The Niacin "flush" - is the equivalent of what?

[JanMichael]

I have been taking 1k/mg 3x per day now for a few weeks. I've only had the flush a couple of times (it is totally rare and most of the time it is fine - no flush) and while it felt like my skin was literally on fire I could still function, mostly. This is regular Niacin not time released or "Slo" niacin. The real stuff.

I've been told that this feeling is almost exactly like the feeling created by <insert word here>.

Who wins?


On an aside has anyone else ever used Niacin for trigs or cholesterol control? What were the results? I've yet to be tested since hitting the 3k per day.

[Lars39]

1. Here's some info from another thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x1271888

[RagAss]

2. Enlightenment.

[suninvited]

3. I used Niacin for cholesterol control

and the flush is exactly like the feeling of being set on fire, or standing in the middle of a fire ant bed, or both at the same time.

[JanMichael]

5. Did it work and was it immediate realease?

I'm not too comfy with the extended release versions that are associated with liver issues (however rarely).

Also how much did you take?

[nolabear]

4. Crazy hot flash? My husband has been on niacin tx for years

and still gets those things now and again. His best treatment is a hot shower (works on those nerve endings and the sting feels normal compared to the niacin sting) and benedryl. It really does help.

Now and then a hot flash has that feeling for me; fire ants is a good description. Whoof!

[JanMichael]

6. What is "tx"?

Also the answer to the quiz was "menopause hotflash"!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

15. tx=treatment

:hi:

[nolabear]

19. Thx for filling in, Peggy!

:hi:

[nickinSTL]

7. I've just started Niaspan

primarily for raising HDL, though my triglycerides were high at last check, too.

Currently only on 500mg 1x/d, but will be increasing to 1k mg. No flushing yet.

My dad takes 1k as well, and has terrible problems with flushing and hypersensitivity to heat.

I think his HDL has come up somewhat, though it's still below 40.

[Quantess]

8. Aren't you worried that you will cause an imbalance in your B-vitamins?

I hope your doctor has approved of this.

[JanMichael]

11. He's cool with it.

I'll get tested in a couple of months.

[Sabriel]

9. Like a mini-heart attack crossed with an MSG reaction

I actually thought I was having a heart attack, the first time.

[JanMichael]

10. You should have a bout of Costochondritis.

Now THAT feels like a big assed heart attack even though it's just an inflammation in the rib cage. Makes the left arm tingle too. Scary as shit.

Did you stay on niacin?

[Sabriel]

13. Nope, just the one time.

It was enough for me!

[Taverner]

12. Isn't that the drugs you've taken going out, so you can test clear?

:shrug:

[UTUSN]

14. Hippies used the B vitamins for "maintaining" - it's a calm-your-nerves thing n/t

[nytemare]

16. Oh no, not niacin

I took some in addition to a multi-vitamin that already had 100% daily recommendation for niacin.

I never say OMG, but O M G!

My whole body turned beet red and sweaty, and I have never itched so much in my entire life. It sort of reminded me of the feeling I got after going in the gas chamber in basic training.

It was a prickly, burning, itch, as if napalm chiggers had attacked me.

My head itched, my arms itched, my legs itched, etc. I just fucking itched. After about an hour, I felt much better. Thanks to the internet, I figured out what was going on.

I was experiencing quite a lot of migraine headaches, and read that Niacin helped.

[nolabear]

20. It took my husband years to build up tolerance.

He used to have to creep up on the dosage and back off when they started and then creep up again. Now he has a flush now and then but is mostly okay. And takes a TON of stuff for liver support and B vitamins. Apparently it helps; he had a couple of heart attacks, both pretty mild, 12 years ago and over the years has acquired what the doctor jokingly refers to as a "Full Metal Jacket," nine stents. But the last one was years ago, he's doing just fine, and has been one determined fella in keeping with the regimen.

[JCMach1]

17. Can feel like a 'big' heart attack... scared the crap out of me when that happened...

[MiddleFingerMom]

18. Colo-rectal...

.
... fire ants.
.
The existence of which has caused me to NEVER sleep in anythimg less invasive
than tightie-whities when I go camping.
.
. No, REALLY... I read it on the Intertubes.
.
. AND they "set up camp" in a friend of a friend of mine.

[old mark]

21. I took it for a few days, could not tolerate it - felt like I was alternately

on fire and had bugs underneath my skin. I could not do it even for a week, it was too miserable.

mark