Slo-Niacin

What is Slo-Niacin?

Slo-Niacin is a prescription medicine that is used to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol (HDL). It is used to lower triglycerides. This vitamin is used to treat niacin deficiency. Slo-Niacin may be given to you for other reasons.

Description

NIASPAN (niacin tablet, film-coated extended-release), contains niacin, which at therapeutic doses is an antihyperlipidemic agent. Niacin (nicotinic acid, or 3-pyridinecarboxylic acid) is a white, crystalline powder, very soluble in water, with the following structural formula:

NIASPAN is an unscored, medium-orange, film-coated tablet for oral administration and is available in three tablet strengths containing 500, 750, and 1000 mg niacin. NIASPAN tablets also contain the inactive ingredients hypromellose, povidone, stearic acid, and polyethylene glycol, and the following coloring agents: FD&C yellow #6/sunset yellow FCF Aluminum Lake, synthetic red and yellow iron oxides, and titanium dioxide.

Before taking Slo-Niacin, tell your doctor:

• If you are allergic to Slo-Niacin; any part of this medicine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Bleeding problems, liver problems or rise in liver enzymes, or ulcer disease.
• If you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Slo-Niacin with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Slo-Niacin?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take Slo-Niacin. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• If you have high blood sugar (diabetes), you will need to watch your blood sugar closely.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may affect certain lab tests. Tell all of your health care providers and lab workers that you take Slo-Niacin.
• Follow the diet and workout plan that your doctor told you about.
• Do not take colesevelam, colestipol, or cholestyramine within 4 hours of Slo-Niacin.
• Avoid or limit drinking alcohol to less than 3 drinks a day. Drinking too much alcohol may raise your chance of liver disease. Alcohol may cause more flushing.
• A severe muscle problem (rhabdomyolysis) has happened when Slo-Niacin was used along with certain drugs for high cholesterol like atorvastatin and simvastatin. Sometimes, this has been deadly.
• If you are 65 or older, use Slo-Niacin with care. You could have more side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using Slo-Niacin while you are pregnant.

How is Slo-Niacin best taken?

Use Slo-Niacin as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take Slo-Niacin with food.
• Avoid alcohol, hot drinks, or spicy foods when it is time to take Slo-Niacin.
• Swallow whole. Do not chew, break, or crush.
• Some long-acting products may be broken in half.
• Keep taking Slo-Niacin as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.
• If you stop taking Slo-Niacin, talk with your doctor. You may need to be restarted at a lower dose and raise the dose slowly.

What are the side effects of Slo-Niacin that I need to call my doctor about immediately?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, more thirst, more hungry, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
• Muscle pain or weakness.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Dizziness or passing out.
• Shortness of breath.
• Sweating a lot.
• Very bad and sometimes deadly liver problems have happened with Slo-Niacin. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.

What are some other side effects of Slo-Niacin?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Flushing. Taking aspirin 30 minutes before taking Slo-Niacin may help. If you wake up at night with flushing, get up slowly if you feel like passing out or you are dizzy.
• Itching.
• Diarrhea.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Cough.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If overdose is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Slo-Niacin?

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

SRC: NLM .