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Guys, please join me in giving niacin a try for Lyme

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Posted 11/19/2008 9:18 AM (GMT -8)

nefferdun said...
This is interresting and I will give it a try. I tried it many years ago because it was supposed to help migraines. The flushing, burning, stinging was unbelieveable! My whole body was red. Are you sure that your body adapts and you stop having this reaction?

I think the B vitamins must be very helpful with lyme. B6 is often dificient and now I hear B12 too.
I take 24 herbal pills a day. Iam going to have to get much bigger pill boxes!

Yes ma'am, but you must take regular doses, or your body will never acclimate.  You'll notice that even on your very first day of using it that your second daily dose will flush you far less. The more frequently you use it, the quicker it seems your system acclimates. Even after months sometimes my first dose of the day will flush me mildly for maybe 30 minutes, but subsequent doses very little, if at all.

Posted 11/19/2008 9:22 AM (GMT -8)

KO-LD said...
Hi Sulma,

Can you describe your herx's that you had from the Niacin?  Just wondering what to expect in my near future!  Thanks, KO

Exactly the same as I got on the Roceherin and Zith, but not as abrupt and severe.  When I herx from the Lyme itself, rather than the Babs, I get the tachycardia and palps, kidney pain, nausea that can increase in severity until I cant hold anything down, bodywide muscle aches, joint pain, and the paresthesias get much worse. I've learned now to spot the impending Herxes and double up on my detoxing, mostly IR saunas, to head it off to a large extent.

Posted 11/19/2008 9:33 AM (GMT -8)

Smiffy51 said...
It makes my skin itch frantically. Is there any way of preventing this does anyone know, please?

That's histamine. I know it's miserable, but your body will stop releasing nearly as much if you stick with it.  Your body will acclimate, but only if you keep taking it regularly.  I've built up to as much as 2000mg at a time and not flushed at all, but if I run out for a week and restart it then 1000mg will scald me like a boiled lobster for 2 hours.  That very first day your morning dose can give you a lot of burning, itching, and even some slight chills as the histamine is cleared out, but then the afternoon dose that same day may do very little flushing. 

Stopping and starting though means your body will never get the chance to acclimate. 

Posted 11/19/2008 12:12 PM (GMT -8)
Sulma, How soon after starting the Niacin did you herx?  I've was only on it a few days before I started to have the stomach pains/nausea along with other typical herx like symptoms.  I'm worried about getting a stomach ulcer on top of everything else I'm dealing with. 

Thanks, KO

Posted 11/19/2008 5:33 PM (GMT -8)

KO-LD said...
Sulma, How soon after starting the Niacin did you herx? I've was only on it a few days before I started to have the stomach pains/nausea along with other typical herx like symptoms. I'm worried about getting a stomach ulcer on top of everything else I'm dealing with.
Thanks, KO

Yes sir that's right on time. tongue about two to three days for me too before I started aggressively detoxing. The Niacin is really a wicked Borrelia killer, isn't it?

The overproduction of acid is a tough one. Same thing happened to me for a while. My understanding is that this happens b/c the stomach is part of the parasympathetic nervous system and it can get upset from Herxing just like it can if you're nervous all the time. My doc ordered a endoscopy back in March b/c the Herxing caused me to get sick a lot. No ulcers, just some irritation.

The solution for me was a lot more detoxing. You're not getting those neurotoxins out of your body at the same rate you're killing them with the Niacin. Your nervous system is getting way overstimulated from the build up.

You're right that you can make things worse with the Niacin if you keep on as is. I don't know what your detox protocol is, but it's not enough. I feel ridiculously good when on the Niacin and really properly detoxed, but ungodly hideous when I get slack on the detoxing, but stay on the Niacin.
Posted 11/20/2008 8:30 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Sulma,

How long did the stomach upset/nausea last for you?  Did you cut back on the dose for awhile?  Also what kind of detox to you do?  I know you mentioned IR sauna, anything else?

Thanks, KO

Posted 11/20/2008 9:03 AM (GMT -8)
I am using Zhang's herbs and began getting sicker about a month ago - I might have a coinfection. Does the Nicin help with co infections? I am taking a week of Ketek, half dose, along with the herbs right now. Should I wait until I finish this? I am excited about killing the buggers off even if it makes me miserable but I am going to start with an even lower dose than what you suggested. It was 20 years ago that I took niacin and I will never forget the experience!! Garlic is one of the herbs Zhang recommends but you have to take so much, you literally reak from the smell.
Posted 11/20/2008 10:10 PM (GMT -8)

KO-LD said...
Hi Sulma,
How long did the stomach upset/nausea last for you? Did you cut back on the dose for awhile? Also what kind of detox to you do? I know you mentioned IR sauna, anything else?

