A member asked:
Is niacin 500mg daily a safe dose for ldl reduction therapy before prescribing a statin for high cholesterol? patient is 29 yr old male
5 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Yes: That is the regular starting dose for niacin. Have exercise, weight loss and diet already been tried? That would be my first recommendation. If Niacin is ineffective, statins my be considered. Niacin and statins were routinely used together in the past but this has fallen out of favor after the results of the recent aim-high trial.
Answered 6/30/2014
5.6k views
Hmmmm...: Low dose Niacin is generally safe but can cause both bothersome side effects such as flushing and worrisome side effects such as liver toxicity; Niacin should always be prescribed and monitored by a physician. In addition to lowering ldl, Niacin has a favorable effect on HDL cholesterol. Unfortunately 500mg of Niacin alone is not always effective at helping one reach their cholesterol goals.
Answered 4/8/2015
5.5k views
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Hello, 42 yr old male, controlled hypertension, recent lipid profile is: Total cholesterol:183 HDL: 39 LDL: 119 Triglycerides: 131 NonHDL:144 & A1C 4.9 Creatine: 1.36 my doctor didn't recommend a statin, but wants a renal Doppler ultrasound. Advice?
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3 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
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