I take niacin to treat my cholesterol. Should I be concerned about a niacin overdose?
Answer From Katherine A. Zeratsky and Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.
Niacin overdose is unlikely if you take niacin only in the amount prescribed by your healthcare professional. You can't overdose on niacin by eating too many niacin-rich foods. But taking too much over-the-counter or prescription niacin can be dangerous.
Symptoms of a niacin overdose include:
- Severe skin flushing combined with dizziness.
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Itching.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Abdominal pain.
- Diarrhea.
- Gout.
- Rash.
If you think you may have overdosed, seek medical attention right away.
Because niacin has been linked to liver damage and strokes, most healthcare professionals now recommend it only for people who can't take statins to treat high triglyceride levels.
If you're concerned about taking niacin, talk to your healthcare professional.
With
Katherine A. Zeratsky and Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.
Show References
- Niacin. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Dec. 4, 2023.
- Rakel D, et al., eds. Nutrition and nutritional supplements in the management of dyslipidemias. In: Integrative Medicine. 5th ed. Elsevier, 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 4, 2023.
- Pazirandeh S, et al. Overview of water-soluble vitamins. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Dec. 4, 2023.
- Melmed S, et al. Disorders of lipid metabolism. In: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 4, 2023.
- Niacin. Merative Micromedex. https://www.micromedexsolutions.com. Dec. 4, 2023.
- Niacin. LiverTox. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548176/. Accessed Dec. 4, 2023.
Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-cholesterol/expert-answers/niacin-overdose/faq-20058075