I started Niacin yesterday. I took 500 mg and got a nice 1 hour flush(found it relaxing). I am thinking I'll take 500 mg in the morning and 500 mg before bed, is that enough to help with bipolar symptoms? I keep reading 3000 mg a day, is that the best dosage?

ETA: The bottle says 500 mg once a day or as directed.

Hi bipolarmon, I'm glad you found the flush to be relaxing, I stay red for a long time, but I'm bothered mostly by itching with niacin. I don't know about the optimal dosage of niacin for bipolar, but I found this article that shows that NAC may be beneficial for the symptoms...thought it might be worth a read...https://www.healthyfellow.com/401/nac-for-mental-health/

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Im glad you found it relaxing too. I swell up like a balloon with niacin. My husband doesnt even flush hardly at all so I guess its very individual

I would work up in dosage if you can. They say 3,000mg but it may also be individual. I would go up as high as you can tolerate then see how you do over a period of time. Try to hold that dosage for a length of time that you would typically go through couple of mood swings and see how it does. If you have a positive effect that is the dose for you. But you could also try decreasing your dosage too to find the minimal effective dosage. It might be 2,500 twice a day or or perhaps less, or it might be 2,500 three times a day. Some of the videos I watched on the topic said some people were taking it three times a day but again this really may be individual.

I hope it works for you!

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Be aware of possible side effects, Jfh has some listed on this older thread...https://www.natmedtalk.com/showthread...=19367#taglist

I like the flush. Just me, but I did like it. Lots of my friends get bothered by it. But I find it enjoyable.