Is Niacin For Controlling Out of Control Cholesterol Levels Right For You?

You likely have seen niacin as a part of the very important B complex listed on the side of a cereal box or as an ingredient in your daily multi-vitamin supplement, but you may not have heard of the use of niacin for cholesterol. And quite honestly you are not alone. Niacin for cholesterol is only prescribed about 5 percent of the time for lowering cholesterol and is the least prescribed out of all the primary prescription medications for lowering cholesterol.

Perhaps you are thinking it's lack of affection from the medical community has to do with its effectiveness. This likely is not the case. When taken in large quantities, niacin has been shown to lower LDL (bad cholesterol), lower triglycerides, and raise HDL (good cholesterol) substantially. In fact when combined with bile acid sequestrants or statins niacin for cholesterol can reduce LDL by as much as 40 to 60 percent.

Some western medicine skeptics and conspiracy theorists suggest that most doctors turn a blind eye to niacin for cholesterol because of its affordability, believing that no pharmaceutical company stands to generate the huge profits that are possible from other never drugs. Others suggest that the lack of advertising, leading to skepticism and lack of awareness could be behind the low number of prescription written. And still others are under the impression that niacin for cholesterol is a difficult an somewhat dangerous medicine. To be sure there is a great deal of confusion about the benefits versus the risks of this inexpensive prescription treatment option.

While there likely is some basis for concern in a least some of our conspiracy theories, chances are most doctor fail to prescribe niacin for cholesterol because of the fear of side effects along with the belief that never drugs offer the patient a better alternative. After all niacin has been around since the 1950s!

Let's examine the six most common side effects of single ingredient niacin.

*Liver damage in high doses

*Reduces the effectiveness of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), and naproxen sodium (Aleve and Anaprox).

*Reduces the effectiveness of diabetes medicines

*Reduces the effectiveness of gout medications

*Dizziness

Probably the scariest of the above side effects for most people is the possibility of liver damage. In the end, the decision whether to choose niacin for cholesterol or other newer prescription medications (such as statins) is a decision best left up to your doctor. But I believe we can all agree that knowing your options going in is an important first step in working with your doctor to create a successful and enduring treatment plan.

What Next? Lowering cholesterol, in most cases, is about changing old habits, adopting new healthier habits, and enlisting the help of convention medications such as niacin for cholesterol (Nicotinic Acid) or purchaseremedies.com/Cholesterol.html natural cholesterol reducing remedies if needed. Put simply, this basically means finding ways to increase HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol levels). Certainly nicotinic acid or statin drugs will be one of your options but they do carry a number of side effects. The side effect risks have made natural alternatives combined with diet modification an choice worth considering.

Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality alternitive health products and natural living, with over 10 years experience in the field. Learn more about natural remedies and natural health at purchaseremedies.com Purchase Remedies.com.