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Like many of you I take supplements each day and have been doing so for years. This week I added a new supplement to my routine. I had heard that Niacin was helpful in raising the good HDL cholesterol. Since I am taking an AI and we know that AI can increase the LDL level (the bad cholesterol).... so I purchased Niacin. Day one I took the Niacin supplement after my breakfast and left to meet a client. Within the hour
I had the worst hot flash (I have not been experiencing any hot flashes while on Femara) not one!!!! This felt like a burning on skin around my neck and down my arms....no sweating...but a severe burning sensation running up and around my neck and my ears began to tingle like needles. I thought I would explode and had to remain calm as I was in a meeting with a client.
After about an hour passed it began to subside.
But I was pretty shaken up by it. My thoughts were if I continue getting this I will be in serious trouble and it flet just as if a flame was near my skin. I did not think much more about it. Then today I took my vit. in the morning...went into my office and I was giving a meeting and all of a sudden Bam....I felt like both my arms would fall off from the burning heat... It .traveled to my neck area and then up to my ears....I thought my head would explode. It felt like scorching flames burning my skin, again no sweating at all just this dry flaming burning sensation. I don't know how I got through my delivery at the meeting...but this time I knew this is not an ordinary reaction for me. Again
it went away after almost 2 hrs of constant burning of my skin. I called the health food store where I purchased my vit. and the owner informed that in fact
Niacin can cause this. So - I quickly thought about many of our sisters who are suffering from hot flashes and began to wonder if you are taking Niacin or if your MV has a high element of it? That any woman who is experiencing normal hot flashes should definitely stay away from Niacin supplement.

jean

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good to know!

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Yeah, Jean, that's called the niacin flush. I have avoided it because I have worried it would be too much with my Femara hot flashes. Sounds like my instincts were correct. Thanks for the post. I understand a downward adjustment of the dosage can improve the flush as you acclimate to it. My cholesterol is borderline high. I recently read that studies indicate this is quite common for the AIs and that it does not seem to increase our propensity for CAD. Hoping they are correct!

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My husband has taken Niacin to raise his HDL, prescribed by his cardiologist. He takes it at night for that reason. It does get better, but the flashes come and go. It has helped his HDL and the doctor insists her take it.

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Just wanted to share this...

my neighbor, also with a cholesterol problem, was placed on niacin, he couldn't tolerate it, and had to stop taking it. Hot flashes, nausea and even vomiting. Nasty effects.

Now I know to stay away from it.


Much Love to you all,

Adriana

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had the same experience with niacin a few years ago. Stopped taking it....but the first time, with that fiery attack I thought for sure it was the end of me!!!

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Niacin must be powerful stuff.

My sister has high cholesterol and was prescribed niacin a # of years ago. We were at lunch and I could literally see a line of red moving up her face. Freaked me out. I thought for sure she was going to pass out right there at the table.

She quickly changed from niacin to another medication. That was very frightening.

Lori

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Jean,
Yrs ago I had a friend I worked with. She walked up to me and was red from her upper chest to her face. I found out she was taking Niacin. She told me she had just started taking it and that was going to be the last time. It scared her! I have to say...she really looked bad...I was really concerned about her. They call it the niacin flush...they say it's not harmful...but I know my friend said it made her very uncomfortable to say the least.

So sorry to hear you went through that, but I'm glad you posted that here because I'm certain there are many women that have never heard of this before. It's nice to have a warning with something like this. Especially when most all of us on this board take all kinds of different supplements. This way they get the heads up! Thanks for sharing your experience as misrable as it must of been.

Chelee

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Hubby has been prescribed Niaspan since his stents procedure 9 years ago. He's been instructed to take an aspirin 30 minutes before taking it. Even with the aspirin, he still complains sometimes about similar side effect. He takes the pill late at night before bedtime.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niaspan

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Hello,
Yes Niacin can "burn" and make you itchy but you will get used to it. interestingly I tried it recently for the same reason but it was nicianmide and I found I didn't have the reaction. Maybe speak to the health food store about a small dosage and if there is one that has a lower effect. Taking at night sounds a good idea also. take with lots of water.
good luck