What is the difference in taking Niaspan and taking regular Niacin?
Donna Hopper,
Thanks for your question.
Niaspan, a prescription medication is a long acting form of niacin. This long acting drug can be taken once a day and has less side effects than the shorter acting, over the counter niacin. The major side effect is flushing and sometimes itching of the face and arms. Regular niacin is usually taken multiple times during the day and therefore, these side effects can be encountered multiple times a day. Niaspan, on the other hand is recommended for bedtime use in hopes that the patient will be asleep when these symptoms occur, and most patients sleep through the symptoms. Other side effects of Niaspan are changes in liver function blood studies, which is usually reversible with cessation of the medication. Also, caution and close medical follow-up are recommended for patients combining niacin and statin medications, as severe muscle damage has been reported with this combination.
Doctors sometimes recommend the use of aspirin, ibuprofen, or Benadryl 20 - 30 minutes before taking Niaspan. The anti-inflammatory action of these medications can abort the side effect of flushing in many patients.
Be sure to discuss the above issues with your doctors. Before taking any medication, even over the counter drugs, be sure to inform you doctor and get his input.
Best wishes.
Martin Cane, M.D.
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burnselk
Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 02:29 PM
Niaspan is released slowly in the body and Niacin is a fast release.
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Niaspan is a drug with side effects and niacin is a supplement that you can get over the counter and there are no side effects, providing you don't overdo on the mg!
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Niaspan is a longer acting niacin. It is gradually introduced to your system.
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Doctor Cane, I'm on Norpace CR 200mg twice a day for PVC's......and have been since 1983. Norpace can also affect the liver. So, would it be wise for me to take two (2) drugs (Norpace and Nispan) both which could potentially harm my liver? Niaspan has been advised for me by 3 of my doctors; cardiologist, family doctor, and endocrinologist. And they all arrived at this conclusion independently. I had liver problems back in 2000 prior to when I had exploratory abdominal surgery to determine what was causing my liver to stop functioning. It was learn that my liver bile ducts when practically, if not totally, closed up. They had to put a stent in my bile ducts in order to get it to work again. I had gotten very bad off and was totally gold in color.....became septic and was circling the drain as is said when one is near death. As it turned out thank God, my Gall Bladder was diseased and enlarged and was pressing against the bile ducts causing the problem. Things could have been much worse. So, I always try to learn as much as possible about the drugs I take.