Among Friends

[Andreatoo]

I didn't buy the no flush! What a shock when I turned red on my arms, face and neck! Like prickly heat!

I thought I was having an allergic reaction to my Publix applesauce! lol I was waiting for my throat to close up! Then I remembered!

So I looked it up and decided the benefits outweigh the temporary discomfort. Apparently the 'no flush', while it causes no 'flushing' also isn't nearly as effective! And the time release 'no flush' can cause liver damage?! according to the research this discomfort will eventually pass. I just took it and the reaction is near immediate but it is subsiding 6 minutes later...

Anyone have any experience with niacin?

[CatLoverDogsToo]

My mother took Niacin for her elevated cholesterol for a few years. She had the flushing from it. She also took Pravachol. The combination didn't do anything as far as improving her lab values.

I tried niacin for a bit, my ears became very hot, felt like a massive fire ant colony had attacked my ears. I quit taking it, but I didn't really need to be on it in the first place.I already have "hot flashes" and I didn't need any more of that. 

I hope your reaction lessens over time, it sure is miserable while it is happening. .

[Melania]

Oops.

[Andreatoo]

@CatLoverDogsToo

Didn't the flushing stop, for your mother, after taking it for so long? The information I have said days or weeks depending on the individual...

It's been about 30 minutes now and the intense prickly is just about gone.

I think I can tolerate this if it means no liver damage!

[tansy]

Niacin upset my stomach too much:/

[CatLoverDogsToo]

It lessened for her, but never went completely away. She stopped taking it after a few years, as it didn't lower her cholesterol. Her doctor upped her dose of Pravachol, and that didn't do much either. Interestingly, she ate a very healthy diet, high fiber, low fat, lean protein.

[hckynut]

@Andreatoo

I have been taking Niacin (Niaspan)since my 1st heart attack in July of 2003. Started on 500mg per day, and have been taking 1,000mg now for many years. 

Take it with my other night meds, which include an 81mg aspirin, which I think helps from the all over itching I had at one time. Not sure it's the child aspirin, but I read about this, and I am pretty sure it solved my flushing and itching issue. It was more of an annoyance to me than a discomfort.

My only allergy? Iron, and I tell the nurses that every time I get asked, right before I get my Iron Infusions. One Anaphylactic Shock episode was enough for this guy. Is rather strange when they ask that question though.

hckynut(john)

[Andreatoo]

@hckynut

Actually the baby aspirin was mentioned in the article I read. I took this a.m. with the niacin but still got the reaction.

It's definitely tolerable.

How's your cholesteral now? Has it improved with the niacin you think?

[hckynut]

@Andreatoo

I take my statin(Atorvastatin) and Niaspan in late evening, per my Cardiologist. Something to do with when they work the best for most of his patients.

My cholesterol numbers have not been bad(high) since the 1960's, when a 350 number was normal. Wasn't normal to me so I set out on my own to find out as much as possible about what ALL the Lipid numbers meant.

Found Dr. Kenneth Cooper's books, and also went to 2 Clinics he gave in our city in the 1970's and 80's. Began my lacto-ovo vegetarian journey in the mid 1970's, along with all my running and skating, my all my numbers were in the very good range, not just the Total Cholesterol, which too many think that is the key number.

When my Right Coronary Artery plugged 100% with my 1st heart attack (and unfortunately the Aspiration Pneumonia that came closer to killing me), all my lipid numbers still very good. Total was about 160 HDL/LDL ratio was 2.0 and Triglycerides were 32. 

I mentioned in another thread that because all ones Lipid numbers are good, it is not a warranty against having a Cardiac Event. It's​ a total package, and many like myself, didn't get to pick their parents, and genetics for me played a big role in my CAD problems.

Told my Cardiologist,I saw him this morning(who is also a friend), that I would like to have a Stress/Echocardiogram, this time on a treadmill. The last one I had was when I was very sick in the hospital with Cellulitis, and lucky to walk 100 feet from the room.

Back in good physical fitness now and want to watch how long I can walk this time with the Echo Stress. Going in Friday to have that ran at my 2nd home(hospital). Also seeing a Physical Therapist that specializes in balance, on Thursday, same place.

Too much info, but as usual, I can't help myself.

hckynut(john)

[Andreatoo]

@hckynut

I too quit meat in the 70's; it's predominantly genetics as far as I'm concerned!