On Mon, 10 May 2004 21:45:55 -0400, "kahout"
<
[email protected]> wrote:
>Oliver Costich wrote:
>| I have been taking Niaspan but my prescription coverage
>| is now gone and a I was startled to discover the 1000mg
>| Niasapn is over $2 per tablet. That's absurd. Costco
>| sells a product called Slo-Niacin at a far lower price. I
>| have heard that these slow release products can cause
>| liver problems but I tolerated the time release Niaspan
>| well. Would I expect the Slo-Niacin to be any diferent?
>
>Oliver,
>
>Some forms of sustained release forms of Niacin have known
>problems. You should work with your Dr in selecting an
>alternative to Niaspan.
>
>OTC NR (normal release) niacin (nicotinic acid) is the
>least expensive alternative to Niaspan but you may
>experiance greater flushing with its use. You may need to
>divide the dose if the flushing is a problem for you. Of
>course the daily dosage will need to be determined by your
>Dr to acheive the same affect as Niaspan.
>
>A slightly more costly version of Niacin is found in the
>form of Inositol Hexanicotinate, the so called Flush Free
>Niacin. Here nicotinic acid is bound to inositol which
>creates a natural time release. Niacin is unbound from
>inositol as the compound is broken down in your body. Here
>is a good explanation:
http://www.thorne.com/altmedrev/fulltext/inositol1-
>3.html (keep in mind the data may be outdated or not
>accurate; this is an Internet source.) I find the Spring
>Valley brand of IHN found at Wal-Mart to be pretty
>reasonable: 60 capsules, 500 mg, ~$6.50.
Thanks. I have looked into this before and can't find
anything specific about its effect on HDL except that it is
presumed to work like ordinary niacin. What does it do for
you? My HDL without Niaspan is low 30s, with it mid 50s.
puritanspride.com has the 500mg for $10 for 3x50 capsules
>
>Don't get confused with Niacinamide, this is not the same.
>
>NR Niacin was long used before the invention of Niaspan.
>Niaspan was a breakthorugh in Niacin treatment as it
>help avoid the Niacin flush. Since it was now marketable
>as a prescription medicine the drug company was able to
>invest in safety and efficiacy studies. Frankly, without
>a means of
>
>IMHO, Kevin