NeuroTalk Support Groups - Question about different versions of Niacin

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom (Post 261741)

OK. Well then, what about Niacinamide? Isn't that the same thing as Niacin, except that it doesn't make you flush, burn and itch?

Cathie

It is not the same. Both have similar action on the body as vitamins, but only the crystalline niacin acts as a drug to change our cholesterol levels.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becky21 (Post 261763)

My Cardiologist put me on Niacin and one aspirin daily about a year ago. My cholesterol and tri's were way up. I spoke to my pharmacist and he told me that over the counter Niacin works as well as prescription.

I took 500mg of Flush Free Niacin Inositol Hexanicotinate twice a day and in 8 months my bad numbers dropped dramatically. I ran out and didn't take it for several months and the numbers went right back up. I have now been taking it everyday, one pill with breakfast and one with dinner.

I have no side effects of flushing and I am menopausal and will have my blood work done again next month.

I have been on Avonex for 8 months and blood work has been fine. Avonex is supposed to be hard on the liver and so is Niacin but I am not having any problems.

I order the Niacin online from Puritan's and it is very cheap.

Thank you! I was hoping someone here might tell me what you just did. That it worked. The form I'm using, that is. I know the Niacin works. I've seen much info on that. But it's the specific form I'm taking I had questions about.

The info I've found relating to liver issues seemed to be aimed at the timed release formula. The longer it's in the liver the more chance for damage?

I paid about 5.80 for a bottle of 60 - 500 mg caps at Walmart. Spring Valley brand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jarrett622 (Post 261861)

Jarrett,

I am glad I saw your thread. I don't think many people know about Niacin since the doctors usually prescribe the expensive cholesterol meds. My Cardio knew I was on Medicare and my PCP likes the Niacin treatment. The expensive cholesterol drugs can affect the liver also so why not go with the cheaper over the counter Niacin. It works for me.

Puritan's has a really good price on their stuff so you might want to check out their site. I got an email that Flush Free is on sale for buy one get one free for $11.99. That is 200 500mg capsules. Good price. :)

Oh, I love Puritan's.

I especially love the buy one get TWO free sales! I usually buy our basic
stuff from them once a year. They don't have the unusual things I use however.

But the prices they have on some things (like carnitine) cannot compare to
iherb.com Iherb has become very competitive on shipping lately, and I appreciate that too...since I buy my unusual things only from them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becky21 (Post 262035)

Those cholesterol drugs affect more than just the liver. *shudder* I already have PN...I don't need *more* or worse symptoms. There have been many reports of many horrible sides from these meds. I think it's *far* better to go the natural route whenever possible. You might try googling statin side effects.

I just had a thought...what would and did people do before the internet and the easily available info? We're lucky to have these kinds of resources. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsd (Post 262061)

Unusual....as in? Just curious. Our local Walmart seems to carry most of what I need. But anymore with gas the price it is it's often cheaper to shop online in the long run. I make one trip a month to Wally-World, or did. Now my daughter works there so if we need something she picks it up after work.

Did you find r-lipoic at WalMart?

I know WalMart is good. They have a good selection, even better than pharmacies. (their SAMe however is less good). I get SAMe at Costco, or when the pharmacies have the buy one get one free sales.

I get my methylcobalamin, inositol powder for hubby, r-lipoic and benfotiamine at iherb. Inositol at iherb is 11.00 for 8oz of Jarrow pharmaceutical grade, and $67.00 or more locally in a store for comparison. When I get carnitine, I get it at iherb too.

I decided to look up inositol hexanicotinate on PubMed. There is a paucity of papers after the late 70's. That is when statins started coming on the scene I guess.

But I did find THIS one that suggests you should take your niacin or non-flush AT NIGHT....

Quote:

J Clin Invest. 1973 Mar;52(3):732-40.Click here to read Click here to read Links
Diurnal patterns of triglycerides, free fatty acids, blood sugar, and insulin during carbohydrate-induction in man and their modification by nocturnal suppression of lipolysis.
Schlierf G, Dorow E.

Previous studies have shown that carbohydrate induction of hypertriglyceridemia in normal subjects occurs at night and appears to be related to a rise of free fatty acids after diurnal feeding of high-carbohydrate formula diet. The present investigation was undertaken to observe the effect on 24-h triglyceride, free fatty acid, blood sugar, and plasma insulin profiles of inhibition of nocturnal lipolysis by glucose or nicotinic acid in normal subjects and in patients with type IV hyperlipoproteinemia.In 10 normal subjects and 10 patients with primary type IV hyperlipoproteinemia, plasma triglyceride, free fatty acid, blood sugar, and insulin levels were followed in short intervals for 24 h while a 2,400 cal, 80% carbohydrate, fat-free formula diet was given in six equal portions during the day (control experiments). This procedure was repeated in the same subjects, 10 of whom (5 normal subjects and 5 patients) received additional feedings of glucose between 2000 and 0600 h while the other 10 persons (5 normal subjects and 5 patients) were given nicotinic acid by intravenous infusion during the same time interval. Both procedures resulted in maintained lowering of free fatty acid levels over 24 h. Mitigation of carbohydrate-induced hypertriglyceridemia appeared to result from the additional glucose in normals and in patients. Nicotinic acid abolished the nocturnal rise of plasma triglyceride levels which in the control studies of normal subjects had resulted in approximate doubling of triglyceride levels in 24 h.The effectiveness of nicotinic acid in inhibiting nocturnal lipolysis and preventing carbohydrate-induction of hypertriglyceridemia might have consequences for management of endogenous hypertriglyceridemia.

PMID: 4685092 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

There was another paper like this too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsd (Post 262072)

Thanks for that. Makes sense now why I was told to take it at night.

I haven't yet looked for the R-Lipoic at Walmart. It's on the top of my list, along with a couple of other supplements I found in the stickies. Won't do me any good until I have money to buy them but I will at least have an idea of what it's going to cost.

I had my blood work done this week after 4 months of taking the non flush Niacin every day.

My triglycerides dropped from 155 to 107 which is great news!! But my cholesterol went up from 266 to 273! It's never been that high. I was so dissapointed because it worked so well for the first 8 month period I took it. My cholesterol dropped dramatically then but not this time.

My doctor doesn't want me to continue the Niacin and is putting me on Zocor. I was hoping the Niacin would control it. I do know that it definitely works on triglycerides.

I'm confused but am going on Zocor for cholesterol. Darn it!:(

Quote:

Originally Posted by Becky21 (Post 270393)

That *is* confusing. Over the course of a year my triglycerides went down but the total count went up. And that was with dietary changes only. I find that most puzzling.

I sure hope to see good results from the Niacin. I wonder why it didn't work this time around? :confused: