Niaspan ER and business trip

The flushing didn't start for me until after I'd been taking it a couple of weeks, and seems to be getting worse. I am also experiencing bad swelling of feet and ankles. Muscles in back of my thighs are very sore, just like they got when I was put on statins several years ago, and I had to stop taking them because I got where I could hardly get up from a sitting position. I was assured this is not a statin and led to believe it is "safe". I also have arrhythmia and cannot afford to have my heart racing, which hasn't happened yet, but I think this Niaspan is going to go the way of the statins for me. I want to know what percentage of heart attack victims are on cholesterol lowering drugs - the truth. How can I find out? Thanks. Ernestine B.