“My gynecologist gave me simvastatin and Niacin (to bring down cholesterol.) I started experiencing very extreme anxiety and panic. My doctor did not know why my anxiety was totally out of control. Dr. Mahesh Dave determined that it was due to the Niacin. He asked me to stop Niacin. After stopping Niacin, my anxiety level dropped back down… second benefit to getting off Niacin is that I have not had any more of the hot flashes.”
As an addition to cholesterol lowering treatment, doctors prescribe Niacin to boost levels of good HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides. It may bring “bad” LDL cholesterol. It’s often prescribed in combination with statins for cholesterol control, such as Crestor, Lescol, or Lipitor.
In patients susceptible to panic attacks, Niacin can trigger significant anxiety and panic.
