Guy1_USA
07-13-2007, 12:44 AM
Who has tried Niaspan or Niacin before making a decision as to whether you got good results or whether you can tollerate it?
People are so quick to jump on the statins because their Doctors "say so"... but who has tried an alternative. BTW, I was one of those folks regarding statins and taking them blindly.
People are so quick to jump on the statins because their Doctors "say so"... but who has tried an alternative. BTW, I was one of those folks regarding statins and taking them blindly.
Sponsor
Connie122516
07-13-2007, 02:15 PM
Well, I didn't really have a choice...heart disease diagnosed a week after my 54th birthday (99% blockage in the LAD). And with a lot of previous "borderline high" lipid readings which my conservative doctor had decided didn't need treatment (I'll never know whether taking niacin and/or statins earlier would have made a difference).
I started the Niaspan after statins and lifestyle changes alone did a good job with reducing my LDL and total, but had no effect on my dangerously low HDL.
Niaspan works wonders on my HDL (and helps my triglycerides) but does nothing to the LDL.
I started the Niaspan after statins and lifestyle changes alone did a good job with reducing my LDL and total, but had no effect on my dangerously low HDL.
Niaspan works wonders on my HDL (and helps my triglycerides) but does nothing to the LDL.
babygirl127
07-13-2007, 02:51 PM
I think I may if they doctor mentions it on my follow up visit. I refuse to go on a statin for now atleast. My TC was 264 and now it is 211. My LDL was 180 and now 140 on diet & exercise alone. He told me he may try Niacin as another option since he knows I do not want to go on a statin. But I hear it is only good to get the HDL higher and does nothing for the LDL? I will say my HDL was 60 and dropped to 47 with the diet & exercise. Normal Trigs. Is it worth a try the Niacin? I think so.
Guy1_USA
07-13-2007, 03:39 PM
There is hope. Like any meds, sometimes they work well for some and sometimes they don't. Niaspan worked well for me at lowering my bad Cholesterol about 50% across the board, and raising my HDL 6 points.
I'm now taking 3000 mg of Niaspan a day, and have achieved the lowest cholesterol I have had in 16 years... lower than statins could get me.
To contrast my Niaspan regimen, these are the numbers from Jan 6th, 2006 before I started Niaspan:
Tot 328
Trig 304
LDL 222
HDL 46
Ratio 7.13
Here are my numbers from June 06, 2007, after a regimine of 3000 mg of Niaspan a day for a year.
Tot 195
Trig 153
LDL 112
HDL 52
Ratio 3.75
I'm now taking 3000 mg of Niaspan a day, and have achieved the lowest cholesterol I have had in 16 years... lower than statins could get me.
To contrast my Niaspan regimen, these are the numbers from Jan 6th, 2006 before I started Niaspan:
Tot 328
Trig 304
LDL 222
HDL 46
Ratio 7.13
Here are my numbers from June 06, 2007, after a regimine of 3000 mg of Niaspan a day for a year.
Tot 195
Trig 153
LDL 112
HDL 52
Ratio 3.75
Guy1_USA
07-13-2007, 05:10 PM
Do you think I need to take a B-complex...?
My liver enzymes are way in the normal range. Like with all cholesterol meds, I plan on tests every 6 months.
This stuff is great... occational mild flushing at night when sleeping, it mostly just makes me feel warm so I just throw off the covers and pull my shirt up to cool off and I'm back to dozing in seconds. An occation 10 minutes of mild flushing is the worst I have had to deal with... nothing nearly as bad as how statins made me feel 24 hours a day... like I had the flu 24 hours a day with all the aches.
My liver enzymes are way in the normal range. Like with all cholesterol meds, I plan on tests every 6 months.
This stuff is great... occational mild flushing at night when sleeping, it mostly just makes me feel warm so I just throw off the covers and pull my shirt up to cool off and I'm back to dozing in seconds. An occation 10 minutes of mild flushing is the worst I have had to deal with... nothing nearly as bad as how statins made me feel 24 hours a day... like I had the flu 24 hours a day with all the aches.
Lenin
07-14-2007, 10:40 AM
I tried niacin for 10 years in every conceivable dosing schedule...I even started with 25 mg. and upping 25 every 2 weeks...when I got to 100 mg, I could no longer bear the flush. I even stayed at 75 mg./day for several MONTHS before retrying 100 mg...same flush!
My FIRST dose was 500mg. and I though I was going to DIE. I turned a vivid purple from my navel to my hairline. I couldn't TOUCH my face without pain.
