I have been experimenting with Niacin flush over the last two months.
With Daveman's encouragement on this forum, I persisted with a Niacin Flush trial, and the following are my experiences so far. Some minor negative ones, but some very positive ones.
My trial, like other folks experiences, are my own experiences, and will likely be different for others, but they are relevant (for POIS) in that I believe I'm one of the more chronic sufferers from POIS here. I'm 54 years of age, married with two children and have somehow have managed to keep my career afloat, while dealing with the effects of POIS since teenage years.
On to Niacin....
Initially I bought niacin without the flush. As Daveman then pointed out, this wouldn't have worked. "You need the flush" type, he said. A good call.
My first dose of niacin flush, I took without contemplating an "O" at any point afterwards, as I avoid for obvious reasons.
I hadn't realized however, that Niacin's main impact is supposed to be in reducing the 'three-day effects' after an "O".
So, on an empty stomach two months back, I took about 150 to 200 mg of niacin flush in one go. Thanks be to "flip" I didn't take the full 500 MG capsule then (be careful guys). As many of you know, the initial onset of this flush, when you haven't had it before, is scary indeed, although not dangerous, but within about 45 minutes, this flush is reversing rapidly. I think, post flush, I felt a good amount of energy after taking that initial dose, but was shaking. I didn't necessarily dwell on this experience in a favorable light at the time, and as I also didn't do the "O" bit.
About a week later, I decided to try Niacin again, but this time with an "O". I didn't have too much of the flush this time, because I took the Niacin closer to food (so my liver was probably occupied). Post "O", I was then really very unwell and in fact for the next two weeks, more ill than normal. In hindsight, this was most likely because I didn't really have a proper niacin flush this second time, and I had a bad reaction, and also maybe a crushing disappointment too. I couldn't work full time or anything after this experience.
I was therefore quite reluctant to try Niacin flush again, certainly with an "O".
I had left it about two weeks, thinking this isn't for me and was very disappointed, but I decided I would try it a few more times, but absolutely without an "O".
The next few times that I did this, I had a proper full flush, having left it the recommended 'six hours away from food', each time. NOTE: I also used Daveman's recommended putting the white Niacin flush powder under my tongue, to get into the blood stream and then after a few minutes, take some water to ensure remainder goes into my stomach, not eating also, for an hour afterwards. Note, if you have kids, throw out the rest of the capsule's content or they will think you are snorting something dodgy!
Amazingly... I started to experience my POIS symptoms reducing quite a bit over the next couple of weeks. This might sound quite dramatic but it is my own truth here, that is...for the first time in 35 years, I experienced some true feelings of physical and emotional well-being and what that is like, I do remember from being a younger boy. The famous old Van Morrison song "Coney Island" says at the end. "Wouldn't it be great if it was like this all the time". If only it lasted with POIS and the treatments were permanent.
For the record here, my own POIS symptoms post "O" for these decades include:
Physical.
Seborrhoeic dermatitis in my scalp and on my face, and to a lesser extent in other areas, the symptoms are treated for decades okay with creams.
Photo (Sun) aggravation. Even a minute direct exposure to sunlight affects me physically and emotionally in a very negative manner. I have had to wear hats and avoid sun holidays a lot since 18 yrs of age. When I have brought my family on sun holidays, I can be miserable for the two weeks, if I have to be in the sun for long. POIS sucks !!!
Chronic sinusitis. The symptoms now are treated okay for decades with cortisone nasal spray.
Headaches. Waiting in the early morning for decades, feeling like crap. The headaches used be so bad, that I became addicted to painkillers, and also underwent three sinus operations.
Mental.
Brain fog and difficulty with cognitive functioning, memory problems.
Emotional.
Depression and social phobia three days post "O". I had a major nervous breakdown due predominantly to the impact of POIS on my social life and after failed exams and academic failures, through poor concentration etc. This was in my 20's and I was hospitalized for 3 months and on anti-D's for many years after. I have learned emotional coping mechanisms and tools over the years to cope.
I know POISERS have had many of these and many other worse symptoms to deal with.
Back to Niacin....
In the early BEST moments of my Niacin trial, all of these symptoms above reduced quite substantially, although they did not clear fully. This is in spite of the fact that I didn't actually have any faith that niacin would help me, as very little else has.
In the last month, the impact is less, but I have continued to take a hundred milligrams of Niacin flush, six hours away from food, just once per week, as it the flush also has a physiological impact that I wouldn't want to risk any more than once a week.
I have still predominantly avoided "O" mainly, as I am just in the habit of doing so now and with work pressure and family commitments, I can't risk not being able to function. This also doesn't help a relationship obviously.
I did notice though, after a proper flush and a couple of "O"'s so far, that my POIS fallout was probably 30% less than normal. I may grow in confidence with Niacin (and try Viagra) for "O" related matters.
I have not been cured of POIS by the Niacin so far. However, my experience is positive enough so far, it has given me hope and has raised my motivation to just hang on in there and see what comes out of the research.
Please be careful.
I read this forum and the other main forum. I see so many different things that people try. I see the courage of everyone to deal with their own POIS in the best way for them, and to try new things.
This is great, but hard to know what's valid, downright dangerous and what's not. As with recent suggestions, please do be careful with Niacin and other vitamins etc. I nearly killed myself in my 20's by taking a large bottle of cod liver oil every few days, cause a nutritional wellness book promised taking large doses of Vitamin A and removing so things from my diet could cure bad dermatitis.
One can truly become neurotic about trying too much and believing everything, mixing everything when you are desperate, which is what POIS can instill in a man, desperation. Believe me, I know.
So, please be careful with yourself. Validated help may come in the next year. But some things like Niacin or other things people share here could help you short term, but experiment wisely.
I'm totally confused as to what I should and shouldn't try next. I had actually tried so many many different things over the years, diet related, personal development and spiritual approaches, every therapy and every ology under the sun to feel well.
I have spent and wasted thousands and thousands over 35 years to improve my well-being (which was a downward spiral from teenage years and puberty). While I have till now, only had very slow, if any improvements in POIS symptom reduction, these approaches have not got to the root of the problem.
Shorter term, I am just sticking to niacin for now, and hopefully it will help keep my symptoms in the manageable category, giving me a few better days. I know there is a lot of potential in other things that people are talking about on the forums. I'm very grateful for Daveman's encouragement on the Niacin side and the help it has provided me in the last couple of months.
I eagerly await the outcome of the research, and sincerely hope that outcomes won't just be a drug that treats symptoms in a very limited way, and that it will actually get the root of all of our POIS related illness and the negative impact it has on our lives and on our families.
All the best for now guys.
