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Are there any interactions with niacin?

Niacin, also called vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid, is used in high doses to lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. Niacin may interact with other drugs that lower cholesterol. These drugs include gemfibrozil (brand name Lopid), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), pravastatin (Pravachol), fluvastatin (Lescol), and atorvastatin (Lipitor). In rare cases, the combination of niacin with these medicines has caused serious muscle damage. Some people need to combine niacin with other drugs to lower their cholesterol. Doctors use blood tests and physical exams to monitor people taking these combinations.

Cholesterol-lowering resins (cholestyramine, colestipol) may interfere with the absorption of niacin. Space the doses of these medicines by 4 to 6 hours to avoid this effect.

Sources:
Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, Appleton and Lange, 1999.
USP-DI Advice for the Patient: Drug Information in Lay Language, Micromedex, Inc., 1998.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006.
Silverman, H.M., J.A. Romano, G. Elmer. The Vitamin Book. Bantam Books, 1999.
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Pharmacists Letter Inc., 2001.
Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2006.

This answer prepared 8/10/2001.
This information updated 2/7/2007.