NICOTINIC ACID

• Minor side effects (if these symptoms persist or worsen, inform your doctor)
  • Flushing/warmth in the face and neck, headache, itching, burning, sweating, chills, or tingling may occur within 20 minutes to 4 hours of taking this medication. Flushing may persist for a few hours. These effects should improve or go away as your body adjusts to the medication. Stomach upset, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also occur.
• Serious side effects (inform your doctor immediately)
  • severe dizziness/fainting, fast/irregular heartbeat, severe headache (migraine), unusual joint pain, swelling of legs/arms, vision problems, severe stomach/abdominal pain, black stools, easy bruising/bleeding, unexplained muscle pain/tenderness/weakness, persistent nausea/vomiting, change in the amount of urine, dark urine, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, yellowing eyes/skin.

• Severe allergic reactions are rare. Get immediate medical help if you notice the following:

Rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing

• Precautions:
  • Inform your doctor
    • Allergy to the medication or any allergies
    • Medical History of very low blood pressure, alcohol use, history of bleeding problems (such as low platelets), diabetes, gallbladder disease, glaucoma, gout, heart disease (such as recent heart attack, unstable angina), kidney disease, liver disease/increase in liver enzymes, untreated mineral imbalance (low phosphate levels), history of stomach/intestinal ulcers, underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).

   

  • May cause dizziness

   

  • May cause elevated blood sugar levels, which can cause or worsen diabetes.

   

  • Should only be used when there is a clear need during pregnancy as it may harm an unborn baby. If you are planning to be pregnant or think you may be pregnant, discuss the risks and benefits of use with your doctor.

   

  • Consult your doctor before breast-feeding as this medication passes into breast milk and may cause unwanted effects on your baby

   

  Interactions:

  Taking multiple drugs may affect how medications work and/or cause unwanted side effects. List down all the medications you are taking and inform your physician and pharmacist. Do not take, discontinue, or alter any dose of medications without prior approval of your physician.

   

  • Products that may interact with this medication include:
    • “blood thinners” (such as warfarin, heparins).

   

  • Labratory tests that may be affected:

  urine or blood catecholamines, copper-based urine glucose tests

• Overdose: If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

   

  Notes

  If you are taking this for high cholesterol, in addition to eating a proper diet (such as a low-cholesterol/low-fat diet), other lifestyle changes that may help this medication work better include exercising, losing weight if overweight, and stopping smoking. Consult your doctor for more details.

   

  It is best to get your vitamins and minerals from food whenever possible by maintaining a well-balanced diet, and following any dietary guidelines as directed by your doctor.

   

  Missed Dose

  If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and As soon as you remember, take a regular dose or if the time of the next dose is near, wait for it before taking another dose and resume your usual schedule. Do not increase the dose to compensate for the missed dose.

   

  Storage

  • Room temperature
  • Do not expose to light and moisture
  • Do not store in the bathroom
  • Keep all medications away from pets and children

   

  Brands:

   

  Also marketed as:

  Niaspan [ Abbott ]

• Rhea Nicotinic Acid [ Philusa ]