"Refractory Period" for Niacin?

[Nightingale]

Hey everyone.  When I found out not too long ago that Niacin works for me, I immediately went to testing its limits.  If I were to have no POIS, I would find myself having at least 1 "O" a day, to maybe 3.  I tried to achieve this, but found that the flush was not returning so quickly and that the preventative effects were dropping off.  I found that I did not have to take the large amounts (I took 4 GRAMS 2 days in a row) if I waited longer and ignored the fact the flush was weaker.  Now I take 250-350mg daily and get ok (but reduced) results.

So I wonder, is there a "refractory period" or "recharge period" for niacin's effect on us?  I have been able to get some relief from daily "O"s with the 250-350mg I mentioned before.  I have not had the strong relief I have gotten before in some time.  More like 60-70%

I just want to poll people about this, see if anyone else has tried pushing the limit or just has a raging libido like me and can't help but push =/

[Daveman]

First of all, the flush, as you know, is a measure of how well protected you are.

I also understand, that if you take niacin daily, the flush threshold rises. Basically the more  you take on a regular basis, the more you need to produce the flush (and therefore be protected).

The other day I was horny and impatient, and "went ahead" before I had taken enough to have a good flush. I had "traces of a flush". Day 1 was decent, day 2 a little harder, but now day 3 I'm OK (maybe just a little tired). But if I have a good flush, I barely suffer day 1 and THAT's IT.

So I think it's more important to have one or two good ones a week, and be glad that you can, than have one or more a day and suffer. It's sort of an uphill situation, because the niacin can't do it's work as well with more.

[Vincent M]

I have an o every night, but I rarely take niacin. I decided from the start that I wouldn't take niacin more than once a week to avoid developing a tolerance. I tried it a few days ago and it still works as well as it ever has for me, but I've only used it maybe 5 times total and it's been months since I tried it the first time.

The reason I haven't used it every week is that the main benefit I get from niacin is an increase in physical ability that I use for a hard exercise session, but since I'm not always in the mood to fast and exercise the next day it often happens that I end up skipping the niacin.