The product name of the mega B-50 vitamin is QUEST.

It has a large amount of niacin in it.

SandyXXXXX

Hi Sandy,

I did a search on niacin this morning and was surprised to learn that even small amounts of 50 to 100 mg can cause flushing in some people.

50 is is in my daily intake in my women's vitamin.  

I am trying to determine if my hot flashes are estrogen or niacin, or maybe a combination of both.

It seemed I have had less severe flashes being off the vitamin yesterday and today but I do have some, but it definitely is worth doing an experiment on this to find out.

I found out that niacin is in meat, milk, eggs, and whole grains and I eat a lot of those things so I could possibly have too much.

Thank you Sandy.

Hi Nancy:

Good work, Nancy.

Lets compare the flash that I got with the flash you got.

I have discussed among friends here and 2 people had reactions: the flashes were identical to mine.

1.  A tingling sensation from the scalp or hairline signals the start of it.

2. Within minutes, my face is beet red and so is my neck and chest.

3. I do not sweat a drop.

4. I feel fine (except when I look in the mirror...yuck!)

5. Lasts up to 15 minutes.

6. Always in the morning.  Never any other time.

7.  Itchy --really itchy skin --arms, chest and hands..   (scratch marks are all over me after an attack)

Oher days, I have a flushed face and a healthy look.

No more though. Stopped it once I found out about this.

SandyXXXXX

Sandy,

Yours sounds like a classic niacin flush with histamine release.  

Mine is more the pattern of a hormone hot flash but the thing is I am not having nearly as many hot flashes since being off the vitamins today and yesterday.

I feel flashes almost anywhere on my body and sweat some afterward.  I do not turn red or itch.  

Maybe the niacin is stimulating like caffeine would be to me.  Will see....

Glad you are having none of them though--must be very nice. :cheesy:

NancyV, Sandy....G'morning!!Hey....ladies....like I said,  if you take the Niacin on a empty stomach it will cause flushing....a burning....tingly....itchy feeling, and you will turn RED!!  It's SUPPOSE to do that!!  It depends also on how much ya take!!  It will also do that with a man.....has nothin to do with hot flashes or hormones!!   Ask any man who takes it for Meniere's Disease!!  It runs it's course in 20 minutes to half an hour. Best way to describe it is....feels like someone threw gasoline on ya....and pitched a match!!!  You literally feel like you're on fire!! ALWAYS take it with food!!!  And in small doses.....unless it's scripted for a special situation like Meniere's as with me!!I don't like it....but sometimes it's the only thing that will work in my case.....and like I said it's harmless!!!

HAGO (((Hugs)))

Just wondering how MY name got on your original post???  Do we have gremlins on the Board?

Hi all,Maybe I'm posting too late on this thread, but I wanted to discuss some positive aspects of the niacin flush. I started taking therapeutic doses of niacin at bedtime many years ago because it was recommended for prevention of migraine. (It didn't totally cure my migraine, but my attacks were much less frequent and severe--especially if I took a niacin during the aura phase). After a few days, the itching and burning sensation became very tolerable and the wonderful thing that followed was drowsiness. I have been suffering from bouts of insomnia for many years. I found out that niacin encourages the increased production of seratonin, hence the symptom of drowsiness. Also, MY ACNE totally cleared up! My naturopath told me not to take niacin when I am taking an nsaid pain reliever--that it is too tough on the liver to take both. But, overall I am grateful for the positive effects on my health that the niacin flush has made--and I am beginning to suspect that my hot flashes are less severe because of the niacin (maybe it is because I am used to the sensations?) By the way, I finally cured my migraine with magnesium supplements. I take it with water upon rising every morning.

Hi gals ,I have to take a mega niacin pill called Niaspan and have had none of the symptoms from it. If you take your daily asprin dose a half hour before your niacin  it takes care of the flushes. You should take a 1/2 an asprin everyday anyway so it is good to do it before the niacin. To avoid any stomach problems eat something about 15 minutes before the niacin also. So far it has worked well for me , now I just hope it works on my triglycerides and HDL like it is suppose to. hugs, jeanne

jeanne, my Meno-bud!!

The Niacin I took...was prescribed....purest form!! In otherwards it can't be bought, over the counter!! The good doctor,:biggrin: told me, if I didn't get a flushing effect from it, the med, wasn't doing it's job!!I HAD to feel something for it to work!!Thank God, it didn't last long!!  I looked like a tomato, from H*ll!! Grrrrrrrrr!!

HAGO my friend........luv ya!!

(((((Hugs from Silly Goose))))))                  Snowy

Hiya Silly Goose :)Hopefully that isn't the case with this med. I am suppose to take it right before bedtime so maybe I have the flushes while I'm sleeping.?Or maybe this is combined with something else that helps with the flushing? Or maybe I am too confused to figure it out because I just woke up -heehee :biggrin: I am just glad I don't know about it if that is what 's happening. :cheesy:hugs, jeanne

Hello everyone: I am so glad I found this site and I am hoping someone can help ease my mind. I have been on HRT from March to August 2007 and started to get a reaction to b vitamins. Doctor put me on the meds becuase of bone density loss and no peroid for 3 years. I have since switched to BHRT because I had terrible side effects from the medication. Retained water and kidneys malfunctioned, so exhausted. I am only 40 and had no problems before I started the medications. Always took b complex 100 mg. I have had no peroid since 2003 (after birth of my son) I am very thin and run alot. I have since slowed down. As soon as I switched off the HRT I started to get tons of symptoms, burning eyes, tongue and itchy burning arms, stomach, head and yes flushing and even a rash. My symptoms don't seem to subside though through the day --- is stays with me all the time. It is so scary because I am so young and use to be so vibrant. My hair is now thinning and my skin is so dry. I eat lots of peanut butter ( every day) and yes I know peanuts have lots of niacin. Do you think the Niacin in my diet --including the vitamin be complex 50 is bothering me more because I am probably now in perimenopausal?