Thanks, KO

When I'd wake up with some of those dreadful Niacin Herxes, I'd not take any Niacin that day. The Herx would be really bad for about 12 hours, then I'd feel better (still bad though) the next day. The 2nd day after the Herx I'd go back on the Niacin. Now that I detox very diligently I stay on the Niacin.

I do about 6grams of Yaeyama Chlorella a day. Taken on an absolutely empty stomach at least twice daily, exactly 30 minutes before a meal. I take it before breakfast and dinner. At the beginning of the my dinner meal I eat a whole bunch of fresh cilantro. I used to do the detox baths too, but I've found with experience that my IR sauna works better. I do 20 to 30 minutes on the highest setting every evening.

Hey I'm finding some Niacin research on Pubmed. I'm posting it on that thread you started for Phinvent.
Posted 11/20/2008 10:15 PM (GMT -8)

nefferdun said...
I am using Zhang's herbs and began getting sicker about a month ago - I might have a coinfection. Does the Nicin help with co infections? I am taking a week of Ketek, half dose, along with the herbs right now. Should I wait until I finish this? I am excited about killing the buggers off even if it makes me miserable but I am going to start with an even lower dose than what you suggested. It was 20 years ago that I took niacin and I will never forget the experience!! Garlic is one of the herbs Zhang recommends but you have to take so much, you literally reak from the smell.

Neffer, I'm afraid I don't know if Niacin works for any of the other infections, but it's certainly possible. I just found some research on Pubmed that found clinically significant antibiotic effect on E. Coli from a combination of aspirin and Niacin, so it's possible it could kill of the other funk that ails us.
Posted 3/6/2009 5:41 PM (GMT -8)
Bump
Posted 3/7/2009 4:29 PM (GMT -8)

KO-LD said...
Bump

Hey my old thread. You stay on it, mija? How is/did it work for you?
Posted 3/8/2009 12:21 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Sulma,

I'm thinking of giving it another shot.  The first time I tried I had severe stomach issues, not sure if it was from the Niacin or something unrelated.  I thought I'd give it another try. 

Thanks, KO

Posted 4/7/2009 7:02 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Sulma,

I'm ready to give this a try again.  How long do you stay on this, do you stop after the 25 days?  I'm 135lbs should I stop at the 4k a day level?

Thanks, KO

Posted 4/8/2009 9:01 PM (GMT -8)

KO-LD said...
Hi Sulma,
I'm ready to give this a try again. How long do you stay on this, do you stop after the 25 days? I'm 135lbs should I stop at the 4k a day level?

Thanks, KO

Oh hey girl. Wow haven't logged on in a while, glad I caught this.

Yeah I would suggest 4k as a limit if you're not keeping track of your AST's and ALT's (liver enzymes) and want to stay on the safe side. I get my chem profile and CBC's about every 60 days, and my enzyme counts pop up from about 16 or so to about 25 on the Niacin, but that's still well within the normal range. (IIRC the normal range goes up to 45). No, you want to stay on it for several months to a year or more.

I never Herx from 4k anymore, so I may go to 6k, but I think you'd get a lot of therapeutic mileage out of the 2-4k range for quite a while. Since I'm not convinced we can ever actually eradicate Borrelia, just hopefully contain it, I plan on staying on a maintenance dose of 2-3k indefinitely for supportive therapy even once I'm asymptomatic.

Did you ever read that guy's blog on the Canlyme site that said Niacin had helped him a great deal? In his "Very Helpful" category he only listed a few treatments, including IV Rocephin, raw garlic, and niacin.
Posted 4/14/2009 10:27 AM (GMT -8)
I have only been able to get up to 3K a day.  I have been experiencing a racing heart and pounding in my head at night.  I got up at 3am to take my BP I thought I was having a stroke!  My BP was only 110/64 a little high for me I'm usually only about 90/60.  I have also noticed that I am grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw.  Anyone else had this happen to them?  I still haven't herxed yet.

Thanks, KO

Posted 12/24/2009 8:40 PM (GMT -8)
Wow guys !! Wish I could have helped you out before.

