Nicotinic acid has medicinal properties. Nicotinic acid: harmful to hair

Vitamin B 3 (niacin, nicotinamide) is the only one that has officially been given the status of a medicine, is a powerful antioxidant and is involved in all metabolic processes of the human body.

Description

Structural formula of nicotinic acid

It has two active forms, closely related and sometimes replacing each other, and several names. B 3 - since it was discovered as the third in the B-complex family. PP - “against pellagra” - after the name of the disease that develops due to its deficiency. Niacin- by the name of the provitamin. Nicotinamide- by the name of its amide. Now B 3 and RR are considered obsolete names.

The organic substance is a white soluble powder. Its stability is high in acidic and alkaline environments, autoclave (hot steam under pressure), and ultraviolet rays. It tolerates storage well in frozen, canned or dried form. Excessive consumption of sweets and sugar destroys it.

The intestinal flora of the human body is capable of synthesizing niacin from tryptophan.

Of all the vitamins, only its medicinal properties are appreciated by the medical community, and the drug officially recognized as a medicinal product.

IMPORTANT! For its mild calming effect on the central nervous system, doctors called niacin the “vitamin of calm.”

Differences between nicotinic acid and nicotinamide

Both forms of the substance are able to satisfy the body’s need for this biologically active substance, but they have different therapeutic effects.

Nicotinic acid (niacin) dilates blood vessels, used for diseases of the cardiovascular system. Entering the bloodstream is accompanied by a wave of heat, a slight pinpoint burning sensation, and redness of the head and neck. Contains herbal products.

What is the difference between niacin and nicotinamide?

Niacin is actually nicotinic acid, the main form of the substance.

Nicotinamide is its amide, the second form of the same substance.

They have identical vitamin activity. However, nicotinamide does not have the lipid-modifying, cholesterol-lowering, and vasodilating properties of niacin. They are considered separately in the case when they are used as two different drugs in order to use their different pharmacological properties.

Why does the body need vitamin PP?

Vitamin B3 is needed by the body for the following reasons:

Directly involved in redox processes, participant in cellular respiration. Characterized by a pronounced antioxidant effect.
Involved in everyone metabolic processes, promotes the production of intracellular energy.
Provides health skin, mucous membranes, eliminates unpleasant odor from the mouth.
Dilates large blood vessels, lowering blood pressure. Increases the lumen of capillaries, providing adequate nutrition to all cells of the body. Inhibits the formation of “bad” cholesterol and increases the proportion of “good” cholesterol, reduces the amount of lipoproteins and triglycerides. Prevents the formation of blood clots by reducing blood viscosity. In general, niacin resists atherosclerotic changes in blood vessels.
Increases cerebral blood flow, sharpens attention and memory. Has a mild sedative effect.
Significantly increases the production of gastric juice.
Parenteral (intravenous) administration of the vitamin stimulates the functioning of the adrenal glands. As a result, the production of glucocorticoids, which have the ability to suppress local inflammatory and allergic reactions, increases.

When planning a pregnancy

During pregnancy planning, you can take vitamin PP through complex vitamin preparations: Duovit, Vitrum, Biovital, Centrum, Gendevit. There are no special increased dosages during this period: the body does not store vitamins for future use, and an excess of vitamins is no less dangerous than their deficiency.

Daily rate

The daily requirement for the vitamin depends on age (see table).

Table of daily content in the body.

Release forms

Nicotinic acid (niacin) is produced in powder, tablets with a dosage of 500 mg, and 1% sterile solution. Analogues: VitaplexN, Nikovit, Pellagramin, Enduracin.
Nicotinamide - in powder, tablets with a dosage of 5 and 25 mg, in 1%, 2.5%, 5% solutions.

Indications

If the diet is complete and balanced, the body needs enough vitamins that enter the body with food. But there are conditions that require additional administration from the outside:

Increased need of the body: when carrying and feeding a child, during heavy physical, intellectual, mental stress.
Prolonged depression due to a lack of tryptophan, which the body has to spend not on creating the hubbub of happiness (serotonin), but on the synthesis of a vital vitamin.
The first symptoms of vitamin deficiency appear: persistent headaches, nervousness, weight loss, pale and dry skin. If the niacin deficiency is not corrected, pellagra may develop, a “three D” disease: dermatosis - diarrhea - dementia (skin inflammation - loose stools - dementia).
Diseases of the cardiovascular system (arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis).
Diseases of the skin and mucous membranes (stomatitis, dermatitis, acne, acne, eczema).
Digestive diseases: hypoacid gastritis, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis.
Pathologies of the central nervous system: psychoneurological and psychoemotional personality disorders: alcoholism, schizophrenia, depression, tobacco smoking.
Diabetes mellitus type I.
Difficult-healing trophic ulcers.

