Rugby Laboratories Niacin Vitamin B3 500 mg Plant Based Supplement For Cardiovascular Health And Energy Metabolism 1000 Tablets

I've bee taking niacin for years. My ENT recommended it to help relieve my tinnitus. Seemed to help initially, but after a few months, there doesn't seem to be any additional improvement. However, on the advice of my primary physician, I continued to take it.Settled on the Rugby brand due to lowest price, and have been using it ever since. By far the cheapest I've found (and I'm VERY cheap). I take 2 in the morning and 2 in the evening (2000mg per day). When I first started taking it, there was a noticeable flushing from just one tablet. Within a couple of weeks, I often didn't notice much flushing at all. Slowly increasing the dose seemed to make it a non-issue. As others have pointed out, there seems to be doubt if the "non-flush" niacin has the same benefits. After gradually increasing the dosage, and after enough time, the flushing is insignificant. Sometimes I can't even remember if I took my dose, as the flushing was so minimal.I have always had pretty good cholesterol numbers, and especially a very low triglyceride level (mid 40s). Since taking the niacin, my triglyceride levels have dropped substantially (low 30s). No other side effects have been observed (after the initial reduction in ringing in the ears), and I get a full blood test every year.All my purchases of this product have had expiration dates at least a year from date of purchase. If taking one tablet a day, then there is a chance that you will hit the expiration date before you run out. But even if that is the case, it's still less expensive to waste some, than to purchase other brands. Also, there are some studies (ask Google) that indicate the expiration date is somewhat arbitrary, so there is a possibility that they are still good past the exp date. And, in my opinion, after a while, you will increase the dosage as you get used to the flushing.Bottom line: with all the supplements on the market, niacin is the only one I recommend, and this is the brand to get.

Like many of you, I'm taking this product for bad lipids. I take 1,250mg, twice a day and I *do* get my liver function checked periodically. For me, this regimen has improved my lipids, and more importantly, has *not* caused any elevated liver enzymes.There are lots of reviews with information on niacin, but please do not simply follow what anyone says here without doing some research for yourself, and speaking with a qualified and *knowledgeable* physician. That being said, here are some key points:1) niacin in forms other than the "flushing type" has not been proven in studies to improve lipid/cholesterol issues like regular, flushing-type niacin (nicotinic acid). P.S: Other forms (such as inositol hexaniacinate) *may* be just fine for non-lipid management purposes, but stick to plain old niacin for lipids.2) and more importantly studies have shown that large doses of "non-flushing" type niacin (specifically niacin with extended release to reduce flushing) can be hepatotoxic, and there have even been people who had organ failure and needed liver transplants. Hint: search web for "niacin nih livertox"3) niacin therapy has indeed been used for many years to improve blood lipids, but it also is contraindicated in certain people, including people with diabetes (because it raises blood glucose levels). You have to have somebody monitoring all this that knows what they are doing, and who can determine if a rise in blood sugar (which makes your triglycerides worse) is tolerable with your current blood sugar levels, and whether the other benefits of the niacin offset that (reduction in LDL particle number, triglycerides, LDL-C, and LP(a) as well as increasing HDL-C).Look...even physicians...can't know it all. Medicine is so specialized these days, and the body of knowledge so great, and changing, that some people may simply not be aware of some of these important distinctions.SO IMPORTANT: In my opinion, if you are going to treat cardiovascular/lipid issues with niacin, and you want to be safest, you SHOULD BE USING FLUSHING STYLE "immediate release" niacin. And, you should also have your physician perform liver function labs to make sure you are not damaging your liver. And you should treat niacin as if it were a drug, and seek assistance from someone qualified and not just simply follow anybody's advice, including mine, who posts a review to Dropy.Update 12/8/2016: I got my newest bottle today, and noticed the 'New Formula & Appearance' starburst prominently displayed on the label. Not sure why, but Rugby added dicalcium phosphate, and now the tablets are quite a bit bigger...I'd say approx 50% 'taller' (but the same diameter). FYI.

I thought this was flush free....I guess I didn't fully read everything before buying. ...however on the plus side. ...it's a very large bottle

I read other reviews and it was exactly what I was looking for. I knew that it was the flushing type and I'm ok with that, because I like the flush and heat it creates. I split the first tablet and I'll get my system used to taking 250mg in the morning and at night for a while, until I get a tolerance. The flush was amazing and is very therapeutic physically and mentally. I was taking a daily dose of about 120mg, but I wanted something more potent and pure and this Rugby product is it. It's so incredibly affordable! The benefits of Niacin are amazing. It naturally helps with hypertension (high blood pressure), high LDL cholesterol and lipid levels. It's a natural alternative to deadly statens. I haven't taken statens and don't ever plan on it. The research on Niacin proves it's worthiness and benefits. This isn't one of those naturopathic things that never ends up working, or you never see the results you were looking for. This one shows you instantly. After about a month, you will dramatically see blood pressure reduce, circulation and joints feel better and LDL cholesterol will reduce. Remember, this won't work as good if you still eat like crap and aren't moving around or doing anything physical. Your body was designed to move. Do what you can, eat healthier food, stay away from processed foods and control portions. You will see things get better within a month.

Lid was on crooked but inner seal not opened. Smelled of old smoke like maybe cigarettes or something & was only thing in package. Outside of bottle dirty also-see photos. Disappointed in this & the fact was an Dropy choice. Can't comment about product as just received.