PURPOSE: To document the prevalence and nature of the side effects that occur with the use of regular and sustained-release nicotinic acid in everyday clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and ten patients seen in a private medical clinic who were given 133 separate trials of nicotinic acid during a 5-year period. The occurrence of side effects, particularly those severe enough to warrant discontinuing the drug, were carefully monitored. RESULTS: Forty-three percent of individuals given regular nicotinic acid and 42% of those given sustained-release nicotinic acid were forced to discontinue the medication because of side effects; some of these side effects necessitating discontinuing nicotinic acid did not occur until the patient had been taking the drug for 1 or 2 years. CONCLUSION: Nicotinic acid in both regular and sustained-release forms is a powerful drug when used in doses needed to treat lipid disorders and causes disturbing side effects a very high percentage of the time. No one should use nicotinic acid in these doses without continued careful supervision of a physician.
PURPOSE: To document the prevalence and nature of the side effects that occur with the use of regular and sustained-release nicotinic acid in everyday clinical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and ten patients seen in a private medical clinic who were given 133 separate trials of nicotinic acid during a 5-year period. The occurrence of side effects, particularly those severe enough to warrant discontinuing the drug, were carefully monitored. RESULTS: Forty-three percent of individuals given regular nicotinic acid and 42% of those given sustained-release nicotinic acid were forced to discontinue the medication because of side effects; some of these side effects necessitating discontinuing nicotinic acid did not occur until the patient had been taking the drug for 1 or 2 years. CONCLUSION:Nicotinic acid in both regular and sustained-release forms is a powerful drug when used in doses needed to treat lipid disorders and causes disturbing side effects a very high percentage of the time. No one should use nicotinic acid in these doses without continued careful supervision of a physician.
Authors: Robert H Coker; Nicolaas E Deutz; Scott Schutzler; Marjorie Beggs; Sharon Miller; Robert R Wolfe; Jeanne Wei Journal: J Endocrinol Diabetes Obes Date: 2015-04-15
Authors: Elisa Fabbrini; B Selma Mohammed; Kevin M Korenblat; Faidon Magkos; Jennifer McCrea; Bruce W Patterson; Samuel Klein Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2010-04-06 Impact factor: 5.958