NiacinOver the counter

Pronounced NY-ah-sin

Brand names: Niaspan

Type: Vitamin B3 (cholesterol-lowering) · All Heart & Blood Pressure Medicines

What Niacin is used for

  • High cholesterol and triglycerides
  • Niacin deficiency

◆ Kidney note

Use with caution when kidney function is reduced.

Common side effects

  • Flushing and warmth of the face
  • Itching
  • Nausea
  • Dizziness

Important cautions

  • High amounts can injure the liver and raise blood sugar and uric acid (gout)
  • Over-the-counter 'no-flush' products are not the same as the prescription form

How it comes

Tablets, extended-release tablets, capsules. This guide lists forms only — it never lists strengths or doses.

Toxicity lists: Niacin also appears on Medicines That Can Harm the Liver.

Related medicines — Heart & Blood Pressure Medicines

Please note: This page is a patient-education summary, not medical advice, and it deliberately contains no doses. Medicines affect everyone differently — always follow your own prescription and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.