Another Niacin question - High Cholesterol Message Board

darock_sayz · 07-12-2007, 02:31 PM

Hello,
I live in Canada and the good doctor is recommending Niacin. He told me to go over the counter at a pharmacy at get either:

Regular Niacin or Timed-release Niacin
BUT NOT Flush - Free though

Some members of this board keep mentioning Niaspan, is that something that fits in the first to categories and can be purchase over the counter (in Canada to boot, but I live on the border so can drive into the US if needed) Any other types that have shown success ?

Thanks in Advance

Guy1_USA · 07-12-2007, 02:48 PM

Niaspan is prescription extended release niacin.

I take 3000 mg of Niaspan a day. Some folks balk at the cost... but if you have insurance, I would definitely use it. it costs about $1.00 for 1000 mg if you purchase it yourself.

I have tried the over the counter niacins and found them intolerable... even at 500 mg. Lenin takes asprin to make the OTC stuff tolerable.

I love Niaspan... and would gladly pay 100% of the cost if I didn't have insurance to cover it. It's the only medication that has ever got my lipids into the normal range... something even statins couldn't provide for me.

darock_sayz · 07-20-2007, 11:53 AM

Is Niaspan more superior in terms of the results it provides over OTC ? I am slowly working myself up right now only doing a small amount of 500mg spread over the day...first week and I am noticing only a little bit of flusing, I have no idea what it will be like at 1500MG over the day! I assume if I can tolerate and there is no difference in terms of results I will keep with it or else I wil then try the Niaspan ?

Guy1_USA · 07-20-2007, 12:54 PM

There are three types of niacin... check out the topic, "Since I'm so happy with niacin..."

[url]http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=508185[/url]

Lenin · 07-21-2007, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Regular Niacin or Timed-release Niacin
BUT NOT Flush - Free though

darock,
I think your doctor was being imprecise and was referring to NIACINAMIDE as the "flush-free." IT doees not lower cholesterol.

IF he was referring to the more commonly sold inositol hexanicotinoate as the flush-free, he was not accurate...it is reasonably effective.

Try the regular, if you cannot stand it try a time release. If you want to pay the most for a well-tested time release variety, then get an Rx for Niaspan and buy it in a pharmacy...it's available in Canadian pharmacies also.