserable. Has also raised blood glucose above normal.

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Anonymous | 45-54 | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
9/14/2012
Condition: Low HDL Cholesterol
Overall rating 1.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction
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Lynda67 | 65-74 | Female | On medication for 1 to 6 months | Patient
8/8/2012
Condition: High Amount of Triglyceride in the Blood
Overall rating 4.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have been taking this drug for about 5 weeks, and have had no problems with side affects until last night. I awoke with my insides absolutely burning up. It lasted about 30 minutes after I awoke. It was so severe I am seeing my doctor in the morning. As good as my results have been (my triglycerides dropped from 250 to 91) I don't know if I can continue with this medication.

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Anonymous | 55-64 | Male | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
7/26/2012
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 4.7
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Worked well for me , did what said it would do. 1000 MG from the start. No flushing but twisted feeling at times. Took only at night before bed, with other meds for choloesterol. Different country now, My Doc here says experimental drug, very expensive and the hospitals don't stock it. We will watch the ldl and trigliceride numbers, I will take Vitamin B3 if I can find it, reorder it if need to.

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Trevor | 45-54 | Male | On medication for 1 to 6 months |
6/26/2012
Condition: High Cholesterol
Overall rating 5.0
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

Just started taking Niaspan in April 2012, my total cholesterol was 270, my bad cholesterol was 160. After taking it for 8 weeks along with oat bran, in June my total cholesterol was 202 and my bad cholesterol was 131. There is a book called the "8 Week Cholesterol Cure" that I recommend to everyone, and all who have followed its seguestions have received the same results as me. I will continue to take Niaspan.

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sofedup1 | 45-54 | Female | On medication for 2 to less than 5 years | Patient
6/6/2012
Condition: Combined High Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Level
Overall rating 3.3
Effectiveness
Ease of Use
Satisfaction

I have been on Niaspan for a few years now. I am wondering if 1.anyone has found that injuries are more easily obtained and last longer. 2. after years of being on the med, do you aquire different side effects such as a spontaneous burning in the sides of heels just under ankles, nausea sometimes with vomiting, upset stomach, pain in the bottom of feet...i think it is a helpful med as far as the numbers go. I'm just concerned that it's in some way ruining me.

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