Generic Name: nicotinic acid (niacin) (nick oh TIN ick acid (NYE a sin))
Brand Names: Niaspan
Niaspan : Important Information:
Follow any diet or exercise plan outlined by your doctor. Diet and exercise are very important factors in controlling cholesterol levels.
- Take Niaspan with food to lessen stomach upset.
- You may experience warmth and flushing of the neck, ears, and face along with itching, tingling, and headache after taking Niaspan. This side effect generally lessens with time. You may need to take aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug 30 minutes before taking a dose of Niacin to prevent this side effect. Continue to take Niaspan and talk to your doctor if you experience this side effect.
- Dizziness may occur, especially when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly and use caution when driving or performing other hazardous activities.
- Because large doses of Niaspan can result in liver damage and other health problems, you should not take this drug unless a doctor is monitoring your liver function.
- Regular-release and sustained-release forms of Niacin are not the same. Also, over the counter nicotinic acid products and dietary supplements may be different from prescription preparations. Do not change the type of Niacin product you are taking without talking to your doctor.
What is Niaspan
- Niaspan, also known as niacin, is vitamin B3. It occurs naturally in plants and animals, and it is also added to many foods in small amounts as a vitamin supplement. Niaspan is also present in small amounts in many multiple vitamins and nutritional supplements.
- Niacin is used as a supplement to treat and to prevent niacin deficiencies and pellagra. In larger doses, nicotinic acid is used to lower high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (types of fat) in the blood.
- Niaspan may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What to Discuss Before Using Niaspan
- Do not take Niaspan if you have liver disease, or if you have an ulcer in your stomach.
- Alcohol can affect your liver and make treatment with nicotinic acid dangerous. Discuss with your doctor the amount of alcohol that you drink.
- Before taking Niacin, talk to your doctor if you have
- heart disease,
- kidney disease,
- severe low blood pressure,
- gallbladder disease,
- a history of jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes related to liver problems),
- diabetes,
- muscle pain or disease;
- glaucoma, or
- gout.
- You may need a lower dose of Niaspan or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above.
- Niaspan is in the FDA pregnancy category C when used in doses greater than those found in vitamin supplements and multiple vitamins. This means that it is not known whether large doses of nicotinic acid will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
- Niaspan passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
Niaspan Dosage Method
- Take Niaspan exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
- Follow any diet or exercise plan outlined by your doctor. Diet and exercise are very important factors in controlling cholesterol levels.
- Because large doses of Niacin can result in liver damage and other health problems, you should not take this drug unless a doctor is monitoring your liver function.
- Regular-release and sustained-release forms of Niaspan are not the same. Also, over the counter nicotinic acid products and dietary supplements may be different from prescription preparations. Do not change the type of Niacin product you are taking without talking to your doctor.
- Take each dose of Niaspan with a full glass of water.
- Take the Niaspan brand of nicotinic acid at bedtime, after a low-fat snack.
- Avoid drinking hot beverages or alcohol with your dose of Niacin.
- You may experience warmth and flushing of the neck, ears, and face along with itching, tingling, and headache after taking nicotinic acid. This side effect generally lessens with time. You may need to take aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug 30 minutes before taking a dose of nicotinic acid to prevent this side effect. Continue to take Niaspan and talk to your doctor if you experience this side effect.
- Take Niaspan with food to lessen stomach upset.
- Do not crush, chew, or break the extended-release tablets or capsules (such as Niaspan ER). Swallow them whole. Ask your pharmacist if you do not know whether you have an extended-release formulation.
- Colestipol (Colestid) and cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran) may interfere with nicotinic acid. Take colestipol and cholestyramine 4 to 6 hours apart from nicotinic acid.
- To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the elixir form of nicotinic acid with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist where you can get one.
- If you stop taking Niaspan for an extended length of time, talk to your doctor before re-starting therapy.
- Store Niaspan at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Miss a dose: Problems?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication.
Niaspan Overdose?
- Seek emergency medical attention or call a poison control left near you.
- Symptoms of a Niaspan overdose may include nausea, dizziness, itching, vomiting, upset stomach, and flushing.
Avoid During Treatment
- Dizziness may occur, especially when you rise from a sitting or lying position. Rise slowly and use caution when driving or performing other hazardous activities.
Niaspan Side Effects
- If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking Niaspan and seek emergency medical attention:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
- chest pain or an irregular (fast or slow) heartbeat;
- yellowing of your skin or eyes (liver damage);
- a flu-like feeling, including nausea, loss of appetite, aching, and a general feeling of not being well (liver or blood problems);
- unexplained muscle pain, aching, or weakness (muscle disease or gout); or
- dizziness, faintness or fainting spells;
- cloudy or blurry vision.
- If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor if you have changes in your blood glucose.
- Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take Niaspan and talk to your doctor if you experience
- stomach upset, gas, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea or nausea (take nicotinic acid with food to decrease this side effect).
- warmth and flushing of the neck, ears, and face along with itching, tingling, and headache (you may need to take aspirin or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug before taking a dose of nicotinic acid to prevent this side effect, which generally lessens with time).
- Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs to avoid while undergoing treatment
- The use of Niacin to lower cholesterol may cause muscle damage. The use of nicotinic acid with the cholesterol-lowering drugs lovastatin (Mevacor), atorvastatin, (Lipitor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), fluvastatin (Lescol), or gemfibrozil (Lopid), may increase the risk of muscle damage. If you have any muscle pain, aching, or weakness, stop taking Niaspan and contact your doctor immediately.
- Colestipol (Colestid) and cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran) may interfere with nicotinic acid. Take colestipol and cholestyramine 4 to 6 hours apart from nicotinic acid.
- Before taking Niacin, talk to your doctor if you are taking vitamins, supplement or other product containing niacin or nicotinamide.
- Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with Niaspan. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines or herbal/ health supplements.
Niaspan, generically known as Niacin ( nicotinic acid ), is an antihyperlipidemic used to decrease levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Niacin is used in addition to a proper diet and exercise to help control levels of fats in the blood.
Niaspan can help lower "bad" cholesterol and fats and raise "good" cholesterol (HDL). In general, Niaspan drug is used after your blood fat levels have not been fully controlled by other treatment. The most commonly prescribed dose (1000 mg), Niaspan increases HDL cholesterol along with healthy diet and exercise, this can help you to reach your target HDL cholesterol levels.
Niaspan is the only prescription extended-release form of Niacin. Do not switch to another form of Niacin, as it may cause damage to your liver. Niaspan may cause an increase in blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, you should carefully check your blood sugar levels and report any changes to your doctor. Niaspan tablets cannot be split and has to be taken wholly in the existing form.
