Drug Facts

Type of Drug:

Water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin not stored by the body.

How the Drug Works:

Riboflavin (vitamin B 2 ) acts in a variety of important metabolic processes in the body and promotes healthy skin and vision.

Uses:

To treat and prevent riboflavin deficiency. Symptoms of riboflavin deficiency include itching and burning eyes, lips, mouth, or tongue; sensitivity to light; sore throat; mouth or tongue inflammation; scrotal or vulva skin changes; skin inflammation; red eyes; cataract formation; dry lips and corners of the mouth; or scaly skin inflammation on the face and scalp.

Precautions:

Multiple vitamin deficiencies: It is unusual for riboflavin deficiency to Occur alone. Other vitamins and protein may also be needed. Consult your pharmacist or doctor.

Pregnancy: Adequate, well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate risk to the fetus. In doses that exceed RDA, risk cannot be ruled out. However, potential benefits to the mother may justify the potential risks to the fetus. Consult your doctor.

Breastfeeding: Riboflavin is excreted in breast milk. Consult your doctor before you begin breastfeeding.

Doses:

Type	Generic Name	Supplied As	Generic Available
otc	Riboflavin/Vitamin B2	Tablets: 50mg, 100 mg, 400 mg	Yes

Guidelines for Use:

• Most people on balanced diets do not need vitamin supplements. People with excessive alcohol intake, mal absorption, or poor diets are at risk for riboflavin deficiency.
• Dosage for treatment of deficiency states is 5 to 10 mg/day
• May cause a yellow discoloration of the urine when taken in large doses.
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) _ Males: 1.4 to 1.8 mg Females: 1.2 to 1.3 mg
• Common sources of riboflavin - Meats, poultry, fish, dairy products, broccoli, turnips, asparagus, spinach, enriched and fortified grains, cereals, and bakery products.
• Store at controlled room temperature (59° to 86°F). Protect from moisture.

Tagged under:metabolic processes, multiple vitamin, riboflavin deficiency, scaly skin, skin changes, skin inflammation, vitamin deficiencies, vitamins water soluble vitamin

Type of Drug:

Water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin not stored by the body. Nicotinamide (niacin amide) is chemically related to niacin.

How the Drug Works:

Niacin (nicotinic acid) is a biochemical entity involved in fat metabolism, tissue respiration, and energy production. Vitamins do not give people energy, even though they are involved in the energy production process in the body.

Niacin and nicotinamide both act as vitamins in the body. However, only niacin dilates blood vessels in the face, neck, and chest and lowers cholesterol and tryingly levels in the blood.

Uses:

The following information pertains primarily to uses of niacin in doses rotor than the incommoded Dilatory Allowanco (RDA).

To prevent or to treat niacin deficiency. Niacin requirements may be increased during periods of increased calorie use (recovery from illness or injury).

To prevent and to treat pellagra. Pellagra is rare. It Occurs most frequently in alcoholics, the poorly-nourished elderly, and people on unusual diets. It also occurs in areas where much corn is eaten, because the niacin in corn is bound to indigestible constituents, making it unavailable for use by the body.

Precautions:

Do not use in the following situations: allergy to niacin or any of its liver disease ingredients peptic ulcer, active bleeding, arterial

Use with caution in the following situations: alcoholics heart disease angina, unstable jaundice, history of bleeding, arterial, history of liver disease, history of diabetes MI, acute phase gallbladder disease peptic ulcer, history gout

Diabetes mellitus: Niacin may decrease glucose tolerance. Diet or blood sugar lowering drugs may have to be adjusted. Consult your doctor before taking niacin supplements.

Gout: Niacin may cause an increase in uric acid levels, possibly causing a gout attack.

Pregnancy: Adequate studies have not been done in pregnant women. Use doses in excess of the RDA only if clearly needed and potential benefits to the mother outweigh the possible hazards to the fetus.

Breastfeeding: Niacin appears in breast milk. Consult your doctor before you begin breastfeeding.

