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Current Vascular Pharmacology

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1570-1611
ISSN (Online): 1875-6212

What Restricts the Clinical Use of Nicotinic Acid?

Author(s): Anastazia Kei, Evangelos N. Liberopoulos and Moses S. Elisaf

Volume 9, Issue 4, 2011

Page: [521 - 530] Pages: 10

DOI: 10.2174/157016111796197215

Price: $65

Abstract

Nicotinic acid is the oldest hypolipidemic agent in use, since 1955. It possesses broad-spectrum lipidmodifying properties including reduction of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides. In addition, nicotinic acid is the most potent available hypolipidemic agent for increasing plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and decreasing lipoprotein (a) levels. Clinical trials have demonstrated that nicotinic acid can decrease cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, nicotinic acid is underused in the clinical setting due to its high rate of side effects, including flushing, gastrointestinal disorders, rash, hyperglycemia and hyperuricemia. The nicotinic acid-associated side effects and their management are the focus of this review.

Keywords: Adverse events, niacin, nicotinic acid, side effects, toxicity, laropiprant, high density lipoprotein, gastrointestinal disorders, flushing, rash

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