Dosing With Niacin Extended-Release

The starting dose of niacin extended-release is 500 mg taken every night at bedtime. Doses exceeding 2000 mg daily are not recommended. To reduce the chance of side effects, your healthcare provider will increase your daily dosage of niacin extended-release by no more than 500 mg every four weeks. A few factors that can affect dosing with niacin extended-release include your age, other medical conditions you may have, and other drugs you may be currently taking.

 

Dosing With Niacin Extended-Release: An Introduction

The dose of niacin extended-release (Niaspan®, Slo-Niacin®) your healthcare provider recommends will vary depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • The medical condition being treated
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications you may be currently taking.
     
As with any drug, do not adjust your niacin extended-release dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Dosing for Niacin Extended-Release

To decrease the chances of side effects, the dosing for niacin extended-release should be gradually increased. The recommended starting dose for niacin extended-release is niacin extended-release 500 mg every night at bedtime. After you have been taking this dose for four weeks, your healthcare provider will have you increase your dosage to niacin extended-release 1000 mg. Once you have been on this new dose for four weeks, your healthcare provider will recommend that you return to recheck your triglyceride and cholesterol levels, as well as report any unwanted side effects. If your triglycerides or cholesterol are not at the desirable levels, your healthcare provider may increase your dose or add a new medication to your therapy.
 
The daily dose for niacin extended-release should not be increased by more than 500 mg every four weeks. The normal maintenance dose is niacin extended-release 1000 to 2000 mg every night at bedtime. Doses above 2000 mg daily are not recommended.
 
Your healthcare provider may decide to decrease your dose if a side effect occurs or if your cholesterol levels fall significantly below the targeted goal.
 
If you are over the age of 65 or have severe kidney disease, your healthcare provider may decide to monitor your progress more closely and make any necessary dosing adjustments.
 
(Dosing With Niacin Extended-Release Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;