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Niacin and Magnesium by: Anonymous
My husband just took two capsules of niacin without checking side effects- he had put magnesium on his skin for a muscle cramp, and he immediately flushed all over his body, burning and itching. After 30 minutes it is calming down - but I strongly suggest no one do this!!!
it's the niacin by: Kerri Knox, The Immune Queen
It's the niacin that caused his flush and not the magnesium. And the niacin flush is perfectly harmless and goes away with continued use. There is no reason to suggest that 'no one do' what you did when the niacin flush is a completely normal and expected niacin side effect that goes away in about 30 minutes and is completely harmless other than a small amount of what some call discomfort.
Personally, I find the flush pleasant. However, I'm sure it would be frightening if you were not expecting it. But if you are expecting it, it's no big deal, it's self-limiting, and there is no reason to avoid niacin because of it.
Magnesum made it worse for me by: Anonymous
I'v taken Niacin every evening for a few months and have either gotten over the flush from continued use or sleep through it now. Last night, I had some muscle soreness in my neck and shoulder so took magnesium to help relax the muscles. About an hour later, I took niacin. I went to sleep and 2-3 hours later, I work up with red flushed skin all over and itching. It wasn't going away so I went in the bathroom and took a Benadryl and got a towel to rub on my skin rather than scratching with my fingernails. It went away after an hour or so. I'm not sure if the Benadry helped but it made me groggy enough to get some more sleep. I will never do the niacin/magnesium combo again or at least wait more time between taking the two.
Don’t risk it by: Anonymous
If you think the combo is creating a reaction, don’t do what I did, listen to your body! I, too, take Niacin and Magnesium but rarely at the same time but when I have I did notice the hot "flushing" that occurred and got worse each time. Reassured by my dietician that it was just the Niacin and to make sure I take it on a full stomach, I did it this morning after a full meal and went into anaphylaxis. I had an epi-pen and my daughter injected me. It saved my life! I felt my throat closing up and tongue swelling and had to receive multiple injections of epinephrine before the rash started to calm down and now I’m ok. Doctors seemed surprised that I continued to take any supplement that caused this reaction and I felt like an idiot. Nurses all suggest it is a possible side effect, but not necessarily something you should "get used to".
As Niacin is a natural ingredient in many foods and your body, the only conclusion drawn from my professionals today told me it was probably the combo of the Niacin and "something else". Still trying to narrow down what the other element was, I’m thinking the only thing different was the Magnesium. Hope you continue to research your answers for yourself and find solutions. Good luck!
Kerri's note: There is always a risk of allergic reaction with any supplement. And distinguishing an allergic reaction from niacin flush CAN be very difficult. However, the niacin flush generally goes away in 20 minutes to 1/2 hour, where an allergic reaction will generally continue.
However, one who is NOT allergic to niacin will 'get used to it' and actually stop flushing with continued DAILY or multiple times daily use. But stop one or two days and you'll be back to square one.
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