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Niaspan

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Redwinemerchant

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I have been on this for a couple of years. Is this classed as a Statin? Have started getting muscle cramps. Someone else I know has now refused to take this. My doc says cramps not caused by any medicin supplied by them. Only other thing I am on is Metformin 500mg. Would be interested to hear other opinions on this.
 
I'll look this up, but I have only just got rid of severe ramp in my hand. I had a simvastatin 2 days ago and have had several cramps , so not had any more. My leg is still hurting from the first one, which was that night.
 
PS
It's essentially a B vitain given to reduce cholesterol.It's not a statin.
 
Hi Redwinemerchant,

Niaspan is nicotinic acid and is used to lower cholesterol by reducing the amount of LDL and triglycerides (the bad cholesterol) produced by the liver, and increasing the amount of HDL (the good cholesterol.

It has many side effects, among which are muscle pain, muscle weakness and muscle cramps. If your GP tells you otherwise then he is being somewhat economical with the truth. This link gives you the full set of side-effects.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100005076.html
 
I had intense muscle pain with simvastatin, which cleared after I stopped. A few months later, Dr tried me on Niaspan, the 3-week starter pack 500 mg working up to 1,000 mg. My BS went up from 6.7 to 7.2 (average) & muscle pains began again. The cholesterol treatment I have used since I was diagnosed is benecol/flora & oat bran. That reduced my Chol from 7.6 to 5.

Since reduced carb in May this year, my chol has dropped from 5.4 to 4.3. The total drop from 7.6 to 4.3 is 40% - much better than claimed.

Dietitian Ally recommends eating almonds to get the stannol esters we buy in benecol. I add ground almonds to my porridge-oats-free porridge.
 
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