Niaspan

Niaspan is related to Niacin Other names for Niaspan are vitamin b3, nicotinic acid, and vitamin PP It is a organic compund with the formula C6H5NO2 Depending on the definition used, it is one of the forty to eighty essential human nutrients is Niacin is one of five vitamins (when lacking in the human diet) associated with an epidemic deficiency disease Niacin deficiency, vitamin C deficiency, Thiamin deficiency, Vitamin D deficiency, Vitamin A deficiency Niacin has been used for over 50 years to increase levels of HDL in the blood and has been found to modestly decrease the risk of cardiovasular events in a number of controlled human trials

Niaspan (generic name: Niacin / nicotinic acid) is the extended-release form of the B-complex vitamin niacin.

Niaspan uses include:

Lowering cholesterol in patients with hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol). Niaspan can reduce both total and LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol).

Lowering triglyceride levels in patients with hypertriglyceridemia (high triglycerides). Triglycerides are fat-like substances found in the body.

Lowering triglycerides or cholesterol levels in patients who are already taking another cholesterol medication, such as a statin or a bile acid sequestrant like cholestyramine, colestipol, or colesevelam. Niaspan is also better than most other cholesterol-lowering medicines at raising HDL cholesterol.

Reducing the risk of another heart attack in patients with a history of both a heart attack and high cholesterol.

Slowing the progression of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in patients with a history of coronary artery disease (CAD) and high cholesterol.

Niaspan should be used as one part of a cholesterol-lowering program, in combination with exercise and a low-cholesterol diet. Sometimes Niaspan is used in combination with other cholesterol medicines, such as statins and bile acid sequestrants.