Side Effects of Niaspan

This is a fact that side effects occur with all medications but most of the side effects are quite common and usually disappear after body gets adjusted to the drug. Some of the common side effects associated with Niacin that usually does not require any medical intervention include:

• Flushing
• Headache
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Itching
• Cough

Patients must immediately consult doctor if any of the following severe side effects occur while taking Niaspan:

• Severe Stomach Pain
• Loss of appetite
• Darkening of urine
• Light gray colored stools
• Yellow eye or skin
• Increased heart beat
• Muscle dysfunction
• Liver problems

Niacin Drug Interaction

Before starting treatment with Niaspan it is important for the patients to discuss about all the prescription, non-prescription, herbal and vitamin supplements taken by them. This is advised because Niacin is known to interact with certain medications. Therefore users are advised to consult their doctor before taking any of these drugs:

• Acetylsalicylic acid
• Blood pressure medications like Propranolol, Verapamil, Metoprolol, Diltiazem
• Bile acid Sequestrants
• Cholestyramine
• Colestipol
• Nitrates
• Other Cholesterol medicine like Statin
• Vitamins
• Warfarin
• Alcohol

Patients with the following conditions must avoid Niaspan for the sake of their health:

• Kidney dysfunction
• History of liver disorder
• Diabetes
• Chronic Angina
• The acute phase of a heart attack
• History of gout
• History of gall bladder disease
• History of jaundice
• History of peptic ulcer

Warnings Use of Niaspan

Individuals prescribed with Niacin should keep the following warnings in mind:

• This drug is not recommended for individuals having serious bleeding problems, liver problems, stomach ulcer or if they are allergic to any ingredient of Niaspan.
• Niaspan is available in two forms, an immediate release tablet and a long acting Niacin. Patients are advised not to switch between the two forms without consulting the doctor.
• Elderly or diabetic patients having kidney or thyroid problems should not take Niaspan along with Statin drugs such as Lipitor or Crestor because it can increase the risk of unexplained muscle pain, weakness or tenderness.
• Patients taking Niaspan need to get their blood test done before and during the treatment to check the liver enzyme levels.
• This drug may cause increase in blood sugar levels. Thus, diabetic patients must frequently check their blood sugar levels.
• Patient taking a bile acid-binding resin like Colestipol or cholestyramine along with Niaspan must maintain a gap of at least four to six hours between the intakes of two drugs.