Niaspan Side Effects

What is flushing?

• Niacin sometimes causes redness, warmth, itching, and/or a tingling sensation on the face, neck, chest and back. This is a natural reaction signalling that niacin is in the bloodstream.
• Most patients on NIASPAN will experience this sensation, usually at the start of therapy or when the dosing is increased. For most patients, the flushing occurs over the first 8 weeks of therapy and will become milder and less frequent as your body adjusts to NIASPAN.
• If flushing occurs, it usually does so within 2 to 4 hours after taking NIASPAN and may last for a few hours.
• In some patients, flushing may be more intense. Additional symptoms, such as rapid or pronounced heartbeat or dizziness, shortness of breath, sweating, chills, and/or swelling may occur; on rare occasions, fainting may occur.
• If the flushing wakes you up and you wish to get out of bed, take your time and get up slowly - especially if you start to feel faint or dizzy, or if you take blood pressure medication.
• If you are diabetic, inform your doctor if you notice any changes in your blood sugar.
• If you are taking another cholesterol lowering drug, you should inform your doctor if you experience any signs of muscle pain or weakness, as this may be a sign of a rare but serious adverse drug reaction.

Other than flushing, the side effects most often seen are gastrointestinal in nature, such as stomach upset and diarrhea; rash and itching also are occasionally observed.

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