That was very interesting David thank you so much. Sue

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.

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.

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.

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.

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....
There was another paper like this too.

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.