RUGBY LABORATORIES Niacin 500 mg 1000 Tabs

Like many of you, I'm taking this product for bad lipids. I take 1,250mg, twice a day and I *do* get my liver function checked periodically. For me, this regimen has improved my lipids, and more importantly, has *not* caused any elevated liver enzymes. There are lots of reviews with information on niacin, but please do not simply follow what anyone says here without doing some research for yourself, and speaking with a qualified and *knowledgeable* physician. That being said, here are some key points: 1) niacin in forms other than the "flushing type" has not been proven in studies to improve lipid/cholesterol issues like regular, flushing-type niacin (nicotinic acid). P.S: Other forms (such as inositol hexaniacinate) *may* be just fine for non-lipid management purposes, but stick to plain old niacin for lipids. 2) and more importantly studies have shown that large doses of "non-flushing" type niacin (specifically niacin with extended release to reduce flushing) can be hepatotoxic, and there have even been people who had organ failure and needed liver transplants. Hint: search web for "niacin nih livertox" 3) niacin therapy has indeed been used for many years to improve blood lipids, but it also is contraindicated in certain people, including people with diabetes (because it raises blood glucose levels). You have to have somebody monitoring all this that knows what they are doing, and who can determine if a rise in blood sugar (which makes your triglycerides worse) is tolerable with your current blood sugar levels, and whether the other benefits of the niacin offset that (reduction in LDL particle number, triglycerides, LDL-C, and LP(a) as well as increasing HDL-C). Look...even physicians...can't know it all. Medicine is so specialized these days, and the body of knowledge so great, and changing, that some people may simply not be aware of some of these important distinctions. SO IMPORTANT: In my opinion, if you are going to treat cardiovascular/lipid issues with niacin, and you want to be safest, you SHOULD BE USING FLUSHING STYLE "immediate release" niacin. And, you should also have your physician perform liver function labs to make sure you are not damaging your liver. And you should treat niacin as if it were a drug, and seek assistance from someone qualified and not just simply follow anybody's advice, including mine, who posts a review to Amazon. Update 12/8/2016: I got my newest bottle today, and noticed the 'New Formula & Appearance' starburst prominently displayed on the label. Not sure why, but Rugby added dicalcium phosphate, and now the tablets are quite a bit bigger...I'd say approx 50% 'taller' (but the same diameter). FYI.

I read other reviews and it was exactly what I was looking for. I knew that it was the flushing type and I'm ok with that, because I like the flush and heat it creates. I split the first tablet and I'll get my system used to taking 250mg in the morning and at night for a while, until I get a tolerance. The flush was amazing and is very therapeutic physically and mentally. I was taking a daily dose of about 120mg, but I wanted something more potent and pure and this Rugby product is it. It's so incredibly affordable! The benefits of Niacin are amazing. It naturally helps with hypertension (high blood pressure), high LDL cholesterol and lipid levels. It's a natural alternative to deadly statens. I haven't taken statens and don't ever plan on it. The research on Niacin proves it's worthiness and benefits. This isn't one of those naturopathic things that never ends up working, or you never see the results you were looking for. This one shows you instantly. After about a month, you will dramatically see blood pressure reduce, circulation and joints feel better and LDL cholesterol will reduce. Remember, this won't work as good if you still eat like crap and aren't moving around or doing anything physical. Your body was designed to move. Do what you can, eat healthier food, stay away from processed foods and control portions. You will see things get better within a month.

Appears to be good quality. Gave me a typical niacin flush like other brands did. Inexpensive. Bottle is much larger than I thought it was going to be. Pills are small enough to swallow but I like to use a pill crusher for better absorption. I highly recommend lab tests, liver ultrasound, and doctor's supervision before starting therapeutic doses of niacin, - any brand. 500 mg is many times more than the daily recommended dose. If you get the green light, start with very small doses much less than 500 mg and work your way up over a period of months. Carefully monitor how you feel and continue visits with your doctor. Niacin is nothing to fool around with or blindly try to see if it works. Many people have liver disease and no symptoms whatsoever. If tests show you have any liver damage at all, 500 mg of niacin or more per day can possibly be fatal within days or weeks. Research causes of "acute liver failure". Please be careful. As good as niacin is for some people, it's not for everyone.

I was told about niacin by my brother...it helps with your cholesterol. No...really...it does....at least for me. Doctor couldn't be happier...I'm " in line" now. Good quantity and price.

I am a 65 year old man and take 20mg of Pravastatin daily to control my cholesterol. My LDL level was quite high last reading (156), so I researched alternative treatments. After reading the reviews on Rugby Niacin, I decided to give this a try - starting at 1 tablet a day after a meal and working my way up to 3 tablets - one after each meal. I received the Niacin today and took 1 tablet after lunch. Within 15 minutes I started to feel the flush. First my face got hot, then my ears and eventually my entire body. I also experienced an itching sensation. When I looked into the mirror, I couldn't believe it. It looked like a bad sunburn and felt like I was under a broiler. The sensation started to wear off in about 30 minutes. I want to give this product a 1-year trial to see if next years blood work improves, but the flush is too intense. Should I split the pills or will the effect lessen after taking them for days or weeks ? I gave this 2 stars because of the flush. If my body gets used to it or splitting pills helps, I will change my rating. Update 2/23/17: My second day. Ate a full breakfast and took 1/2 tablet (split). Drank a full glass of water. Waited 2 hours for the flush. Nothing ! Either the quality control of these tabs is low or my system got used to them overnight. I changed my rating from 2 to 4 stars for now. I'll update in another week. Update 4/1/17: Some days I feel no flush at all and some days I feel an over-the-top flush. I take 1/2 tablet after every meal. After 1 year I'll see if my cholesterol numbers improve. If not, I will stop taking this.