NOW Supplements, Niacin (Vitamin B-3) 500 mg, Essential B-Group Vitamin*, Nutritional Health, 100 Capsules (Pack of 3)

I bought this brand (formula) because the other brands sold at sprouts do not cause any flushing so it’s NOT REAL Nicotinic Acid. ANY NIACIN marketed as Flush-Free Niacin (Inositol Hexanicotinate) IS INEFFECTIVE IF it’s Marketed as: “No flush” or “flush-free niacin” it is ineffective. While I’m not a doctor. I am a nurse practitioner so I know a little about what I’m talking about. If you’re looking for Niacin, ONLY get pure Nicotinic Acid and tolerate the flushing for a couple of weeks. If you take a small aspirin or ibuprofen with your pill, it will reduce the flushing. the flushing is how you know it’s actually working on your blood vessels. If you get a no flush formula, you might as well take a gummy bear instead.

I read reviews after I bought this while waiting for it to come in and I was worried about taking this because people where saying they had to go into the hospital over it. I'm taking this trying to lower my cholesterol levels and I was worried about the flushing but honestly it just feels like a sunburn (but not sensitive with touch like a normal sunburn) on face, ears, nose, arms, belly and in my case other sensitive areas. The flush only last 30 mins to an hour on me after that I'm fine. I do notice slight nausea after taking it during flush but not like I'm going to get sick from it. Sometimes I get a weird aftertaste that last awhile. The capsule is about the size of extra strength tylenol.

I bought NOW Foods Niacin 500 mg hoping to support my heart health, but my experience was far from positive. After taking just one 500 mg capsule on an empty stomach, I started feeling intense itching all over my body within 30 minutes—it was unbearable and lasted for over an hour. This is clearly the ‘niacin flush’ mentioned in reviews, but I wasn’t prepared for how severe it would be, especially spreading to my shoulders, back, and even my arms. On top of that, I also felt bloated and uncomfortable in my stomach, which made me hesitant to take it again.I understand niacin can cause flushing, but for a first-time user like me, the 500 mg dose felt way too high right out of the gate. The product description doesn’t emphasize enough how intense these side effects can be for beginners, and there’s no guidance on starting with a lower dose. I’ve since learned I should’ve taken it with food or started with a much smaller amount, but that information wasn’t clear on the bottle or packaging.While NOW Foods is a reputable brand, this product wasn’t a good fit for me due to the overwhelming side effects. I’m returning it and looking for a lower-dose or flush-free alternative. If you’re sensitive or new to niacin, I’d recommend skipping this or consulting a doctor first—otherwise, you might end up as uncomfortable as I did.”Pros:• Reputable brand, made in a GMP facility.• Vegetarian capsules, free of common allergens.Cons:• Extremely high 500 mg dose caused severe itching (flush) and bloating.• No clear instructions for beginners or sensitive users.• Side effects outweighed any potential benefits for me.UPDATE: Flush became worse during warm weather conditions and caused hypotension and become unconscious for few minutes. Very scary. Be careful if you are new to this.

I have been a consumer of this product/brand for more than 2 decades.

Strong...more than I expected

Niacin (in the form of nicotinic acid) has been used for 50 years to lower cholesterol, but was never very well understood. Then statins came along - a highly profitable alternative to niacin because statins can be patented... niacin cannot. Statin researchers have tried time and again to dismiss niacin. In clinical trials in which nicotinic acid was used ALONE (not in combination with statins and not in the form of slow-release niacin), niacin lowered LDL (especially LDL particle count), raised HDL, and lowered Lp(a). When researchers tried COMBINING niacin with statins, numerous patients suffered severe side effects... because the statin and niacin were working at cross purposes. Most critically, these studies FAILED to test niacin ONLY vs placebo vs the niacin-statin combo. When the niacin-statin combo blew up, the researchers blamed... the niacin. When the results were presented, many methodologists cried foul: to blame niacin simply ignored decades of research that had repeatedly shown positive results and generally minor side effects (mainly flushing and dry skin). I decided to go with the larger body of research and at least try it - and two physicians have monitored my results and possible side effects. FOR ME it has worked extremely well. I have lowered my LDL-P from over 2000 to under 1000, have cut my triglycerides to under 75, raised my HDL from 40 to over 60, and lowered my Lp(a) from over 40 to less than 30. Meanwhile, my blood sugar has been stable (one possible side effect of niacin is an increase in blood sugar, so you MUST monitor that and ALL possible side effects). NOW Niacin was effective FOR ME. There are several side effects that you MUST be aware of and you should DEFINITELY work with a physician who is willing to order appropriate lab work to monitor your progress or complications. Niacin will NOT counteract a bad diet and lack of exercise... if you want low cholesterol while treating your body like a garbage can, good luck. If you take control of your diet, keep your percentage of body fat / BMI in the lean range, and exercise regularly, you might surprise yourself at how healthy you become - and how great you feel. I really appreciate NOW niacin and how it has helped as part of my overall healthy lifestyle. GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR EFFORTS!!