Non flush Niacin... - High Cholesterol Message Board

JJ · 05-18-2005, 10:22 AM

Well I finally tried the darn stuff, only 100 mgs. and within an hr. I was itchy, especially in the cheeks of my face, arms and back. It didn't stop either for about 10 hrs.....

My face felt a lil flushed, but I had no rash, just the stinking itchy feeling like ants were crawling on me. I didn't take any sat. and I was fine, took it again sunday and the same thing. I am REALLY getting disgusted now, seems no matter what I do, it has a side effect. I really thought the non flush would be alot better, but if this is going to happen each time..I QUIT!...

Uff-Da! · 05-18-2005, 10:40 AM

Did you take it with a meal? That helps. Also, if you are able to take aspirin, one suggestion I've read is to take an aspirin 30 minutes before taking the niacin. If you can tolerate the flush in the meantime, it will get better, I promise. It might take a week or more, though. But try taking it each day. If you try skipping days, you won't build up the tolerance, so you'll keep getting the flush longer.

JJ · 05-18-2005, 11:22 AM

Yup, took it after a meal. Is it normal to get a lil flush and itching with the inositol hexanicotinate? I thought this was suppose to be something that eliminated it. I know with the IR stuff U get it but this was a surprize to me.

I just ate lunch and will try another one, but I swear, if it keeps up, I am going to ditch this. Never seen anyone so darn sensitive to stuff like I am, boy it aggravates me to no end sometimes. Will let ya know how it goes. Oh well, if I have to ditch it, at least it was cheap enough.

Thanx for the info., and CYL....

BTW..they are tablets and maybe I should split them and try 50 mgs. and try to work up????

Uff-Da! · 05-18-2005, 12:13 PM

I've never tried the inositol hexanicotinate myself. I did try the immediate use many years ago and knew I didn't want to put up with the flush of that, so I've been using the sustained release nicotinic acid in a 250 mg dose. I did have some minor flushing and itching the first week with it, but after that it totally disappeared. If you can manage to put up with the itching for a week or two, I'm sure it will get much better, if not disappear altogether. At least you know the itching and flushing are totally harmless, not like some of the reactions you've had from other drugs.

If the pill isn't a coated one, it would be okay to divided, but I was thinking if that is supposed to be a really long time-release, it might be one you should NOT divide. I know my sustained-release niacin is a pill, but in a wax matrix and you can't divide it or you would create an immediate release out of it. And believe me, you wouldn't want THAT! Not if you are having trouble with the non-flush. Maybe you can ask a pharmacist about the particular brand you are using if no one here knows for certain.

JJ · 05-18-2005, 01:53 PM

This is just like an aspirin and has a line down the middle, so I cut it up after lunch and took 50. So far, it seems ok. I'll try it for a few days and see how it goes, then jump it up to the 100. Like I said, I am sooooo sensitive to stuff U can't believe it. If I am sick and take ONE Tylenol, I am asleep within a half hr. Like U said, if I got a stupid itch from this at 100, I can imagine what the IR would do.......

Like I said, I will give it a go, if it works fine, if not, right in the pail it goes. God, this trying stuff can be a real pain in the butt. Just went shopping and bought green tea, knowing my luck that will probably make me sick too, as I know my daughter can't take it, she get's VERY sick from it. Oh the joys of getting older, DON'T LOSE IT!! CYL......