The prevalence of side effects with regular and sustained-release nicotinic acid.
OBJECTIVE
To document the prevalence and nature of the side effects that occur with the use of regular and sustained-release nicotinic acid in everyday clinical practice.


METHODS
One hundred and ten patients seen in a private medical clinic who were given 133 separate trials of nicotinic acid during a 5-year period. The occurrence of side effects, particularly those severe enough to warrant discontinuing the drug, were carefully monitored.


RESULTS
Forty-three percent of individuals given regular nicotinic acid and 42% of those given sustained-release nicotinic acid were forced to discontinue the medication because of side effects; some of these side effects necessitating discontinuing nicotinic acid did not occur until the patient had been taking the drug for 1 or 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Nicotinic acid in both regular and sustained-release forms is a powerful drug when used in doses needed to treat lipid disorders and causes disturbing side effects a very high percentage of the time. No one should use nicotinic acid in these doses without continued careful supervision of a physician.
Gibbons
L W
LW
Cooper Clinic, Dallas, Texas 75230, USA.
Gonzalez
V
V
Gordon
N
N
Grundy
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D009525:Niacin