I have been taking the Slo-Niacin for 2 months now, increased to 2000mg a day, I have heard allot about niaspan, exactly what is the difference? Also I have been sweating like crazy at night since I take 2 pills in the morning and 2 before bed is this a side effect?

I have been taking the Slo-Niacin for 2 months now, increased to 2000mg a day, I have heard allot about niaspan, exactly what is the difference? Also I have been sweating like crazy at night since I take 2 pills in the morning and 2 before bed is this a side effect?

Slo-Niacin is what's termed "sustained-release" and Niaspan is "extended release". Sounds the same, right? But it isn't.

Slo-Niacin has less flushing than Niaspan but carries a greater risk for liver toxicity. This is due to the timing of the release that is designed to reduce the flushing.

I am not sure if I am explaining this completely correct but I think, there are basically "2 buckets" in the liver where niacin (nicotinic acid) ends up undergoing metabolism. One is called the "oxidative" bucket and the other is "conjugative". Nicotinic acid favors the oxidative bucket first. When that bucket overflows, it spills over into the conjugative bucket. When the conjugative bucket spills over you get the niacin flush. So far, there is nothing known to be bad about the flushing itself except that it makes you feel rotten (and can be painful for some).

Timed release or sustained release forms are designed to be released in a way so it stays within the the bucket(s) and doesn't "spill over". It is the prolonged amount of time that it stays within that bucket that can/may cause liver toxicity but you will get little to no flushing.

I hope that helps!

I read somewhere that if you take an aspirin with the niacin you wont get any flushing..

It only helps with the flushing... it does not eliminate it. This works differently for everyone.

I have been taking the Slo-Niacin for 2 months now, increased to 2000mg a day, I have heard allot about niaspan, exactly what is the difference? Also I have been sweating like crazy at night since I take 2 pills in the morning and 2 before bed is this a side effect?

Personally I think the only differences between SLO-NIACIN and NIASPAN are semantics and price. They are perfectly equivalent except one is by Rx and the other is over the counter.

Slow-acting, extended release, sustained release, time release, long acting, and XL all mean the same in my book...distinctions without difference. Abbott Pharma has never made a convincing argument why NIASPAN's timed release is any different from the others...just that it is a way to take NIACIN with slower absorption and thus less chance of flushing.

I think SLO-NIACIN (by Upsher Smith) is equivalent in every way to NIASPAN and is a lot cheaper. It gave me very good HDL results until I switched to something far cheaper still. I take 500 mg./day.

For those with no concerns about money, NIASPAN remains an excellent product. :D

For those with no concerns about money, NIASPAN remains an excellent product. :D



You gotta love insurance... :D

American Heart Assoc provides an unbiased view of the different forms of niacin should anyone wish to check it out. Lenin definitely isn't worried about his liver! =)

Gosh... I think you are allowed to post the AMA article/site... as this is a disinterested 3rd party that is not recommending a particular interest...

What say you, moderators...?

The American Heart Association website is

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000

American Heart Assoc provides an unbiased view of the different forms of niacin should anyone wish to check it out. Lenin definitely isn't worried about his liver! =)

So, since you brought it up, what DOES the AHA say comparing the effects of NIASPAN with SLO-NIACIN with regards to the health of the liver...be specific.

Yes, I am VERY concernned about the health of my liver... and I get normal readings for all liver enzymes, year in and year out. If I got any readings outside of the normal range, I would certainly stop taking ANY form of niacin with my Lipitor!

I have been taking the Slo-Niacin for 2 months now, increased to 2000mg a day, I have heard allot about niaspan, exactly what is the difference? Also I have been sweating like crazy at night since I take 2 pills in the morning and 2 before bed is this a side effect?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I thought 1500mg a day for Slo-Niacin should be maximum?

The recommended dosage for Niaspan is 2000 mg a day. Above that amount you can get into blood sugar issues and liver issues.

I'm taking 3000 mg of Niaspan a day, which is the maximum dosage, I believe.

I've read that SLO-niacin can cause liver issues, but I'm not sure of the dosage at which this more likely to happen.

Is slo-niacin the same as no flush niacin?