Children: Safety and efficacy in children have not been established in doses that exceed the RDA.

Lab tests may be required to monitor therapy. Tests may include lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides), blood glucose, and liver function tests.

Drug Interactions:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or if you are planning to take any over-the-counter or prescription medications or dietary supplements with niacin. Doses of one or both drugs may need to be modified or a different drug may need to be prescribed. The following drugs and drug classes interact with niacin:

• Beta blockers (eg, propranolol)
• HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (eg, lovastatin)
• Sulfinpyrazone (eg, Anturane)

Doses:

Type	Generic Name Brand Name Examples	Supplied As	Generic Available
Rx	Nicotinic Acid/Niacin1	Capsules, sustained-release: 500 mg	Yes
		Capsules, timed-release: 500 mg	Yes
	Niacor	Tablets: 500 mg	Yes
otc	Nicotinic Acid/Niacin1	Tablets: 50 mg, 100 mg.250 mg, 500 mg	Yes
		Tablets, -timed-release: 250 mg 500 mg	Yes
		Capsules, extended-release: 250 mg, 400 mg	Yes
		Capsules, sustained-release: 125 mg, 500 mg	Yes
		Capsules, timed-release:250 mg, 500 mg	yes
	Sio-Niacin	Tablets, controlled-release:250 mg,500 mg, 750 mg	Yes
	Nlcotinex	Elixir: 50 mg/5 mg	No
otc	Nicotinamide/Niacinamid	Tablets : 100 mg,500 mg,	Yes

Side Effects:

Every drug is capable of producing side effects. Many niacin users experience no, or minor, side effects. The frequency and severity of side effects depend on many factors including dose, duration of therapy, and individual susceptibility. Possible side effects include:

Digestive Tract: Stomach distress or pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; indigestion; activation of peptic ulcer.

Skin: Rash; hives; itching; dry skin; flushing; tingling of skin; sensation of warmth; thickening and brownish discoloration of the skin in bony folds.

Other: Headache; low blood pressure; dimming of vision; abnormal heart rhythms; liver dysfunction; lab test abnormalities; elevated blood sugar; yellowing of the skin or eyes; gout; vision changes.

Guidelines for Use:

• Most people on balanced diets do no need vitamin supplements.
• Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) ­ Adult males: 15 to 20 mg Adult females: 13 to 15 mg
• For hyperlipidemia - Usual target dosage is 1 to 2 g 2 or 3 times daily. Do not exceed 6 g/day. For pellagra - Take up to 500 mg/day.
• Niacinamide - Usual dosage is 100 to 500 mg/day.
• Sustained-, extended-, or timed-release products - Take whole. Do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing.
• Do not substitute sustained-, extended-, or timed-release preparations for immediate-release (crystalline) nicotinic acid.
• May cause stomach upset. Take with meals.
• If dizziness occurs, avoid sudden changes in posture.
• Flushing appears frequently with oral therapy and generally begins 20 minutes after ingestion and lasts 30 to 60 minutes. Flushing is transient and will usually subside after 3 to 6 weeks of continued therapy. The flush response can be reduced by slowly increasing the dose (100 mg 3 times daily each week), administering with food or milk, or by administering either a ministerial anti-inflammatory drug (eg, ibuprofen) or aspirin 60 minutes prior to niacin administration.
• Discontinue use and contact a doctor if any of the following symptoms occur: Persistent flu-like symptoms (nausea, vomiting, general unwell feeling); hives; loss of appetite; decreased urine output associated with dark-colored urine; muscle discomfort such as tender, swollen muscles or muscle weakness; irregular heartbeat; or dimming of vision.
• Common sources of niacin - Liver, meat, fish, chicken, nuts, legumes, green vegetables, yeast, potatoes, and whole-grain enriched cereals and breads.
• Lab tests may be required to monitor therapy. Be sure to keep appointments.
• Store at controlled room temperature (59° to 86°F).

Tagged under:diabetes mellitus, gallbladder disease, liver disease, niacin deficiency, vitamins water soluble vitamin