Strange effect from niacinamide

Melba

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After reading about the health benefits of niacinamide I thought I would try it , I took a 500mg tablet in the morning and for the rest of the day I kept going to sleep, it felt like I had been drugged. I stopped taking it for a few days ,then took it before bed thinking this should be a good sleep aid but to my dismay I could not sleep at all I was wide awake all night.
any idea what is going on with me or the niacinamide?
 
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I am no niacinimide expert, but 500 mg seems like a high amount, especially to be starting. I take 100 mg and I have heard others taking 200 mg.
 

youngsinatra

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Niacinamide can seriously deplete methyl groups, which is why some feel worse on it. (flat mood or even depression)

Adding in trimethylglycine in a 1:1 ratio with niacinamide seems to alleviate that problem.
 
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Peatness

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In addition to what has already been said 500mg would tank your blood sugar. At that dose you would have needed a large amount of food/sugar. It is also an antifungal perhaps some sort of die off?
 
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Melba

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I do have bouts of low blood sugar, not aware of any fungal issues, methyl groups I know nothing of
I have not seen niacinamide supplements with less than 500mg, if dosage is what caused sleep during the day & insomnia at night I think this would be a common problem but not heard or read of anyone suffering the same, maybe it's just me.
 
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I do have bouts of low blood sugar, not aware of any fungal issues, methyl groups I know nothing of
I have not seen niacinamide supplements with less than 500mg, if dosage is what caused sleep during the day & insomnia at night I think this would be a common problem but not heard or read of anyone suffering the same, maybe it's just me.
Another RPF poster had your same issue....

 
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Melba

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Thanks for the link, I figured out that the high dose messed with my circadian clock
 
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Melba

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It really is, I had searched and searched for an answer to my strange reaction to niacinamide to no avail until I asked here.
Why such a high dose and even higher is widely sold is beyond me, surely there must be many more it doesn't agree with they probably just discontinue it rather than try to find an answer.
anyways, many thanks for the help
 
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It really is, I had searched and searched for an answer to my strange reaction to niacinamide to no avail until I asked here.
Why such a high dose and even higher is widely sold is beyond me, surely there must be many more it doesn't agree with they probably just discontinue it rather than try to find an answer.
anyways, many thanks for the help
Yeah or at least put a warning onbthe bottle or side effects insert, like they do with medications :/
 

fr@

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@Melba

I hope you already found a straight answer to your Niacinamide issue.
I actually take Niacinamide as well, and at higher doses (around 250-300+ mg approx. for me) I get headaches along with what youngsinatra said; a flat mood.
I think it also contributed to my Eye Bags 'cause I take Niacinamide w/ Aspirin.
I've also seen the same Eye Bags issue with some Influencers and also from another Influencer who also sells Niacinamide.

[Don't want to call out his name again for another fee plug :grin]

And after I've decreased the dose (both Niacinamide & Aspirin), those symptoms were noticeably gone after 2 days (from what I could remember).
But since you mentioned something about sleep issues, I'll keep an eye on it -- 'cause that might be the culprit from the days where I get sleep issues.
I also use the powdered version of Niacinamide, so there's a number of times that I get to take a bit more than the usual.

@Rinse & rePeat

Thanks for the link about 'I Think I've Finally Figured Out On How To Use Niacinamide'.
I've actually listened to a response on that thread where Ray Peat giving his recommendation on how to take Niacinamide.
He said something like 'taking 50-100 mg several times a day'.

But the that thread has gone too deep, so I'll have to go back at it from time to time.
Seems like there's lots of gems based on personal anecdotes, which I mostly prefer.

@youngsinatra

Thanks for the TMG recommendation, I don't have any experience with it though.
But once I've bought some, I'll give it a shot -- like 1:1 as you've said, TMG to Niacinamide.
I'll see for myself if I'd still get headaches from 300+ mg of Niacinamide by then.
And also the mood stuff.
 
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@Melba

I hope you already found a straight answer to your Niacinamide issue.
I actually take Niacinamide as well, and at higher doses (around 250-300+ mg approx. for me) I get headaches along with what youngsinatra said; a flat mood.
I think it also contributed to my Eye Bags 'cause I take Niacinamide w/ Aspirin.
I've also seen the same Eye Bags issue with some Influencers and also from another Influencer who also sells Niacinamide.

[Don't want to call out his name again for another fee plug :grin]

And after I've decreased the dose (both Niacinamide & Aspirin), those symptoms were noticeably gone after 2 days (from what I could remember).
But since you mentioned something about sleep issues, I'll keep an eye on it -- 'cause that might be the culprit from the days where I get sleep issues.
I also use the powdered version of Niacinamide, so there's a number of times that I get to take a bit more than the usual.

@Rinse & rePeat

Thanks for the link about 'I Think I've Finally Figured Out On How To Use Niacinamide'.
I've actually listened to a response on that thread where Ray Peat giving his recommendation on how to take Niacinamide.
He said something like 'taking 50-100 mg several times a day'.

But the that thread has gone too deep, so I'll have to go back at it from time to time.
Seems like there's lots of gems based on personal anecdotes, which I mostly prefer.

@youngsinatra

Thanks for the TMG recommendation, I don't have any experience with it though.
But once I've bought some, I'll give it a shot -- like 1:1 as you've said, TMG to Niacinamide.
I'll see for myself if I'd still get headaches from 300+ mg of Niacinamide by then.
And also the mood stuff.

I am so glad it is helpful! There is so many conflicting opinions about everything. I breath easier just starting with what Ray Peat says. No sense going backwards trying to do good for ourselves :)
 

FitnessMike

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Jan 18, 2020
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Niacinamide can seriously deplete methyl groups, which is why some feel worse on it. (flat mood or even depression)

Adding in trimethylglycine in a 1:1 ratio with niacinamide seems to alleviate that problem.
do you think this effect of niacinamide on methyl groups could cause insomnia too? I'm getting insomnia from 500mg but my pulse goes up so I'm thinking it might be one of the cofactors iv been missing.
 

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