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INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING NIASPAN
YOUR MEDICATION
Niaspan, or Nicotinic acid is a B vitamin that will effectively lower blood cholesterol levels. It has been
used safely for several decades by patients with high blood cholesterol. It has the advantage of not only
lowering total cholesterol and LDL ("lousy") cholesterol but also lowering triglycerides and raising
HDL ("healthy") cholesterol. It has been used in major studies of cholesterol-lowering therapy and
shown to be associated with a reduction in deaths due to heart attacks and in the buildup of plaque in
coronary blood vessels.
RECOMMENDED DOSES FOR NIASPAN
FIRST WEEK:
SECOND WEEK
THIRD WEEK
FOURTH WEEK
375 MG AT BEDTIME
500 MG AT BEDTIME
750 MG AT BEDTIME
TWO 500 MG TABLETS AT BEDTIME
As you can see, the dose of Niaspan is adjusted each week to effectively lower blood cholesterol levels
and to minimize side effects.
Please have your cholesterol rechecked 6 weeks after you have been on the 1000 mg dose.
TAKING NIASPAN
Before taking a dose, FIRST take one adult aspirin tablet (325 mg) or ibuprofen (400 mg) 30 minutes
before your bedtime dose of Niaspan. Enteric coated aspirin is preferred because it is less bothersome to
the stomach. Repeat this every night for the first 14 days when you first begin this medication or each
time you increase your daily dose.
This will reduce any flushing, warm feeling, tingling or headache symptoms that Niaspan may cause.
These symptoms may occur when first beginning therapy. They are not harmful and are to be expected
with this medication. The symptoms occur because Niaspan increases the flow of blood throughout the
body by dilating (widening) blood vessels. The aspirin or ibuprofen will reduce this effect without
changing Niaspan's effect on cholesterol. With time, the body should develop a tolerance to these
symptoms to the point that they are no longer bothersome.
Note that each time Niaspan therapy is stopped, these symptoms may reoccur when it is restarted. Also,
these symptoms may appear each time the dose of Niaspan is increased.
DCC, December 2007
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR TAKING NIASPAN (PAGE 2)
Try to take Niaspan with food in your stomach. It may be most convenient to take a dose with or just after a
low fat bedtime snack. This will reduce any nausea, gas, or heartburn symptoms that Niaspan may cause. If
these symptoms occur at all, they are more likely to occur soon after starting Niaspan. They probably occur
because Niaspan is a weak acid and may irritate the stomach. Taking this medication with food should help
buffer the acid and reduce these symptoms.
TAKE NIASPAN REGULARLY
To have the best reduction in cholesterol levels and particularly to avoid side effects, it is VERY important to
take Niaspan as directed. If you should not remember that you missed a dose until the next day, skit it. Do not
try to catch up with missed doses as they may increase side effect symptoms.
SIDE EFFECTS
As pointed out, tingling, warm feelings, headaches, nausea, gas, and heartburn may occur with Niaspan. In
addition, Niaspan may cause diarrhea, fatigue, itching or a rash. Like other symptoms, these are not harmful
but may be bothersome. These symptoms along with the others listed above will lessen once the body has
become used to the medication. Itching and the rash may be caused by an increase flow of blood throughout the
body and may also be reduced with the dose of aspirin or ibuprofen taken with Niaspan.
While taking this medication, you will also need routine blood tests to be sure that no other side effects are not
occurring. These studies may include test of liver function, glucose and uric acid. Be sure to obtain these as
scheduled.
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions or problems while taking Niaspan, please feel free to call our office at (734) 675-2220
and a nurse will return your call.
DCC, December 2007