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When it's used as a treatment to increase your HDL cholesterol or correct a vitamin deficiency, niacin is sold in higher doses that are prescribed by your doctor. Prescription-strength niacin includes such drugs as Niacor and Niaspan. Niacin is also available as an over-the-counter supplement.
The most common side effects of niacin are: stomach upset, flushing, headache, reduced blood pressure upon standing (orthostatic hypotension), vomiting, diarrhea, itching and ; tingling sensations of the extremities. Flushing may be reduced by taking 325 mg of aspirin 30 minutes before the niacin and by increasing the dose of niacin slowly.