Drug Interactions With Niacin Extended-Release

A few of the drugs that niacin extended-release can potentially interact with include warfarin, alcohol, and medications used to treat diabetes. Drug interactions with niacin extended-release can decrease the absorption of some drugs into the body and increase the flushing caused by niacin extended-release, as well as your risk of bleeding, among other things. In rare cases, niacin extended-release has been associated with a serious condition called rhabdomyolysis (severe breakdown of muscle).

 

Niacin Extended-Release Drug Interactions: An Introduction

Niacin extended-release (Niaspan®) has the potential to interact with a number of other medications. Some of these drug interactions with niacin extended-release include:
 
  • HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), including:
  • Bile acid sequestrants (resins), including:
o Cholestyramine (Prevalite®, Questran®, Questran® Light, LoCholest®)
o Peripheral vasodilators (epoprostenol -- Flolan®)
o Nitrates (nitroglycerin -- Nitroquick®, isosorbide -- Imdur®)
HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)
The use of niacin extended-release with a statin medication has been associated with some cases of a rare condition known as rhabdomyolysis (severe breakdown of muscle). If you are taking both of these medications, your healthcare provider may choose to monitor your progress more carefully, especially at the beginning of therapy and after increasing your dose (see Niaspan and Muscle Pain).
(Drug Interactions 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;