At my last visit to my TCM (Doctor of Chinese Medicine), I asked her for something to help me with cramps. She gave me a few great tips, including take Vitamin B3 (Niacin) every hour when cramps are heavy. So off I went to my health food store to pick up some Vitamin B3! The lady at the health food store asked if I would like the ‘no-flush B3′. I asked what the difference was and she said that some people experience red, tingling skin for a while with the regular Vitamin B3. She said if I took the regular version, I should take it with food. I decided on the regular B3 as a little red skin doesn’t bother me and I am not overly sensitive to anything.
I will now tell you what happened 5 days ago. It was 6 days after my knee surgery and along with my surgery pain, I was having cramps, so I decided to take my B3 for the first time. I forgot about the ‘take it on a full stomach’ and took 100 mg 2 hours after my breakfast. I then went upstairs to do a little work on my computer. After 5 minutes, I felt a tingling sensation and thought ‘Oh geez, I wonder if I have a blood clot!’ Blood clots can form after surgery and I’d been doing exercises to keep the blood moving to avoid clots. So I was very aware of blood clot symptoms, which can include tingling sensation in your leg for a knee surgery.
The tingling was not located in my leg but all over my body. I decide to lie down for a few minutes to see if this would help. It did not. The tingling became stronger, my skin was itching and now I felt like I was on fire! I ripped off the ice packs from my knee and threw them on my head…I called out for my partner, Dave, and he came running in to help. Things were not getting better as my heart rate was rising and I was sweating. We went to the hospital to find out what was wrong.
I was greeted by a cheerful nurse who asked me if I’d taken any Vitamin B3, after she heard/saw (I looked like a red lobster!) my symptoms! I said yes …. and asked ‘why’? She told me that this is a common reaction to Vitamin B3. WOW.
So no, I did not have a blood clot 
It was a reaction to B3!
Apparently if you take an Asprin 30 minutes before your Vitamin B3 or take with a meal, this will help avoid the side effects.
To your health,
Kim Duess
You-Be-Healthy.com
Twitter.com/kduess
Facebook.com/youbehealthy
PS Here are some foods high in Vitamin B3:
Animal products:
* liver, heart and kidney
* chicken
* beef
* fish: tuna, salmon
* milk
* eggs
Fruits and vegetables:
* avocados
* dates
* tomatoes
* leaf vegetables
* broccoli
* carrots
* sweet potatoes
* asparagus
Seeds:
* nuts
* whole grain products
* legumes
* saltbush seeds
Fungi:
* mushrooms
* brewer’s yeast
{ 8 comments }
I too have had reactions to niacin- red flushing, shortness of breath, black out(only once), vomiting,and dizziness. I now just mainly get through food sources–nutritional yeast is my favorite. I have noticed-even in myself-when you love alternative meds/lifestyle etc. I am so trusting. I have learned to introduce new things very gradually. Everyone’s chemistry is so different and even things that are good for you can maybe shock or tax the system. Have you any experience with using oil of oregano? It is the single most beneficial herb that I have ever used-just curious if you had too. Thanks for all that you do! ~Cristine
Hi Christine, Wow – You blacked out? Geez! Getting B3 from food sources is a great idea. I learnt my lesson – I will ease into new things in the future. I LOVE oil of oregano and swear by it for fighting off colds. I’ll write a blog about it – thanks for the reminder! And thanks for taking the time to comment!
Have a great weekend,
Kim
Kim,
I always recommend to my clients that they take B isolates in conjunction with a complete B complex to help avoid this, as well as with food. Taking isolated B’s is never as effective as in conjunction with the entire complex.
How did you hurt your knee? I have a relative who has broken his leg just under the knee and is scheduled for surgery this week. Any tips you have would be greatly appreciated.
Enjoy following you on Twitter, too!
Blessings!
Catherine
Thanks for that advice, Catherine!
I tore my ACL while skiing in March. I’ve since had surgery and am over a month ahead in rehab. I blogged about what I did before and after surgery: http://www.you-be-healthy.com/category/my-knee-surgery-journey/. Let me know if you have any specific questions!
Have a great Sunday!
Kim
Hi Kim,
Don’t give up the ship! Just take unmodified niacin on a full stomach. It’s far more effective them the modified time-release form:
(Metabolism. 1985 Jul;34(7):642-50.Contrasting effects of unmodified and time-release forms of niacin on lipoproteins in hyperlipidemic subjects: clues to mechanism of action of niacin).
LDL cholesterol (C) was reduced 21% by unmodified niacin and 13% by the time release form. Plasma total triglyceride was reduced more with unmodified niacin (27%) than with time-release niacin (8% maximum), and HDL-C and HDL2-C were increased significantly with unmodified niacin (26% and 36%) and were not significantly changed by time-release niacin.
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3925290).
Either way, don’t exceed 500 mg a day without getting your liver checked out. Always take additional folic acid and B6 since high dose niacin can increase homocystein levels; and avoid it altogether if you have gout or liver problems. It’s also best to build up to it gradually.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the info, Randy!
Did you have to have a second knee surgery?
Hi Jim, I didn’t not have another knee surgery (thank goodness!). This is referring to an incident from last year.