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Statin drug and niacin?

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Heart & Cardiovascular Disease
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Posted 3/9/2007 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
This is my first post on this forum. I found healing well, when I first started treatment for lyme disease. Lots of good information. My current Dr, while treating me for lyme, put me on 5mg of crestor because my cholesterol was high. 239. My blood pressure was running high so I'm also on diovan. I've been taking various supplements, including niacin 250 mg, because of the antibiotics I'm on for the lyme. Now I'm reading the crestor and niacin is good for lowering  cholesterol but the niacin can increase the bad side effects of crestor. If anyone has expirence with this I'd like to here from them. Personally I'd rather not take anymore meds than I have to, and hopefully it will all clear up after this lyme does.

Bud

Posted 3/11/2007 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Bud, Welcome to the heart forum!  I am sorry you havent had a response as yet sad ...sometimes we get alittle slow around here.  I dont know a thing about what you have asked here so I do hope a member will come along shortly and be able to shed some light on this for you.  Please do come back as often as you like...take care
Posted 3/13/2007 2:00 PM (GMT 0)

Bud,

There is indeed an FDA warning about taking crestor and niacin together.

http://www.medpagetoday.com/tbindex.cfm?tbid=665

The FDA recommendation is that you should not take crestor with niacin.

However, there is no problem  taking other statins with niacin.  I take 1500 mg of Niaspan( a extended release version of niacin) with Lipitor ( another statin).  I take 40 mg of Lipitor one night and 20 mg the next night.  I have been taking the two med since May of 06 with no problems.

The Niapsan has help to raise my HDL from 31 to 40. It also has help (along with the lipitor and diet) to lower my LDL to 44.  My total cholesterol is now 115.  (Before my heart attack, my total cholesterol was 210, ldl 136, and HDL was 33 

Although I can appreciate your concerns about taking extra medications, the Niaspan (niacin) can help.

Posted 3/13/2007 9:11 PM (GMT 0)

I've been taking both and feel OK so far. I'm getting blood tests weekly because of the lyme. If the combination is doing something bad I should find out soon enough. Thanks for your reply.

Bud

Posted 3/14/2007 4:47 PM (GMT 0)

Bud,

The fact that the FDA issue a warning about taking crestor and niacin at the same time would greatly concern me if I was on those drugs.  At the very least, I would have a very candid discussion with the doctor to determine his/her reasoning or why you need to take both drugs at the same time.

After all, it is not like crestor is the only statin out there.  There are many other statins that you can take with the niacin without worrying about the possiblity of complications.

Posted 3/15/2007 6:11 PM (GMT 0)

I stopped taking the niacin. I've had trouble sleeping, neck and hip pain, (same symtoms as lyme). My progress was pretty good untill I started the crestor. My Dr said not to mix the niacin and crestor, I'll see how it goes.

Thanks

Bud

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