Medically reviewed by University of Illinois — Written by University of Illinois — Updated on March 13, 2018

Highlights for niacin

  • Prescription niacin is available as a generic drug and as brand-name drugs. Brand names: Niacor, Niaspan.
  • Niacor comes as an oral tablet, and Niaspan comes as an oral extended-release tablet. Generic niacin comes in both forms.
  • Prescription niacin is used to reduce the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (fatty substances) in your blood, and decrease your risk of a heart attack. It works along with diet, exercise, and weight loss.

Important warnings

Muscle effects: Niacin may increase your risk of muscle breakdown. Your risk is higher if you’re a senior, take a statin drug, or have diabetes, problems producing enough thyroid hormones, or kidney disease. Tell your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle soreness, pain, or weakness.
Liver effects: Niacin may cause your liver function lab test results to be abnormally high. Your doctor will monitor this while you’re taking this drug.

What is niacin?

Prescription niacin comes as an oral tablet and an oral extended-release tablet. Other forms are available over the counter.

Prescription niacin is available as the brand-name drugs Niacor and Niaspan. It’s also available as a generic drug. Generic drugs usually cost less. In some cases, they may not be available in every strength or form as the brand-name version.

Niacin may be used as part of a combination therapy. This means you may need to take it with other medications. These may include bile acid resins and other cholesterol-lowering medications.

Why it’s used

Niacin should be used with diet, weight loss, and exercise to:

reduce the risk of another heart attack in people who have had a heart attack and have high cholesterol.
prevent buildup of cholesterol and fats along the walls of blood vessels in people with high cholesterol and heart disease.
reduce the amount of triglycerides (fatty substances) in the blood in people with very high levels who are at risk of diseases affecting the pancreas.
lower cholesterol levels.

How it works

Niacin belongs to a class of drugs called antilipemic agents. A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way. These drugs are often used to treat similar conditions.

Niacin works by lowering both your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol and other fatty substances (triglycerides) in your blood and raising your high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol. Niacin works with exercise and a healthy diet to improve your cholesterol levels.