Last week I even flushed painfully at 3 AM kept awake for an hour, 4 hours after my slo-release formultion of 500 mg. at 11PM with 625 mg. aspirin...but I think my stomach was empty.
Yep, I tried niacin, and tried, and tried,:dizzy: :dizzy: and TRIED.
I WISH I could take more becasue I have a strong tendency to low HDL's but I just cannot...so I must settle for the teeny HDL rise to above 40.00001! :D
Do you think I need to take a B-complex...?
Venture,
There is a school of thought that several components of the vitamin B complex tend to excreted together and that megadosing with ONE of them can cause an overexcretion of the others. Yes, I think a Vitamin-B supplement will protect you against this. I'm not quite sure I subscribe to the theory but it might be worth considering.
My FIRST dose was 500mg. and I though I was going to DIE. I turned a vivid purple from my navel to my hairline. I couldn't TOUCH my face without pain.
Last week I even flushed painfully at 3 AM kept awake for an hour, 4 hours after my slo-release formultion of 500 mg. at 11PM with 625 mg. aspirin...but I think my stomach was empty.
Yep, I tried niacin, and tried, and tried,:dizzy: :dizzy: and TRIED.
I WISH I could take more becasue I have a strong tendency to low HDL's but I just cannot...so I must settle for the teeny HDL rise to above 40.00001! :D
Do you think I need to take a B-complex...?
Venture,
There is a school of thought that several components of the vitamin B complex tend to excreted together and that megadosing with ONE of them can cause an overexcretion of the others. Yes, I think a Vitamin-B supplement will protect you against this. I'm not quite sure I subscribe to the theory but it might be worth considering.
Connie122516
07-14-2007, 02:09 PM
Lenin,
I assume you are taking your aspirin with or 30 min before you take the Niacin??
I have to tell you a "funny" story. I was staying at my sister's the night I got home from the hospital after my stent was placed (I live 3 hours away from the hospital and no one but me wanted me driving home). In the middle of the night, she wakes me up completely freaking out from a niacin flush (her doctor had just upped her dose) - it was the first one she had.
She was supposed to be taking care of me, and I ended up having to calm her down and take care of her! Not exactly a stress free recovery for me;)
I assume you are taking your aspirin with or 30 min before you take the Niacin??
I have to tell you a "funny" story. I was staying at my sister's the night I got home from the hospital after my stent was placed (I live 3 hours away from the hospital and no one but me wanted me driving home). In the middle of the night, she wakes me up completely freaking out from a niacin flush (her doctor had just upped her dose) - it was the first one she had.
She was supposed to be taking care of me, and I ended up having to calm her down and take care of her! Not exactly a stress free recovery for me;)
Guy1_USA
07-14-2007, 02:54 PM
I use to take a high-dose mega B-complex vitamin on a daily basis, so I'm not adverse to starting that up again. I just didn't understand the connection between "the need" for a B-complex when taking Niacin.. Thanks for the explanation. I'll head down and get some today.
jimmydale57
07-14-2007, 03:08 PM
This will be my first post. I found the post by Ventureman very interesting. I have been on Niaspan now for about three months and my numbers were also very positive. I started on 500 mg for a month and have been on 1000mg for a little over 2 months. I am Canadian so our cholesterol measurements are different. I converted them for the purpose of this message.
My numbers September 19,2006 were:
Tot 191
Trig 28
LDL135
HDL 42.5
Ratio 4.5
My numbers July 3, 2007 after starting with the Niaspan
Total 145
Trig 21
LDL 80
HDL 55
Ratio 2.6
Even my doctor was impressed with the improvement in my HDL. I have always had low triglycerides but HDL has always been low. I had a heart attack and three stents in my right coronary artery in April 2002 so have been on statins ever since(Zocor). I feel very postitive about the Niaspan and just wanted to share my results with others. ...
My numbers September 19,2006 were:
Tot 191
Trig 28
LDL135
HDL 42.5
Ratio 4.5
My numbers July 3, 2007 after starting with the Niaspan
Total 145
Trig 21
LDL 80
HDL 55
Ratio 2.6
Even my doctor was impressed with the improvement in my HDL. I have always had low triglycerides but HDL has always been low. I had a heart attack and three stents in my right coronary artery in April 2002 so have been on statins ever since(Zocor). I feel very postitive about the Niaspan and just wanted to share my results with others. ...
