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<p>[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 2831090"]If you want the closest to the "truth" here it is. People try to make things black and white when it is not. First of all Slo-Niacin is a controlled or timed release OTC version of niacin, Niaspan is an extended release Rx version of niacin (there is a difference b/t controlled and extended release but I will spare you the details). The active ingredient is the same, that is obvious. The fact that Slo-Niacin is OTC shows that the product has to be proven SAFE and chemically pure to the product labeling, but it not as closely monitored as Rx products (which have to be proven effective). However, that does NOT mean Slo-Niacin will not be effective. Slo-Niacin DOES have a higher risk/potential for hepatoxicity (liver toxicity) this is partly due to some people going over the recommended max. amount of 2,000 mg/day, partly because they may not get normal liver function tests (LFTs) as they should for this drug and yes, partly because of the drug delivery system of Slo-Niacin (controlled release) has been associated with hepatoxicity (I know people will want to argue this last part). The fact is the controlled release is actually a slower/constant (zero-order) release than the Niaspan which you may think is a good thing, but in fact is bad because it keeps "artificially" elevated levels of niacin (meaning from the pill) in the body for a much longer time (it is better to have a shorter spike of niacin than a long, slow gently descending curve of niacin blood levels for liver safety). It is sort of "scary", if you will, to have this as an OTC product that could potentially have some very bad side effects without proper monitoring (and that is excluding the flushing that can occur, which can be helped by taking aspirin beforehand). If you go OTC, Niacor or immediate-release niacin is actually safer taking 50-100 mg twice daily to three time daily and increasing to slowly to 1,500 mg/day to 3,000 mg/day over several weeks, however, the relative difference in safety is not a HUGE amount, but as a pharmacist I do not recommend Slo-Niacin. Any OTC product it is also important to buy a product labeled with a USP or NSF symbol showing that their manufacturing process is actually monitored by someone. You would be amazed what has been found in some OTC drugs, dont always assume all products out there are equal... I know some will want to argue with this, but that is all the truth. Bottom line, Niaspan IS safer, however, I would not say by a huge margin, and I would talk to your doctor regarding safety of this drug anyway, just because its "OTC" doesn't mean its 100% safe for you.</p><p><br /></p><p>-From the doc, haha, although, I'll never bet my degree on anything, studies done constantly change the field of medicine and the best therapies for a given condition <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Anonymous, post: 2831090"]If you want the closest to the "truth" here it is. People try to make things black and white when it is not. First of all Slo-Niacin is a controlled or timed release OTC version of niacin, Niaspan is an extended release Rx version of niacin (there is a difference b/t controlled and extended release but I will spare you the details). The active ingredient is the same, that is obvious. The fact that Slo-Niacin is OTC shows that the product has to be proven SAFE and chemically pure to the product labeling, but it not as closely monitored as Rx products (which have to be proven effective). However, that does NOT mean Slo-Niacin will not be effective. Slo-Niacin DOES have a higher risk/potential for hepatoxicity (liver toxicity) this is partly due to some people going over the recommended max. amount of 2,000 mg/day, partly because they may not get normal liver function tests (LFTs) as they should for this drug and yes, partly because of the drug delivery system of Slo-Niacin (controlled release) has been associated with hepatoxicity (I know people will want to argue this last part). The fact is the controlled release is actually a slower/constant (zero-order) release than the Niaspan which you may think is a good thing, but in fact is bad because it keeps "artificially" elevated levels of niacin (meaning from the pill) in the body for a much longer time (it is better to have a shorter spike of niacin than a long, slow gently descending curve of niacin blood levels for liver safety). It is sort of "scary", if you will, to have this as an OTC product that could potentially have some very bad side effects without proper monitoring (and that is excluding the flushing that can occur, which can be helped by taking aspirin beforehand). If you go OTC, Niacor or immediate-release niacin is actually safer taking 50-100 mg twice daily to three time daily and increasing to slowly to 1,500 mg/day to 3,000 mg/day over several weeks, however, the relative difference in safety is not a HUGE amount, but as a pharmacist I do not recommend Slo-Niacin. Any OTC product it is also important to buy a product labeled with a USP or NSF symbol showing that their manufacturing process is actually monitored by someone. You would be amazed what has been found in some OTC drugs, dont always assume all products out there are equal... I know some will want to argue with this, but that is all the truth. Bottom line, Niaspan IS safer, however, I would not say by a huge margin, and I would talk to your doctor regarding safety of this drug anyway, just because its "OTC" doesn't mean its 100% safe for you. -From the doc, haha, although, I'll never bet my degree on anything, studies done constantly change the field of medicine and the best therapies for a given condition :)[/QUOTE]
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Cafepharma Message Boards | Pharma Sales, Device Sales, Lab Sales
Home
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Slo-Niacin vs Niaspan
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Cafepharma Message Boards | Pharma Sales, Device Sales, Lab Sales
Home
Forums
>
Pharma/Biotech Companies
>
Upsher Smith Labs
>
Slo-Niacin vs Niaspan
>