Policosanol previously was thought to reduce your low-density lipoproteins, the "bad" cholesterol. However, the University of Maryland Medical Center states that more recent clinical trials of this this herbal supplement do not prove that it has any substantial effect upon your LDL levels. The website MyDr.com.au states that policosanol may help to raise the high-density lipoprotein, known as the "good" cholesterol. Whether policosanol actually works remains a matter for scientific debate. If you use it as a supplement, consult your physician first. You may experience side effects from the supplement.
Trouble Sleeping
Policosanol taken as in pill form as a supplement may interfere with your usual sleeping patterns, Drugs.com indicates. The herbal supplement may prevent you from sleeping or from sleeping well, primarily during your first usage of it. Drugs.com states this was one of the more common side effects of policosanol during clinical trials performed with patients. Insomnia may go away on its own without the intervention of a doctor, but you should speak with a physician if it lingers.
Fatigue
Taking policosanol supplements may make you feel very tired during the first week or so of use. This sense of fatigue generally should pass as you take the supplement more. At first, however, it may make you feel as though you have performed excessive work or exercise. It may make you tired even after you have rested fully. Once your body acclimates to policosanol, fatigue should diminish and vanish. If you continue to feel fatigued, query your doctor about it. Continued fatigue could indicate a serious illness.
Increased Urination
As policosanol makes your blood's platelets less cohesive or sticky, you may find yourself urinating more often and producing more urine each time you go. Policosanol's effect on your blood platelets, MyDr.com.au states, provides the benefit of reducing your risk for blood clots. This side effect of excessive urination, discovered in clinical trials, usually occurs temporarily and mildly. It should stop as you adjust to the supplement.
Weight Changes
The most common side effect reported in clinical trials of policosanol, MyDr.com.au states, is a loss of weight. This, too should end as you grow more accustom to having policosanol in your body. You should not lose a significant amount of weight as a side effect of this supplement. If your weight loss does appear severe or does not stop, seek your doctor's advice.
