I went to a doctor in Medford, Ore, to use niacin for cholesterol control.He dismissed it stating that niacin does not reduce LDL , but only raises HDL. Since my wife's HDL is OK at 53 he put my wife back on provachol which she has been on for 11 years with marginal success. Does niacin reduce LDL and is there a way to find a local doctor to work with?
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Q: Does niacin reduce LDL and how can I find a local doctor who advocates using niacin?
Answers (1)
12/ 2/08 10:12pm
Mic jaeger,
Thanks for your question.
Niacin, or nicotinic acid is indicated for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. It can lower total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides. In addition, it can raise HDL. It is available as a short acting formulation that must be taken multiple times each day. And it is available as a long acting tablet, called Niaspan that can be taken once a day, usually before sleep. The major side effect associated with niacin is flushing of the face which is sometime associated with an itchy sensation. This can be counteracted by taking Benadryl or ibuprofen 20 to 30 minutes before the niaspan.
Though effective, many doctors feel that niacin is not as potent as the statin medications available today. In many cases, niacin is used together with other lipid lowering drugs.
I suggest you discuss this with your doctor again, and if he's still not agreeable, then perhaps it's time for another opinion. Perhaps, his experience is that it does little to effect change in these levels.
Best wishes.
Martin Cane, M.D.
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By Mic jaeger— Last Modified: 11/16/10, First Published: 12/02/08
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