Hi well my last numbers came out very bad, so my dr gave me two choices- zetia or 3000 mgs or niacin. Well I decided to try the zetiza first. OH MY GOD- I was doubled over with such horrible stomach pains. I wanted it to work so badly that I tried it for 4 days and then had to stop and as soon as I did, my stomach got better. So, then I decided to try the tricor again that I had tried last year. Well, I got such a spliting headache from this that I had to stop this too. My body is so sensitive to meds it is horrible. SO now, I am trying the niacin. I am up to 2000 mgs with no problems and slowly will try to get up to the theraputic dose. I am also taking gugul lipid and 3000 mgs of fish oil. So , my question is- who has tried the flush free niacin in this amount and did it work? I was told by many doctors that it does work at this amount, but I have to watch my liver enzymes which I do every 3 months. I have to lower my numbers, I am like a walkling time bomb and it is scaring me to death. SO, please, any replies to this will be so appreciated. THank You

Well, 1500 mg produced fantastic results as far as helping to elevate my HDL-C and shifting the particle sizes from small LDL-C and HDL-C to intermediate and large size particles (also greatly lowers risk for future cardiac events).

I never minded the flushing, I knew when it happened that it was a minor inconvenience for the benefit being realized.

Unfortunately, my liver did not tolerate the niacin and it resulted in elevations of both direct and indirect bilirubin. After stopping niacin for a month, I restarted on 500 mg and am continuing at this level. (All of these changes are being done under the care of a physician). If you can tolerate 2000mg, then I would expect that you should have the benefits from Niacin.

From what I understood with tricor though, the advantage (w/r/t liver problems) is that after about a year of watching your hepatic panel, if tricor did not result in abnormal values, then you had a low chance that tricor would in the future. With niacin, apparently, you have just as much chance of it causing adverse effects in your liver 5 years from now, as it does in the first month. Therefore, on niacin, a hepatic panel needs to be done routinely throughout treatment.

I tried Zetia but became so nauseated that I had to stop it. Only took it for about 3 weeks but it was making me feel just awful. I am on 1500mg of Niacin now. I tolerate Niacin just fine. When I first started the Niacin at 500mg about a year ago my total cholesterol dropped about 30 points in the first four months. My HDL increased and my ratio was extremely good. At that point I felt I was really on to something. However, when I had a lipid panel done four months after that my total cholesterol had increased once again to the original figure. Very discouraging. At that point I went up to 1000mg of Niacin. I waited another four months and my total cholesterol was still high. That is when I went on Zetia and my doctor raised the Niacin to 1500mg. I watch everything I eat so I cannot cut back any more on the diet. It is very discouraging. I haven't wanted to try the statins but my have to.

It sounds like the niacin helped you guys, but my question is - was it flush free niacin? I cannot take the regular- it makes me itch and gives me flashes all the time, so I am on flush free and have no side affects at this time. But, I took blood last week after being on it for 2 months and my numbers went up. not down. THis was when I was on 1000mgs. My dr. said that the least I must take is 3000mgs to work. I wonder if the flush free works as good as regualr. I hope it doe because it is the only think left that i have not tried. I even tried wellchol- it is horrrible on the stomach and you have to take 6 pills a day- and they are real big. Anyway, I hope that someone can give me info on this and maybe set my mind at ease. THanks

Hi Sarah and all. I have a question about Niacin. I started on Zocor last night, and upon reading the information sheet with the drug, it states a warning: The risk of myopathy is also increased by the following lipid-lowering drugs that are not potent CYP3A inhibitors, but whicn can cause myopathy when given alone. Niacin ( nicotinic acid) (>1 g/day).
Now I notice in my long acting Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement tablet, one of the ingredients stated is: Niacin (as Niacinamide 50 mg). Just because it's Niacin, now I am afraid to take this pill. Comments?

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JeanneMarie

JeanneMarie--Those precautions are directed towards those individuals who are combining a statin drug, such as Zocor, with more than 1000mg niacin, or nicotinic acid. Niacinamide is also vitamin B-3, but in a different form. Niacinamide has no cholesterol lowering effects, and does not share the same precautions with its more popular cousin, nicotinic acid. Therefore, I wouldn't concern myself with the 50mg of niacinamide in your supplement.

Thx Arizona. I see on the label where it's listed, it's right in the order where Vit. B3 would be. Gee, thx...now I will continue taking this supplement. This board is so informational, it was a God send I found it.

