Niacin: Not Dead Yet, but on Life Support

Let me begin by confirming unequivocally that I’ve long been one of the strongest and loudest advocates of using niacin in the treatment of dyslipidemia. I’ve been taking large doses of immediate-release niacin for more than 20 years, to the current tune of a whopping 5 grams a day. It’s been nearly 2 decades since I penned a muscular editorial for the Archives of Family Practice entitled, “Why Aren’t We Using More Niacin?” I’ve written similarly-haranguing editorials in this very journal you hold in your hands, aggressively advocating more widespread use of this seemingly-miraculous lipid-lowering therapy.