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Foot Pain & Niacin

Aug 9, 2011 | By Kathryn Gilhuly
Foot Pain & Niacin
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If you take niacin and experience intense foot pain, see a doctor. Niacin can cause gout, or sudden, extreme pain in your big toe or the joints in your feet, knees, wrists and ankles. Gout requires medical treatment. If you take prescription-strength niacin, don't stop taking your medication without consulting your physician. If you take it as a dietary supplement, stop if you develop foot pain or other unwanted side effects.

Gout

Too much uric acid in your bloodstream can cause gout, the formation of urate crystals around your joints. Your body can produce too much uric acid if you eat a diet rich in purines -- foods such as organ meats, mushrooms and asparagus -- or if you drink alcohol to excess. Medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol contribute to uric acid build-up and gout. Certain medications, including aspirin, thiazide diuretics to treat high blood pressure and niacin also may cause gout. Uric acid also may build up and cause foot pain if your kidneys do not function properly. Treatment can include anti-inflammatory and pain medications as well as drugs to prevent future attacks.

Niacin Doses

A healthy diet supplies 14 mg to 16 mg daily of niacin through food sources such as peanuts, fish, chicken, eggs, milk and green vegetables. Niacin in your diet is unlikely to cause foot pain. Serious side effects, such as gout, can occur if you take high doses of niacin for extended periods. Doctors may prescribe niacin in doses of 500 mg to 3,000 mg to treat cholesterol. Over-the-counter formulas come in strengths of up to 500 mg. Except to treat a deficiency, there are few medical reasons to take niacin supplements.

Osteoarthritis

One type of niacin -- niacinamide -- may treat foot pain caused by osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis, cartilage deterioration between your joints, may cause deep, aching pain that can worsen with exercise. Niacinamide is not the only remedy for osteoarthritis. Nor is it the preferred type if you are prone to gout. Use over-the-counter pain medicine and prescription drugs to treat symptoms of osteoarthritis. You can buy niacinamide without a prescription, but don't take it without discussing its risks and benefits with your doctor.

Niacin Side Effects

In addition to gout, side effects of taking niacin or niacinamide include nausea, vomiting, headaches and diarrhea. If you have type 2 diabetes, niacin may cause significant elevations in your blood sugar levels. Niacin increases uric acid production, which may worsen kidney disease as well as cause gout-related foot pain. Niacin may also cause irregular heartbeat, vision loss, stomach ulcers and liver damage.

References

Article reviewed by Gary Reinmuth Last updated on: Aug 9, 2011

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