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JeanneMarie

Arizona I take 3000 mgs of flush free niacin. Is that what you mean that is the right one to take? It is not niacimade. I hope that this is correct because it is my last resort. I am also taking fish oil and guggl lipid. I just do not know what other program to go on. I am trying to eat a serving of beans every night too. I heard that this is very good for lowering numbers. Have you? Do you think that I am on the right track. I wonder sometimes, what is worse- danger of a heart attack, or being a cripple the rest of my life? A heart attack really scares me and that is why I want to take the zocor so badly because it really helped me, but. it also made me feel so awful. That is why I am trying alternatives- I would love opinions on this Thank You

Sarah101--Niacin, either in the form of nicotinic acid or inositol hexanicotinate(flush-free form)is what is used for lowering elevated lipid levels. Gugulipid and fish oil also support more favorable lipid levels. There are also others, including garlic, policosanol, and red yeast rice which are purported to be helpful. Beans and oats contain water-soluble fiber which helps lower cholesterol.

Unfortunately, the majority of doctors pretty much have their hands full just practicing mainstream medicine, so their range of knowledge regarding alternative treatments to drug therapy is rather limited. However, if you are unable to achieve satisfactory results with the supplements you have tried or are currently using, and you have a difficult time tolerating standard drug treatment, my advice to you would be to try to find a doctor who practices complementary medicine; that is, a medical doctor who is also proficient in matters related to nutritional alternatives. I know that such doctors are in the minority, but there are some of them around. As a matter of fact, since you reside in New Jersey, you may want to tune into WCTC(1450 AM) on Saturday mornings at 9:00 AM. A complementary physician, who practices right here in Middlesex County conducts the two hour program and takes calls from listeners. In fact, he has even devised his own natural cholesterol formulations. But in any case, it may be quite beneficial for you to seek out such a doctor.

Thanks for the reply I am hoping that the niacin will help me. I also try to high fiber foods, with low carbs. I seem to be doing everything right, but my numbers are not going down and it is so frustrating. I am almost desperate enought to go back on the zocor and have leg cramps (but not that desperate yet) SO, do you think I am doing something wrong? Other people seem to be helped on this board and I just wish I could too- Sarah

Been there and done that; it seems that nothing is
going to work with the numbers but statins. I am
not taking none of it now. Going to coast for a
while. I was on Lipitor; it done wonders with my
numbers but caused a lot of problems. Went on Tricor
for a time; helped a lot, but caused problems. I
tried policosanol and the non=flush niacin; made no
difference. I have kicked the whole mess and feel
wonderful. Your upper number may be high but the
GOOD cholesteral may be within good range. The
side effects from all of the above, are not worth
the quality of life that you can have, otherwise.
My problem is hereditary. My weight is great, my
diet is good so I am going to enjoy every day with
a lot of exercise and sunshine. My husband does not
have excessive cholesteral; very good numbers but
decided to try policosanol and non=flush niacin and
found neither one helped the numbers. His "good"
cholesteral is good though but the combination did
nothing to help the numbers at all. Your overall
number can be high but the "good"; the hdl, is the
most important.

Gee this sure is a discouraging reply. I was hoping that something could help me. My HDL was 41- not too bad but my rest was terrible. choles. 258 Tri 238 an my LDL was not good either. So, I am trying so hard to find a solution, Heart disease is in my family and I am so afraid of this. So is diabetes which is also influenced by high choles. So many on this board have found a diffence with some of these products. I just do not understand. THere really is not other choice for me but to try this program. So far the only problem with it is to remember to take all of the pills during the day- this is a big inconvenice. And, oh yes, it is very costly as well. ZOcor cost me $15.00 a month. All of these cost me about $70.00 a month. IF it works, it is worth it- but how long do I give it to work? How many months would be the criteria of its usefulness?

Sorry; didn't mean to discourage you. But give what
ever you do at least 2 months and if that doesn't
work, try something else. For the mean time, I am
content with nothing. My father died at 46 years
old of heart; and diabetes has "kind of" run in
my family, although my Mother doesn't have. I just
think eatting habits and exercising plays a big role
in the situation. I am not what you consider young
either and I feel better now than trying to fight
all of the drugs. That is not to say that works
for everyone as a lot of people are a lot younger than
I, but usually a person has to do everything they
can to make it work. More often, than not, the
medications tend to make you uncomfortable in some
way and if not, they tend to agitate the liver.