What is the drug niacin used for?
Prescription niacin is used to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol — the “good” cholesterol that helps remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the “bad” cholesterol, from your bloodstream.
Can niacin damage your liver?
Niacin can cause mild-to-moderate serum aminotransferase elevations and high doses and certain formulations of niacin have been linked to clinically apparent, acute liver injury which can be severe as well as fatal.
Is niacin flush good for you?
While niacin flush in and of itself isn’t typically harmful, it may be accompanied by other unpleasant side effects like headache or low blood pressure ( 1 ). Even higher doses may cause liver damage or other severe side effects ( 1 ).
Does niacin work like Viagra?
Yes—niacin may help improve erectile function in patients with moderate to severe ED. Maybe—it supports the biochemical pathways leading to nitric oxide release, which is essential in increasing blood flow and achieving erections.
How does niacin make you feel?
These higher doses of niacin cause an intense flushing or “prickly heat” sensation to the face and upper body, usually 15-30 minutes after taking a relatively large dose (e.g. 500 mg). This flushing is experienced by almost everyone and, while it might feel like an allergy, it is not a true allergic reaction.
What is the most common side effect of niacin?
A common side effect of niacin is a flushing reaction. This might cause burning, itching, and redness of the face, arms, and chest, as well as headaches. Starting with small doses and taking 325 mg of aspirin before each dose of niacin may help. This reaction usually goes away as the body gets used to niacin.
What does NIASPAN look like?
NIASPAN tablets are supplied as unscored, medium-orange, film-coated, capsule-shaped (containing 500 or 750 mg of niacin) or oval shaped (containing 1000 mg of niacin) tablets, in an extended-release formulation.
Does niacin burn belly fat?
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.
Can niacin flush last for days?
Other than causing discomfort the flushing is harmless and usually subsides within 1 or 2 hours. Symptoms are most intense after the first dose and typically diminish over days or weeks with continued use of niacin.