Nicotinamide
NIACINAMIDE
Pronunciation: ni-koe-TI-na-mide
What it isAmide form of vitamin B3, a NAD precursor; pellagra and skin cancer chemoprophylaxis.
Why this oneUnlike niacin it does not cause flushing, and it reduces non-melanoma skin cancer in high-risk patients.
What limits itIt does not lower lipids, which niacin does — the two are not interchangeable. Hepatotoxicity at very high doses.
Used for
- pellagra / niacin deficiency
- pellagra
- skin cancer chemoprevention
- actinic keratosis
Principal riskIt has no lipid effect at all, unlike niacin — the two are often confused
Classes and tags
FDA label
Read the full label on DailyMed ↗
NO BOXED WARNINGS
| FDA dosing | Population | Start | Target | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietary supplement | Adult | 1–2 tablets QD | 1–2 tablets QD |
Renal Undefined
Hepatic Undefined
Instructions
- Take 1–2 tablets daily as a dietary supplement, as directed by physician
Available strengths
- tab 500 mg (also 100)
Pregnancy Undefined
Lactation Undefined
Cost
Nicotinamide (NIACINAMIDE)
| Strength | #/mo | generic $/mo | CostPlus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 mg | tab | 30 qd | not offered |
NADAC is a voluntary CMS survey of what retail community pharmacies pay for the drugs they stock. Nicotinamide is dispensed outside retail pharmacies, so it rarely appears on surveyed invoices.
Active metabolites
Open Nicotinamide in the interactive console ↗
Self-check
- Does nicotinamide cause niacin-like flushing?
No. - Can nicotinamide replace niacin for lipid lowering?
No; it does not lower lipids.