Niacinamide (nicotinamide) is a form of vitamin B3 (niacin) and is used to prevent and treat niacin deficiency (pellagra).
Contents
Uses
- Niacinamide is used for treating diabetes and two skin conditions called bullous pemphigoid and granuloma annulare.
- Niacin or niacinamide is used for preventing vitamin B3 deficiency and related conditions such as pellagra. Each of these forms of vitamin B3 is used for schizophrenia, hallucinations due to drugs, Alzheimer’s disease and age-related loss of thinking skills, chronic brain syndrome, depression, motion sickness, alcohol dependence, and fluid collection (edema).
- Some people use niacin or niacinamide for acne, leprosy, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), memory loss, arthritis, preventing premenstrual headache, improving digestion, protecting against toxins and pollutants, reducing the effects of aging, lowering blood pressure, improving circulation, promoting relaxation, improving orgasm, and preventing cataracts.
- Niacinamide is applied to the skin for treating a skin condition called inflammatory acne vulgaris.
Benefits
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Heart disease
Several observations have suggested that low dietary intake of vitamin B6 is associated with higher risk of having heart disease. In addition, vitamin B6 has been shown to play a role in lowering blood levels of homocysteine; high levels of this amino acid appear to be associated with heart disease, but it is not clear whether lowering levels of homocysteine will reduce risk of heart disease. -
Immune function
Studies indicate that an adequate vitamin B6 intake is especially important in the elderly, as this group often suffers from impaired immune function. The amount of vitamin B6 required to improve the immune system has been shown to be higher (2.4 mg/day for men; 1.9 mg/day for women) than the current recommended intake. -
Cognitive function
Because of mixed study findings, it is presently unclear whether supplementation with vitamin B6 and other B vitamins might lessen age-related cognitive decline (e.g., perception, attention, reaction time, and memory)… -
Kidney stones
Some study findings suggest that increased intake of vitamin B6 might decrease the risk of developing kidney stones, while other trials have not shown such relationship
Cautions
- Niacin and niacinamide are LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth. A common minor side effect of niacin is a flushing reaction. This might cause burning, tingling, itching, and redness of the face, arms, and chest, as well as headaches. Starting with small doses of niacin and taking 325 mg of aspirin before each dose of niacin will help reduce the flushing reaction. Usually, this reaction goes away as the body gets used to the medication. Alcohol can make the flushing reaction worse. Avoid large amounts of alcohol while taking niacin.Other minor side effects of niacin and niacinamide are stomach upset, intestinal gas, dizziness, pain in the mouth, and other problems.
When doses of over 3 grams per day of niacin are taken, more serious side effects can happen. These include liver problems, gout, ulcers of the digestive tract, loss of vision, high blood sugar, irregular heartbeat, and other serious problems. Similar side effects can happen with large doses of niacinamide.
Interactions
- Alcohol (ethanol) interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Niacin can cause flushing and itchiness. Consuming alcohol along with niacin might make the flushing and itching worse. There is also some concern that consuming alcohol with niacin might increase the chance of having liver damage. - Allopurinol (Zyloprim) interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Allopurinol (Zyloprim) is used to treat gout. Taking large doses of niacin might worsen gout and decrease the effectiveness of allopurinol (Zyloprim). - Carbamazepine (Tegretol) interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Carbamazepine (Tegretol) is broken down by the body. There is some concern that niacinamide might decrease how fast the body breaks down carbamazepine (Tegretol). But there is not enough information to know if this is important. - Clonidine (Catapres) interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Clonidine and niacin both lower blood pressure. Taking both niacin with clonidine might cause your blood pressure to become too low. - Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs) interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Long-term use of niacin and niacinamide might increase blood sugar. By increasing blood sugar, niacin and niacinamide might decrease the effectiveness of diabetes medications. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), metformin (Glucophage), nateglinide (Starlix), repaglinide (Prandin), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others. - Medications used for lowering cholesterol (Bile acid sequestrants) interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Some medication for lowering cholesterol called bile acid sequestrants can decrease how much niacin or niacinamide the body absorbs. This might reduce the effectiveness of niacin or niacinamide. Take niacin or niacinamide and the medications at least 4 hours apart.Some of these medications used for high cholesterol include cholestyramine (Questran) and colestipol (Colestid). - Medications used for lowering cholesterol (Statins) interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Niacin can adversely affect the muscles. Some medications used for lowering cholesterol called statins can also affect the muscles. Taking niacin along with these medications for lowering cholesterol might increase the risk of muscle problems.Some of these medications used for high cholesterol include rosuvastatin (Crestor), atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and simvastatin (Zocor). - Primidone (Mysoline) interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Primidone (Mysoline) is broken down by the body. There is some concern that niacinamide might decrease how fast the body breaks down primidone (Mysoline). But there is not enough information to know if this is important. - Probenecid interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Probenecid is used to treat gout. Taking large doses of niacin might worsen gout and decrease the effectiveness of probenecid. - Sulfinpyrazone (Anturane) interacts with NIACIN AND NIACINAMIDE (VITAMIN B3)
Sulfinpyrazone (Anturane) is used to treat gout. Taking large doses of niacin might worsen gout and decrease the effectiveness of sulfinpyrazone (Anturane).
Other names
3-Pyridine Carboxamide, 3-Pyridinecarboxylic Acid, Acide Nicotinique, Acide Pyridine-Carboxylique-3, Amide de l’Acide Nicotinique, Anti-Blacktongue Factor, Antipellagra Factor, B Complex Vitamin, Complexe de Vitamines B, Facteur Anti-Pellagre, Niacin-Niacinamide, Niacin/Niacinamide, Niacina y Niacinamida, Niacinamide, Niacine, Niacine et Niacinamide, Nicamid, Nicosedine, Nicotinamide, Nicotinic Acid, Nicotinic Acid Amide, Nicotylamidum, Pellagra Preventing Factor, Vitamin B3, Vitamin PP, Vitamina B3, Vitamine B3, Vitamine PP
References
Source: WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6926/niacinamide-oral/details