Niaspan ER and legs

I took my first dose of Niaspan last night and it will be my last. A few hours after taking it I started to feel tingling and itching in my feet and legs. Suddenly I started having a nauseated pressure in my chest and then the firey itching started. My face and body felt like it was swelling so badly that it hurt move. I tried cold wash cloths but it didn't help. I had to sit up in bed to be able to breath right. I was in tears. I had a similar reaction when I took codiene and never took that again. I work in a emergency room and it is hard for me to get upset or scared about things, but this scared me. I finally was ablet o fall asleep a couple of hours later.

My name is Charles and I had a major heart attack in 1998 after suffering through great stress. I now have 4 stents that work pretty well for me although each day without pain is a blessing and I am just not as energetic as I was BHA. My doctor recently told me I needed to increase the good cholesterol HDL and prescribed Niaspan to help. While trying to find a cheap alternative to Niaspan and even where to buy Niaspan at a reasonable cost, I came across this page and found out WHY my back was absolutely killing me. I took my office chair down to the garage blaming it for this pain. At Sunday School this morning I hurt so much I had to roll over on the floor and get up like from my hands and knees. Niaspan I conclude is causing all of the lower back pain. Niaspan's lower back pain I discovered is widespread. This crap should be taken off the market. Niaspan is total garbage and should be taken off the market.

I also have been having muscle problems in my legs. My leg muscles have
become weak, and I have difficulty walking up steps. I used to run a lot, but had to stop several times (for months) because I felt I had no energy. Muscle
soreness, as well as various radiating pains, also are a problem. I'm, 49 years old, but I don't believe these problems are due to normal wear and tear. I do know all of these symptoms began to appear after I had been taking Niaspan for at least several months. Thanks, M. Gray

December 20, 2007 11:30 PM
I have been on Niaspan ER 500 Mgs for 4 weeks, I have never had the redness or itching until tonight. I can't believe the intolerable itching. I woke my husband and was ready to go to the emergency room, I thought it was an allergic reaction to something. The itching started in my legs, mainly from my ankles to my knees, but I did have some itching higher up on my thighs. Also had the itching on my wrists and lower arms. I am going to try Benadryl as someone suggested on your website, hopefully it will help some, if not I will be forced to stop taking this medicine, the itching is to much to put up with..............Brenda

I was on 1000mg per day 500 in the morning and 500 at night. I had one or two episodes of flushing and if it was not for this site I would have gone to the Emergency Room because the burning of my skin was so severe that I was in a panic. I found this site and it calmed me a bit. After the flushing comes the itching. For me it is on the inside of the legs starting on the ankles and then the toes and then it moves slowly up the legs and sometimes hits the thighs. Sometimes it hits the underside of my upper arm. This was mild and tolerable and went away in a couple of days.

Now I have been moved to 2000mg per day and the flushing is under control, but the itching has gone out of control. I cannot deal with the itching. I sit in business meetings and want to scream. I find myself at my desk with my shoes and socks off rubbing my feet and ankles because it is intolerable. I have broken the skin many times and bleed from the scratching. I am intelligent enough to know not to scratch, but sometimes it just gets the better of me.

I have no idea what triggers this because I can count on it lasting three to four days and then it goes away again.

I took increasing amounts of Niaspan for a number of years and experienced the flushing that even at its worst soon passed each time. But earlier this year, while on 1000 mg, I suddenly experienced terrible itching after showering, even after taking cool showers. It was maddening, as sometimes after a shower, there was no side-effect. When it reached the point one day that I had hives, I stopped Niaspan. I have been off the medication for about 4 months. Two weeks ago, I started up again at 500mg. I have been ok with no flushing. Today, after a cool shower, I experienced a bout of severe itching on my legs. I don't know what to do. I can't tolerate the itching but my HDL has already gone lower than before. Any ideas?

The flushing is tolreable. The itching is intolerable. I'd rather have heart surgery than suffer with that infernal itching. My cardiologist believes the severe itching is unrelated to the Niaspan because the reaction has only occured twice since I started taking the medication 6 months ago. I disagree. It seems to me the itching is caused by the Niaspan, together with some other unknown factor. There may be something to the "spicy food" suggestion posted by others. Last night, I ate a bunch of hot peppers an hour or so before taking the Niaspan. I woke at 3 am, with a mild hot flash, followed by the dreaded itching. Pure torment! My chest, back and legs were bright red. A cold shower helped a little. On the first occasion, two months ago, Benedril help some, but relief did not begin for over an hour after taking it. (Take at least two tablets!) But last night, I didn't mess around with Benedril. Instead, I took two codine tablets I had left over from surgery. Relief! If you are suffering from this terrible side-effect, may God be with you!

After taking Niacin for several years, I have the itching problem and my legs started to weep. Has this happened to anyone else? Eating beef seems to maximize the itching. JT

Two people taking Niaspan experianced swelling of there ankles and legs after taking niaspan over a two months period. Would like to know if anyone else has any swelling.

itch all over legs mostly

My legs Itch and I use very hot water to make them stop this is not flush related. I also flush very badly if I consume candy or sweets. really bad If I eat them near the time I take niacin.
Thanks Rich

I took Niaspan back in 2001. I was very healthy prior to Niaspan. while taking 1,000 mg niaspan, I experienced severe tingling and burning in my legs and arms. My pulse was so hard my fingers throbbed. I had bizzare dreams. My legs were on FIRE! Breathing became labored. Then I tried to walk and fell to the floor. I then devolped neuropathy in my legs. I have been recovering for 2.5 years now. Still I can't excercise like I did. And of course the Doctor denies the Niaspan had anything to do with it.