Guy1_USA
07-14-2007, 05:28 PM
Tell your Doctor you want to bump it up to 2000 mg a day... sounds like you are tollerating it very well... just as I did or do. :)
jimmydale57
07-14-2007, 10:19 PM
Hi Ventureman
Sounds like one of the Fabulous 4!! I replied earlier after seeing your post about Niaspan. I am converted...... fabulous results after only 21/2months on 1000mg. I cut my statin dose in half from 40 to 20 mg and am happy about that also. I am not ready to stop yet as am a little afraid to but feel better about being able to be on a lower dose. ... Jim
Sounds like one of the Fabulous 4!! I replied earlier after seeing your post about Niaspan. I am converted...... fabulous results after only 21/2months on 1000mg. I cut my statin dose in half from 40 to 20 mg and am happy about that also. I am not ready to stop yet as am a little afraid to but feel better about being able to be on a lower dose. ... Jim
Guy1_USA
07-15-2007, 02:04 AM
It seemed to take a whole year before I saw my best results. I did 500 mg for a week... then moved up to 1000 mg for a week... then moved up to 1500 mg for a week... then moved up to 2000 mg for a week. I stayed that way for 6 weeks longer and then had my blood test... and saw great results. Then my Doctor moved me up to 3000 mg. another lab test in 6-8 weeks and my numbers didn't improve.
Then dropped back down to 2000 for 3 months... retested and and numbers improved to the best I'd ever seen in 15 years, but not 100% in the normal range. I told Doc that I was going back up to 3000 mg and he said go for it. 6 months later... I had the best results in 16 years... 100% in the normal range... with a HDL/TC ratio of 3.75
If you can tolerate Niaspan... I say give it a good long try... like for a year or two before you say nay.
Then dropped back down to 2000 for 3 months... retested and and numbers improved to the best I'd ever seen in 15 years, but not 100% in the normal range. I told Doc that I was going back up to 3000 mg and he said go for it. 6 months later... I had the best results in 16 years... 100% in the normal range... with a HDL/TC ratio of 3.75
If you can tolerate Niaspan... I say give it a good long try... like for a year or two before you say nay.
jkhh
07-15-2007, 07:14 AM
Ventureman,
My doctor first tried Niaspan with me. I started at 500 mg then to 1000 mg and then the flushing, etc. ended that experiment. At that time, he told me I would have to get to 2000 mg to see any positive impact. You being able to tolerate 3000 mg is amazing to me. I think your numbers are fantastic. They're similar to mine now (except I'm taking 500 to 1000 mg of Slo-Niacin) after losing 20 pounds. The weight loss gave me the most noticeable improvement (in Total, LDL and HDL). I would point out the impact that Statins have on numbers and would have in your case. Think about it. You're taking a lot of Niaspan and still, some could argue that your numbers need to be lower. With a Statin, your LDL would likely be up to 50% lower (than what they are now), as would your total! At least that was my experience when on Vytorin 10/20 and Slo-Niacin (after losing 10 pounds). I felt "wiped out" though and would not suggest going so low. After quitting the Vytorin but continuing the Slo-Niacin, I feel much better (mentally and physically). I'm to get my numbers in a few weeks so we'll see:D .
It looks like you've found a good option for you. As you've indicated, I would "go to church" every 6 months on my liver panels:jester: and keep praising Niaspan, of course.
My doctor first tried Niaspan with me. I started at 500 mg then to 1000 mg and then the flushing, etc. ended that experiment. At that time, he told me I would have to get to 2000 mg to see any positive impact. You being able to tolerate 3000 mg is amazing to me. I think your numbers are fantastic. They're similar to mine now (except I'm taking 500 to 1000 mg of Slo-Niacin) after losing 20 pounds. The weight loss gave me the most noticeable improvement (in Total, LDL and HDL). I would point out the impact that Statins have on numbers and would have in your case. Think about it. You're taking a lot of Niaspan and still, some could argue that your numbers need to be lower. With a Statin, your LDL would likely be up to 50% lower (than what they are now), as would your total! At least that was my experience when on Vytorin 10/20 and Slo-Niacin (after losing 10 pounds). I felt "wiped out" though and would not suggest going so low. After quitting the Vytorin but continuing the Slo-Niacin, I feel much better (mentally and physically). I'm to get my numbers in a few weeks so we'll see:D .
It looks like you've found a good option for you. As you've indicated, I would "go to church" every 6 months on my liver panels:jester: and keep praising Niaspan, of course.
Guy1_USA
07-15-2007, 01:04 PM
I spend 6 years on statins... three different statins for two yers each... and all of them gave me achs and pains as if I had the flu.
After lots of research on the forum, and using my experiences and opinions of others... I have decided to never consider a statin again. I have a strong feeling that long term use will turn out to be bad for a lot of the folks who take statins. Only time will tell.
