My first experience with Niacin

[no_hypocrisy]

I took 1,000 mg capsule of Niacin about an hour ago.

Whoa, the flush! It started with my palms and spread all over my body. My hot flashes didn't get this extreme. I'm in front of a fan at full tilt and nada!

Conventional wisdom says this side effect will recede after my body gets used to it.

[SHRED]

1. I hear ya

It's not comfortable.

[Mz Pip]

2. Good luck!

Hope you have better luck than I did. Never did get past the flushing. It is supposed to work for bringing down cholesterol but I never could get the dosage high enough. Frustrating.

[PdxSean]

3. Funny, barely related, story.

Years ago I was taking an older friend to the airport. About midway there I asked whether she wanted me to leave her seat warmer on or turn it off. She gasped "Jesus, Sean! You can't just turn on a person's seat warmer and not tell them. I thought I was having a hot flash!"

We laughed so hard that I almost had to pull the car over to the side of the road.

[chaking53]

4. It is better to take 500 mg twice a day

[demigoddess]

5. when I tried it, I itched all over, all day. It never stopped.

hope that doesn't happen to you.

[GeorgeGist]

6. Here's what works for me ...

take Niacin at bedtime and take an aspirin with it.

My cardiologist told me this when he first prescribed 5 years ago. I rarely have any discomfort.

[awesomerwb1]

7. Funny stories.

I take 500mg in the morning and 500mg at bedtime (supposed to help with sleep).
I used to take 500mg in the morning and 500mg after lunch. I changed to prior to bedtime because of the sleep thing. Not sure it helps with sleep but I can definitely do with not getting a flush at work.

[Warpy]

8. Niacinamide will give you the benefits without the niacin flush

I do agree that you might want to take it in divided doses. You don't get used to the Niacin, but you do get used to the flush, it generally doesn't last long. If you just can't cope, switch to niacinamide.

I'd advise staying away from timed release niacin. That stuff gives you flushes at irregular intervals during the day and there's no way to plan them. They can be inconvenient.

[eppur_se_muova]

10. Absolutely ! Niacinamide is the way to go.

I experienced no flush with it at all.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. Do you get the same or similar results with metabolism (fat to energy)

with niacinamide as you do with niacin?

[Warpy]

13. Yes, it's basically the same thing if you're taking it as a vitamin

but the amine that prevents flushing also inhibits the cholesterol lowering property of niacin. If people are taking it to lower cholesterol, they should probably stick to niacin in divided doses and just cope with the discomfort of the flush for 5 minutes half an hour or so after they take it. If they absolutely can't tolerate it, then they need to consult their doctors about switching.

Honestly, if you know it's coming, it's not terrible. You do get used to it. Just stay away from the timed release stuff, you'll want it predictable

[Mrs. Overall]

9. I ended up in the emergency room--I didn't realize what was happening to me

as I turned red and began itching all over. I also had small welts. I thought I was having a severe allergic reaction.

I had no idea that Niacin could cause such symptoms.

I was sent home with a couple of Benadryl and told to take a nap (and advised to cut the Niacin dosage in half if I wanted to continue taking it).

[Warpy]

11. Yeah, it's weird when you don't know it's coming

I wish vitamin companies would print large warnings on the bottles, preferably across the caps. We used to warn people when I worked in a health food store.

Some people liked the flush back during New England winters. Said it made 'em feel warm for a while.