What is Niacin for?

Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin that has an important role in metabolism, and functioning of the nervous and digestive system. It can also inhibit the breakdown of fats and hinder the formation of fatty acids and therefore can be used as an add-on therapy for hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), including both hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Niacin is used to treat niacin deficiency (pellagra) which may be caused by malnutrition, certain medical conditions and medicines.

How to use it?

Niacin can be taken by mouth as extended-release tablets (Niaspan). Do not crush or chew the tablets. You should start with 500 mg once daily at bedtime and your doctor may increase 500 mg every 4 weeks according to your response. The maintenance dose is 1000-2000 mg once daily with a maximum daily dose of 2000 mg. 

When used as a dietary supplement, usual adult doses of Niacin range from 50 to 100 mg per day.

What are the side effects of Niacin?

Common side effects of Niacin are head and neck flushing, constipation, indigestion, nausea and vomiting.

Where to buy Niacin in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, many types of Niacin are over-the-counter medicines and can be purchased without a prescription from any retail outlet in Hong Kong. This includes grocery stores, convenience stores, medicine shops, and pharmacies. They can also be obtained from doctors.

Niaspan is a prescription-only medicine so it requires a prescription from a doctor to be purchased in a pharmacy. It can also be obtained from doctors. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.