Experience with crystalline niacin as the preferred drug for dyslipidemia in a specialty clinic.
To determine the tolerability and efficacy of crystalline niacin in reaching target lipid goals, we conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 62 patients treated with the agent over 2 years in a lipid clinic at a nonacademic veterans hospital. Most patients received niacin for hypercholesterolemia. Thirty-one patients (50%) stopped therapy due to adverse events, principally, intolerable cutaneous reactions. Twenty-nine withdrew from therapy during the first 6 weeks of treatment. Of those who tolerated niacin, 23 did not achieve target lipid serum concentrations at the maximum tolerated dosage; 8 did achieve target concentrations. Thus crystalline niacin was largely ineffective in treating patients with dyslipidemia.
Rindone
J P
JP
Department of Pharmacy, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Prescott, Arizona 86313, USA.
Arriola
O G
OG
D003460:Crystallization; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009525:Niacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D009525:Niacin