Niacin

[bigsidster]

My specialist has me on Crestor 40mg a day and Ezetrol 10mg x 2 per day for lowering my cholesterol and today has added 2000 mg of flush free Niacin.My overall cholesterol
before adding the Niacin is 5.08.This is the lowest I have ever tested since taking cholestrol lowering drugs the last 10 years.I started out taking 10mg of Crestor and 10mg of ezetrol.He has doubled that in the last year.I tried reular Niacin and could not take the flushing,felt like I had a sun burn.He wants to keep my arteries clear.

 

[bdryer]

Brother bigsidster

Being a supplement freak I know about the Niacin flush. One day on shift I took a vitamin B bomb with little food in my stomach. It was summer so I was scooting around the hangar in work shorts and T. Woa----when that flush happened, I turned lobster red from scalp to toes. I was so itchy I almost jumped in the ice machine that we use for cooling / shrinking bushings for an interference fit. Never again. I'll take my niacin in my regular multi.

Have you considered lecithin and fish oil to supplements a lower dose of niacin? Google lecithin and fish oil, they are amazing. I started taking lecithin in 1973. I was off and on lecithin until 20 years ago when I started being consistent with my dosing. It's derived from soya so it will require an adjustment in you ACT.

Had my angiogram yesterday. The procedure was via my R/H wrist so I'm typing with 3 fingers on my L/H and nose. My coronary arteries were pristine. CT scan was past Sunday for my ascending aorta dilation. Pre admission clinic Jan 11 with surgery TBA. Anyhow, this thread is about bigsidsters niacin comment.

In summary, considering my stellar angiogram results, can't say conclusively if it is genetics, life style or supplements. I think it is worthwhile to consider supplementing with lecithin and fish oil.

 

[Duff Man]

i have the same reaction to niacin. Can't take it, even the "non-flush" slow release variety.

 

[Jkm7]

Seeing you had double bYpass during your surgery, it certainly makes sense your doctor wants to keep your arteries clear. Bypasses can block again the same as the arteries blocked to begin with.

Congratulations on getting your cholesterol lower. (Our cholesterol number measure differently than yours so I don't understand your measurements.)

 

[olefin]

I was put on niacin in 1976 for elevated triglycerides (1500), normal cholesterol. I didn't like the flushing and it didn't work too good for me. I was switched to gemfibrozil, brand name Lopid. Been on it ever since except for a period of about 5 years after AVR, during that time triglycerides stayed normal with no medication?

 

[catwoman]

I started taking 1,000mg of flush-free niacin in February 2010. The current supply is labeled Member's Mark (from Sam's Wholesale Club).
I've never had any reaction to the niacin. I have my annual & labs on March 15; we'll see what my cholesterol level looks like. My HDL & triglicerydes have been OK, just the total has been at 200 or 202. My cardio doesn't see any reason to put me on statins.