What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Be sure to take the missed dose with
food if you normally take your niacin dose with a meal or snack.
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your
next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the
missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this
medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include nausea, dizziness, itching, vomiting, upset stomach, and
flushing.
What should I avoid while taking niacin ?
Avoid drinking hot beverages shortly after taking niacin. Hot drinks can worsen niacin's
flushing effect (warmth, itching, redness, or tingly feeling under your skin).
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking niacin. Alcohol may increase your risk of liver
damage, and can also worsen the flushing effects of niacin.
Avoid taking colestipol (Colestid) or cholestyramine (Locholest, Prevalite, Questran) at
the same time you take niacin. If you take either of these other medications, take them at least 4
to 6 hours before or after you take niacin.
Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up
slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.
What are the possible side effects of niacin ?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
-
feeling light-headed, fainting;
-
fast, pounding, or uneven heart beats;
-
feeling short of breath;
-
swelling;
-
jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes); or
-
muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness with fever or flu
symptoms and dark colored urine.
If you are diabetic, tell your doctor about any changes in your
blood sugar levels.
Less serious side effects of niacin include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
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