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.