Reduce High Cholesterol With Niacin

What is niacin and does it work to reduce high cholesterol levels?

Niacin is used to help lower high cholesterol and fat levels in the blood. This may help prevent medical problems caused by cholesterol and fat clogging the blood vessels.

Some strengths of niacin are available only with your doctor's prescription. Others are available without a prescription, since niacin is also a vitamin. However, it is best to take it only under your doctor's direction so that you can be sure you are taking the correct dose.

Niacin for use in the treatment of high cholesterol is available in the following dosage forms:

Oral
Extended-release capsules (U.S.)
Solution (U.S.)
Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Extended-release tablets (U.S. and Canada)

Before Using This Medicine

If you are taking this medicine without a prescription, carefully read and follow any precautions on the label. For niacin, the following should be considered:

Allergies—Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to niacin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy—Studies have not been done in either humans or animals.

Before taking niacin, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant. It may be necessary for you to stop taking this medicine or to take another medicine while you are pregnant. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Breast-feeding—Niacin passes into human breast milk and may cause unwanted effects in nursing babies. It may be necessary for you to take another medicine or to stop breast-feeding during treatment. Be sure you have discussed the risks and benefits of the medicine with your doctor.

Children—There is no specific information comparing the use of niacin for high cholesterol in children with use in other age groups. However, use is not recommended in children under 2 years of age since cholesterol is needed for normal development.

Older adults—Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. Although there is no specific information comparing the use of niacin for high cholesterol in the elderly with use in other age groups, it is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older people than in younger adults.

Other medicines—Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are using any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Adrenergic Blocking agents (medicine for the heart) or
Alcohol or
Anticoagulants (medicine to keep your blood thin) or
Antihypertensives (medicine for high blood pressure) or
Bile Acid Sequestrants (medicine used to treat high cholesterol) or
Calcium channel blockers (medicine for heart problems or high blood pressure) or
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (medicine to lower your cholesterol) or
Nitrates (e.g., nitroglycerin and isosorbide)—Niacin may increase the effects of these medications or may have increased side effects when these drugs are given together.

Other medical problems—The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of niacin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Bleeding problems or
Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) or
Glaucoma or
Gout or
Liver disease or history of jaundice
Low blood pressure or
Stomach ulcer—Niacin may make these conditions worse
Kidney problems—Niacin (extended release tablets) may make your kidney problems worse.