Mayoclinic.com describes niacin, or nicotinic acid, to all be forms of the Vitamin B3. Niacin and its amide called niacinamide come together to form Vitamin B3. It can be found naturally occurring in foods such as yeast, green vegetables, cereals, meat, eggs, fish and milk. Dietary tryptophan, one of the 10 essential amino acids for the body, is also converted to niacin in the body. The New York Times Health Guide describes several side effects of nicotinic acid.
Hot Flushes
The New York Times Health guide lists down hot flushes as one of the side effects of nicotinic acid. Medline Plus states that these flushing reactions in the patient are made worse when the patient consumes large amounts of alcohol while taking niacin or takes the niacin with hot drinks. The flushing reaction in a patient will come with its own set of symptoms. The symptoms of a flushing reaction are headaches and a burning, itching, tingling and redness of the face, chest and arms. Other areas of the patient's body may itch as well without showing the redness on the skin until only after being scratched.
Peptic Ulcers in the Digestive Tract
One of the side effects of nicotinic acid as listed down by the New York Times Health Guide is peptic ulcers of the digestive tract. This occurs when the patient has been taking large doses of nicotinic acid for two or more years. The University Of Maryland Medical Center defines peptic ulcers as open sores occurring in the lining of the stomach, esophagus or the duodenum. It is usually caused by the long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs with similar action. These eat away the protective lining of the stomach, leaving it vulnerable to the damaging effects of stomach acid. Patients who already have ulcers are always advised against taking nicotinic acid, as it will worsen the ulcers.
Liver Damage
One of the side effects of nicotinic acid that can occur is liver damage. Medline Plus observed that when doses of over 3 grams of nicotinic acid were administered per day, the patient's liver will be considerably damaged from breaking down all the medicine. Patients who already have existing liver problems are advised against taking nicotinic acid.
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