Niacin Studies

[jkhh]

Can anyone point me towards studies involving Niacin (ESPECIALLY SLO-NIACIN) and its effectiveness in lowering ldl, total and increasing hdl? I chanced upon one study at the University of Washington concerning Slo-Niacin and Simvastatin but it appears to ongoing (or I can't figure out the results .

I tried Niaspan which is considered extended release, but the flushing was so bad (at 1000 mg). I felt my head and shoulders were going to explode. The slo-niacin is not as bad but I haven't checked my labs with it yet (been taking 500 mg x 2 for about 4 weeks now). My big concerns are effectiveness and liver toxicity.

Thanks for any advise or info that anyone can give me.

[Lenin]

Judge,

I think you are being a bit too specific. I doubt that you'll find much info PRECISELY about SLO-NIACIN which is the brand name of the extended release product made by Upsher Smith and available without a prescription.
In FACT, they are sprecifically prevented by LAW from making any medical claims about their product...only Niaspan (Rx) can make those claims.

I think you are on solid ground comparing SLO-NIACIN with any extended release niacin product, or indeed, with Niaspan, but probably not the inositol hexanicotinoate product which is really a different molecule than niacin.

Best is to try it and see what numbers you get.

I've been using it with Lipitor for many months now and find it just fine. Although I have just run out of my "cheapy" SLO NIACIN and switched to another time release formulation that I got in a bin at a discounter (about 20 bottles ): called DIXON'S Time Released Niacin. It is in clear capsules like those old time release cold preparations filled with the multicolored "beads." I got bottles of 100 caps- 250 mg. at $.99 each so I bought all they had.

The SLO NIACIN gave me a decent boost in HLD and, I think, a little further drop in LDL. Maybe a slight drop in Lp(a).

I take my niacin at night with my Lipitor and 650 mg. aspirin.

[jkhh]

Lenin,

I will attach the study that concerns slo-Niacin and Lipitor. Maybe you can decipher it!

[url]http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00194402[/url]

I think they must be doing it (did it?) with various statins!

Just when I was about to recommend you to be the spokesperson for Slo-Niacin, you go and switch brands! Oh well, maybe when it works its miracles on my numbers, you'll switch back (ha).

[Lenin]

Judge,

Phase IV trials are POST marketing trials so I presume there is such a formulation out now: 10 mg. atorvastatin (Lipitor) and 1500 mg. Slo-Niacin. It looks like the trial period has finished as of July 2006...I wonder what results they got? They were testing the statin, the niacin and both together.
It seems only Lipitor was used and Upsher-Smith was picking up the bill. Guess is that IF the results are good then they can get FDA approval to make the same kinds of claims that Niaspan makes...in fact, if side effects are low they might be able to aim the specific combination at a waiting public and one-up Niaspan. Hate to see it go Rx though...at 5 times the price.
Perhaps they extended the trial beyond the anticipated date.

Anyhoo,
I'll be the poster boy again for the SLO-NIACIN if my "old drug outlet" gets more product. They were selling the bottles at $2.99 per 100 tablet 500 mg. dose. This is a HUGE discount from retail...my hunch is that WALLMART is disposing of the near-sell-by's and that's what I bought.
I have a hunch there MUST be several more bottles ferreted away in this apartment somewhere...I KNOW I bought more than I took!
I'll look hard tomorrow.
But in the meantime, I have no problem with the colorful capsules.

[jkhh]

Could one call the manufacturer and find out? I"m not beneath doing it so let me know.