Niacinimide for Anxiety Relief

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Natedotcom

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Hi everyone,I started taking Niacinimide (vitamin B3) to see if it would help with my anxiety problems. I read that some people have great success with it and would rather take a vitamin than something like klonopin to help me during times of increased anxiety and twitching.I've only been taking it for 3 days now but last night was the first night in over six years that I had not ONE twitch anywhere on my body. It almost felt weird and I surprisingly missed the twitches (I'm sure that will wear off!). I woke up today and, when I would usually be twitching up a storm in my calf muscles, I again felt nothing. So far today I will get the occasional twitch in the legs (maybe one every 10 minutes or so) but I'm used to getting them every 2-8 seconds in my legs. I also hadn't taken my niacinimide pill yet today. So this is all pretty shocking and amazing to me.I'm wondering if anyone else has tried Niacinimide and if they noticed any similar results? I did a search on the forums but came up pretty empty handed.I'm taking 2-500mg pills a day. One at breakfast and one at dinner.
 
never heard that B3 could help with anxiety - but for sure it can help with twitches because it is an essential material to help our nerves to grow and heal.I was taking composite B vitamine supplement called neurovitan - it almost immediately helped me with my pains and perceived weakness.
 
After further searching there seems to be quite a bit of information about Niacin/Nicotinamide/Niacinamide and anxiety on the web.For instance: Also - just search "niacinamide and anxiety" and you will get a lot of forum threads and links to studies.I wonder why I hadn't heard of this until now. Still having a practically twitch-free day!
 
Hi there,I'm glad it seems to work for you! I've been taking a vitamin B complex (with 100 mg of b12, b6, b3, etc.) for several months, without any success. We all know vitamins or supplements can be more harmful than beneficial, but I was willing to give it a try. Maybe my dose isn't high enough? I'll see what I'll do about it.J.
 
I've been doing more research! Here's what I've found.Niacin causes flushing but Niacinimide does not (also known as nicotinamide) - see Wikipedia page: It talks about nicotinamide's potential anti-anxiety effects here. Also just type "Niacinamide and anxiety" and you'll get lots of hits.So I'm taking Niacinimide NOT Niacin (they are both Vitamin B3 but in different forms).In one study that was done the doctor prescribed 1000mg in the morning, 500mg at lunch, and 1000 mg in the evening. According to the studies it seems that an effective dose for the management of anxiety (and potentially all the hyper-nervous stuff that goes along with it OR is the cause of it) is around 2-4 grams per day (2000-4000mg).Right now I'm taking 1000 so that I start out slow - I didn't want to go the full mile right away. So far the results are still the same. I've had less tremor and shaking at the gym - WAY less muscle fatigue - I did more at the gym today than I have in over a year. My twitching is reduced (it does still pop up but it is less - still having almost none at all at night which is when I used to get it the worst). My anxiety is SO MUCH better - the racing thoughts are panicky feelings are gone.I understand that there is the potential for placebo effect here. However, I've been on SSRI's, magnesium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, Valerian Root, Xanax, and Klonopin. I had no result from any of them except for the xanax and klonopin. As the research shows - the niacinimide seems to work very similarly to the benzo's in that I feel more calm, less nervous, and less "hyper" in the nervous system. However, I'm not sleepy nor do I have the memory problems. In fact, I seem to have more energy and a sharper mind!Again - don't just take my word for it. Search the interwebs and you will find many successful stories!
 
just be careful about the liver indices, as 4 grams of biologically active staff per day is not a mosquito bite! Check your liver performance periodically to be sure it is OK
 
Thanks TwitchBFS - I've never been a big believer of "natural" products but my mind is changing...I have access to an academic library as well so I've been looking up scientific articles on niacinimide and will now add curcumin to my list.Quick update: Twitches still less, still more energy and muscles much less fatigued during exercise, less tremor, and anxiety is practically non-existant. Still taking the 1000mg a day of niacinimide - No SSRI's, benzos, or any other supplement.
 
One thought - a lot of folks say benzo's help ... but there's a seriously bad reflex reaction if they're ever stopped. I mean i guess im just thinking of the people who said they tried Xanax. So i would be aware of that possibility even with this stuff. People tend to avoid benzo's even though they may help ... for that very reason. If its true about this stuff, then the same philosophy may apply.
 
ycb2002y2 - I'm taking the "Swiss Natural" brand. It's Canadian based.TwitchBFS - yes, you make a good point. Benzos alter levels of neurotransmitters and they down regulate (this is all new terminology to me). So, apparently, your body gets used to them and begins to produce less of a particular neurotransmitter. When you stop taking it your body reacts strongly because it has to start making more of it again and this can take time. There is potential for Niacinimide to do the same thing considering it seems to act on the same part of the neurotransmitter system as benzos (at least as shown by that one study).What a shame - I will just proceed with caution. Still finding relief using it though! Twitching is still reduced along with the anxiety. Now I'm considering adding curcumin into the mix... too bad it's so much more expensive! Niacinimide is cheap!
 
As an BFS sufferer for 5 years now, I sometimes still visit the board to stay informed about new developments. The oldies know I am a medical doctor myself.As being a rather innocent drug, I started to take Nicacinide myself and the results are amazing !I now take 2x500 mgr, which I bought in a reform store (as B3 is solvable in water, it is free for sale, cheap and not dangerous).If the positive aspects remain for 2-3 more weeks, I will make a new, extended post and topic on the symptom management board.
 
Sorry for the delayed response - I suppose it's a good sign I haven't logged in for awhile!The results are still the same. I haven't had to increase the dosage. Will get the occasional twitch still during the day or after exercise but when I go to bed at night my legs are still completely silent (I take the niacinamide before I go to bed - about 2 hours before). My legs used to twitch like crazy at bedtime!My anxiety has been stabilized and even if I still had the twitches I'd be forever thankful to niacinamide for ridding me of my horrible health anxiety. I really can't say anything negative about it. Usually my anxiety is very high this time of year - and I'm currently working a temp job that is extremely stressful (a long term substitute teaching gig at a High School) - but I'm riding the stress like a surfer on a wave! Haven't had to take klonopin or xanax at all since I started on it. I was taking a klonopin occasionally at night if my twitches were driving me nuts... I'd take xanax if I felt super anxious.
 
I talked to my doctor about using niacinamide and he had no problems with it. I am currently taking 1 mg klonopin and 450mg Wellbutrin. So, I bought the Vitamin Shoppe brand (500 mg) and started taking it today. I am going to take 2 a day. I will update in a few days as to whether it helps with my twitching or not. The klonopin has helped with the twitches and definitely gotten rid of the sensations in my feet. Hopefully with the niacinamide I can knock out the twitches altogether. Crossing my fingers.
 
If the Vitamin Shoppe brand doesn't work I will try to find the brand you are using Nate. That is the problem with supplements, they aren't regulated like prescription drugs so you might not be getting what you paid for.
 
I find no where i can order this in norway.. Only very small amounts of niacinimide in b complex...if i order from abroad if will probavly bli stopped on the way in, or very expencive..Ag2002: clonopin is benzo right? Do you take that every day? I don't dare to..
 
Wow christinasgirl123, that is SO KIND OF YOU! I think want to try if not any dangerous side effects, but it would be really nice to hear a bit more from the people who have tried first. Does the effect last? Any others that have tried? Chrissi, I'll send you an mail with name and adress if i decide to try, and of course i'll send you the money first. Hugs!!
 

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