I first started on orthomolecular therapy about 18 months ago.

When you take niacin TAKE C in same doses. Niacin causes the flush via histamine release. Ascorbic acid (c) destroys histamine.

Taken together, they modulate histamine levels. Your mileage may vary. Might need more C than niacin.

Are people here saying that the inositol-hexanicotinate version of niacin is hepatoxic confused That's not what Dr. Hoffer says.

I take 1 gram INH + 1 gram ascorbic acid with bioflavinoids thrice daily with no problems.

Take some turmeric, ginger root tea, milk thistle or traditional medicinal's daily detox for darker (more bile) stools.

Either morgellons or Lyme or both can cause porphyria. I tested severely positive for a specific test of one type called pyroluria.

Also had to treat with b6+p5p & zinc+manganese to balance out. Anxiety, depression, & insomnia went away quickly turn

Be well.

Take adaptogens.

..Peace..
Posted 1/25/2010 2:50 PM (GMT -8)
Dear all,

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Mestre and I have a question regarding niacin;

for how long should I take it? Two months? Two years? Do you know?


Thank you.

Kind regards,

Mestre
Posted 5/4/2010 1:28 PM (GMT -8)
Well I started taking it in July of 2008. I tried to stop October of 2009, and I went slightly psychotic after about 10 days! So I've been on it still, nearly 2 years into it. It really doesn't cost too much, and the protocol helps for so many other things as well. I may just stay on this for the rest of my life. My suggestion would be stay on it for several months solid, then try a week or two off and see how you feel. If symptoms come back, it's time to go back on, ASAP.
Posted 11/6/2010 6:39 AM (GMT -8)
I have just started and am now on 6000mg Niacin. Anyone else on high doses.

Cheers
Posted 11/6/2010 7:03 AM (GMT -8)
HI Mariejose!
Welcome to the Healing Wells' Lyme forum! I am really sorry that you have a need to be here, but I ma glad that you found us!! I am sure that you will find us to be a caring, understanding & helpful group!!

I am not taking Niacin (I'm getting treatment through Acupuncture & Chinese & Western Herbs), but I'm sure that there are others here that do. Maybe you could start a new thread to introduce yourself & tell us a bit about your situation?

I hope you find peace along your journey to health,
Trav
Posted 1/2/2011 7:54 PM (GMT -8)
Are you still a member? I just found this post and was wondering if the niacin made you well?

Also do you know if you can take it with other supplements and antibiotics. My daughter has been sick with lyme for 2 years.

She is 23 and had to drop out of college at 21. She stresses over the fact that she may not be able to have a decent life.

We do pray everyday. Therefore I know God is out there and I believe he is going to help her.
Thanks for any info
Posted 3/17/2011 12:44 AM (GMT -8)
I am 47 years old, and have been taking Niacin since my early twenties for circulation issues. I generally take about 500-600mg per day, in the AM, about an hour before I have to be anywhere, and I love the flush. I don't take non-flush since the benefit is in the flush, and non-flush can say in the liver too long from what I understand.

Unknown to me at the time I started, I suffer from congenital lyme. Just got my mother properly diagnosed from 20+ years of misdiagnosis, and her mother had it too, from reading her autopsy report! Had I not been dong the Niacin, along with other supplements and lifestyle I naturally gravitated towards (no dairy, gluten, low sugar, lots of chlorella (which improved my eyesite)...and artimisinin, oil of oregano... more than likely I would have followed in her footsteps. Not out of the clear, and never will I be. Just a way of life for me. I eat lots of herbs and fresh greens too. Sauna and stretching is also a must.
Posted 3/17/2011 12:51 AM (GMT -8)
Regarding Niacin, there is also an article out there....Niacin the Anti-death drug. Like the article, I have been taking 500-600 mg almost consistantly for 27 years. I am in perfect health...and have to admit, I even still smoke and drink. It's all about balance and clearing the toxins. Many people comment that I look at least a decade younger than I am, and say, "you must work out a lot", because I have the body of a 20 year old. I can feel the niacin working...opens my capillaries and nourishes my skin, organs, increased blood and oxygen flow.
Posted 3/17/2011 12:53 AM (GMT -8)
Another great thing about Niacin, it's extremely inexpensive. My favorite is a local grocery store brand, $2.99 per bottle.
Posted 9/20/2013 8:46 AM (GMT -8)
So,should I? Lol
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