Contraindications

Do not use the medication if you are hypersensitive.

Oral administration: acute period of gastritis with increased secretion, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum; children under 2 years old.

Parenteral administration: unstable arterial hypertension; gout; severe forms of atherosclerosis, liver diseases; hyperuricemia; children under 2 years old.

Carefully: tendency to bleed; glaucoma; gastritis with increased secretion, peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum without exacerbation.

Side effects

Both oral and parenteral administration of nicotinic acid is accompanied by more or less pronounced symptoms: heat wave to the upper part of the body, a slight pinching sensation; nicotinamide does not cause these manifestations.

Subcutaneous and intramuscular administration of nicotinic acid is accompanied by pronounced local soreness; Nicotinamide does not have this side effect.

Possible appearance nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; increased blood sugar and uric acid; headache, dizziness; myalgia, paresthesia.

With prolonged use, the development of fatty liver may develop.

IMPORTANT! Rapid intravenous administration of niacin provokes a rapid decrease in blood pressure until the development of orthostatic collapse.

Compatibility of nicotinic acid with other vitamins

Nicotinic acid and vitamin C have positive compatibility. Combined use with ascorbic acid potentiates the action both vitamins. Usual dosages should be reduced when used in combination.

Compatibility with B vitamins

Vitamin B1

Nicotinic acid and vitamin B1 have negative compatibility. Niacin has a destructive effect on thiamine (B 1). Recommended separate reception

Vitamin B6

Nicotinic acid and vitamin B6 have positive compatibility. Pyridoxine (B 6) facilitates the absorption of niacin, it is possible simultaneous administration.

Vitamin B12

Nicotinic acid and vitamin B12 have negative compatibility. The combined intake of niacin and cyanocobalamin (B 12) destroys the latter. Recommended separate reception with an interval of at least 6 hours.

Taking roaccutane along with nicotinic acid (vitamin B3)

Roaccutane (ROA) is a potent drug that has many limitations, side effects, and special instructions. Patients undergoing treatment for ROA should be under constant medical supervision. Only a dermatologist decides on the need to prescribe additional medications.

Use of nicotinamide in cosmetics

Nicotinamide is used as a powerful antioxidant, relieving skin irritation. Protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation, acts as a stimulator of cellular metabolism, and improves its blood supply.
Included in products that care for irritated, sensitive, aging or pigmented skin. It has proven itself in the treatment of rosacea and acne.
Sunscreens, bath and shower products, and mouth rinses contain nicotinamide.

The use of nicotinic acid for hair growth

The vitamin, nicotinic acid, is recognized as an effective and low-budget means of stimulating Hair Growth. The result of the effect is improved blood supply to the hair follicles and their additional nutrition. Niacin helps retain moisture in the hair, protecting it from drying out, eliminates dandruff and seborrhea.

Mode of application

Apply the solution from the ampoule to the roots of washed and dried hair, massaging the skin (the hair itself does not require treatment) and put on an insulating cap. Keep for 1.5 – 2 hours. If the substance is administered as an ingredient in a mask, do not exceed 30 minutes. After the required time has passed, rinse with warm water.

Frequency of procedures 2 times a week, course 30 days; It is possible to repeat courses at two-month intervals. The daily dose for external use is 4 ampoules (or 8 powdered tablets).

IMPORTANT! Local allergic reactions are possible! Before use, you need to do a skin test: apply to the skin of the wrist from the inside, leave for 60 minutes. Monitor the reaction (itching, burning, redness, swelling). If there are manifestations, then this remedy is not for you.

What products contain

100 g of porcini mushroom contains 8.5 mg of vitamin PP

The highest content (more than 10 mg per 100 g of product) is in liver, cheeses, yeast, offal (heart, kidneys), coffee beans.

Vitamin B3 is present in some herbs: burdock root, chamomile, raspberry leaves, red clover, parsley, peppermint, rose hips, sorrel, ginseng, fennel seeds.

For a complete table of products, see a separate article:

Useful video

Video about the benefits and harms of nicotinic acid for hair:

Conclusion

Niacin (nicotinamide) is a medicine. For medicinal purposes, it should be used only as prescribed by a doctor. The use of complexes containing the vitamin in standard dosages does not require medical supervision.