The question in my mind is, what is worse... statins or high cholesterol. In my opinion, the answer is statins are worse. :)
After lots of research on the forum, and using my experiences and opinions of others... I have decided to never consider a statin again. I have a strong feeling that long term use will turn out to be bad for a lot of the folks who take statins. Only time will tell.
The question in my mind is, what is worse... statins or high cholesterol. In my opinion, the answer is statins are worse. :)
jkhh
07-15-2007, 06:03 PM
Ventureman,
You make a great point. After 2 times on them (Crestor and Vytorin), I noticed both times that I had the aches/pains/anxiousness/"down feeling". I now have a baker's cyst on the back of my right leg that (it just so happens:confused: ) is the same spot where I always felt a "charley horse" on my right leg while taking statins. Of course, the doctors say "no way, not related . . . " but I'm not so sure. My point to you was (as I know you're aware) statins can be potent in their effect. Fortunately for me, my numbers are not so bad that even untreated I'm just moderately (or very barely:D ) high. Otherwise, statins are a tougher decision. I know others on here are in a more fragile situation than me. That's why it's always best to share info, encourage, etc. but to ultimately, make one's own decisions (hopefully with the assistance of a good physician;) ).
You make a great point. After 2 times on them (Crestor and Vytorin), I noticed both times that I had the aches/pains/anxiousness/"down feeling". I now have a baker's cyst on the back of my right leg that (it just so happens:confused: ) is the same spot where I always felt a "charley horse" on my right leg while taking statins. Of course, the doctors say "no way, not related . . . " but I'm not so sure. My point to you was (as I know you're aware) statins can be potent in their effect. Fortunately for me, my numbers are not so bad that even untreated I'm just moderately (or very barely:D ) high. Otherwise, statins are a tougher decision. I know others on here are in a more fragile situation than me. That's why it's always best to share info, encourage, etc. but to ultimately, make one's own decisions (hopefully with the assistance of a good physician;) ).
Guy1_USA
07-16-2007, 03:08 AM
Thanks...
I have always tried nearly every medication for a time that my Doctors have prescribed to me... I believe in giving them all a chance, unless I read some horror side effects from folks... like with my most recent prescription for beta-blockers to control high blood pressure. That sounds like one nasty medication all around the horn unless you are so messed up you need to take beta-blockers. I took it for one day and will not be touching or considering that medication again ever for high BP.
However, I think 6 years of statins is enough experience for me to dog them if I want. I'm basing my dogging on 6 years of experiance.
I love that there are many meds out there to try. And I'm extremely happy that I have found one with nearly no side effects.:)
I have always tried nearly every medication for a time that my Doctors have prescribed to me... I believe in giving them all a chance, unless I read some horror side effects from folks... like with my most recent prescription for beta-blockers to control high blood pressure. That sounds like one nasty medication all around the horn unless you are so messed up you need to take beta-blockers. I took it for one day and will not be touching or considering that medication again ever for high BP.
However, I think 6 years of statins is enough experience for me to dog them if I want. I'm basing my dogging on 6 years of experiance.
I love that there are many meds out there to try. And I'm extremely happy that I have found one with nearly no side effects.:)
Lenin
07-19-2007, 09:46 AM
Connie posted: Lenin,
I assume you are taking your aspirin with or 30 min before you take the Niacin??
You know, I have been taking the aspirin WITH the niacin. After reading your post, I'm now taking it a half hour earlier..."we shall see what we shall see !" (In the words of the immemorable Miss Jean Brody:D!)
I assume you are taking your aspirin with or 30 min before you take the Niacin??
You know, I have been taking the aspirin WITH the niacin. After reading your post, I'm now taking it a half hour earlier..."we shall see what we shall see !" (In the words of the immemorable Miss Jean Brody:D!)
Guy1_USA
07-19-2007, 12:30 PM
OK... I started taking a B-complex as suggest by you folks. Looks like it has 50 mg of every B in it. I also started taking a multiple vitamin again too... one of the higher dose kind.
I'm assuming that the niacin in these vitamins are the immediate or 'fast' release variety. So I now presume that I an taking 3000 mg of extended release niacin (Niaspan) and 70 mg of immediate or 'fast' release niacin. No flushing, so that's good.
I'm assuming that the niacin in these vitamins are the immediate or 'fast' release variety. So I now presume that I an taking 3000 mg of extended release niacin (Niaspan) and 70 mg of immediate or 'fast' release niacin. No flushing, so that's good.