Today, vitamin B3, vitamin PP, or nicotinic acid (all these are synonymous names for the same substance) are used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. In addition, the product has found wide application in the fight against hair loss, restoration of hair follicles, and stimulation of the growth of beautiful, thick curls. In this article, we invite you to consider how nicotinic acid is useful for women, what a lack of this vitamin leads to, and in what cases its use is contraindicated.

From stabilizing cholesterol levels to preventing migraine attacks

To begin with, discussing the benefits of nicotinic acid for women, it should be noted that it is under the influence of vitamin B3 that sugars and fats in the cells of the human body are transformed into energy. This is an important condition that ensures the normal functioning of cells, and therefore tissues and organs of the human body.
In addition, it is thanks to vitamin PP that the enzymes necessary for the production of female sex hormones are activated.
Due to the actions described above, the substance normalizes the ratio of lipid fractions, the content of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Under the influence of nicotinic acid, blood vessels dilate, which leads to improved blood microcirculation in various tissues and organs. With the help of vitamin B3, it is possible to control the amount of cholesterol in the blood, reduce the risk of blood clots, and avoid the development and worsening of cardiovascular diseases.
Also, the undoubted benefit of nicotinic acid for women is explained by the ability of vitamin PP to reduce pain and increase the mobility of diseased joints with arthritis and arthrosis.
Currently, vitamin B3 is used even in the treatment of diabetes. Thanks to nicotinic acid, it is possible to reduce the dosage of insulin prescribed to patients.
Back in the last century, doctors discovered that nicotinic acid has a powerful effect in the treatment of pellagra. This type of vitamin deficiency is common even today in Africa and South America. The main reason for the development of pellagra is long-term poor nutrition.
The benefits of nicotinic acid for a woman’s body are due to the ability of vitamin PP to relieve skin redness and irritation. The substance is used to combat acne and inflammation.
Representatives of the fair sex successfully use vitamin PP to correct weight. The substance, which helps control cholesterol levels, also helps to increase metabolism, cleanse blood vessels, and remove toxins and heavy metals from the body. But, of course, you shouldn’t expect a miracle: without a proper diet and moderate physical activity, nicotinic acid will be powerless. Only by combining diet, physical training and vitamin intake can you achieve the expected result.
It is also important that vitamin B3 has a calming effect. It is noted that with its help it is possible to increase the effectiveness of medications prescribed to patients suffering from depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, and patients undergoing treatment for alcohol dependence. By taking niacin regularly, you can prevent migraines.

How to recognize vitamin deficiency?

The daily intake of the vitamin for women varies depending on age. So, it is enough for teenage girls to consume about 18 mg of nicotinic acid per day. Adult women over eighteen years of age need 20 mg per day. And for pregnant women and nursing mothers - 20-25 mg per day.

The first signals indicating a lack of nicotinic acid in the body will be rapid fatigue, constant attacks of dizziness, lethargy, unreasonable irritability, loss of appetite, weight loss, dry and pale skin, rapid heartbeat, headaches, weakened immunity.

A long-term deficiency of a vitamin so important for our health can cause the development of pellagra and the corresponding unpleasant symptoms.

The benefits of nicotinic acid for women in hair care

It's no secret that the fair sex pays special attention to their appearance. In trying to give their curls a beautiful, well-groomed look, ladies spare no time or money. Speaking about why women need nicotinic acid, one cannot fail to mention the use of vitamin B3 as a cosmetic product to strengthen and stimulate hair growth. An inexpensive product, sold in almost every pharmacy, helps awaken dormant hair follicles, enhances blood circulation in the cells of the scalp, and metabolic processes in tissues. As a result, hair loss is prevented, and curls become noticeably thicker and stronger. Nicotinic acid does not dry out the skin even with repeated use.

As a cosmetic product, vitamin B3 is applied directly to the scalp using massage movements. The course of application is 14 procedures. The product must be used on clean, washed hair. Preferably slightly dried. You can use both a liquid product and a vitamin in tablet form. However, in the first case, you will not need to crush the tablet to a powder state, and then mix it with water until it has a homogeneous consistency. Applying a ready-made liquid composition is much easier.

Who should not take nicotinic acid?

Taking the vitamin orally or by injection is contraindicated for peptic ulcers, gout, diseases or dysfunction of the liver, hypertension, and severe atherosclerosis.

Beneficial properties of nicotinic acid (niacin)

Energy production

Niacin is involved in a large number of chemical reactions that supply the body with energy. In particular, it converts proteins, fats and carbohydrates into useful energy. Nicotinic acid is also used to synthesize starch, which can be stored in the body's muscles and liver for later use as an energy source.

Fat metabolism

Vitamin B3 plays an important role in the chemical processing of fats in the body. For the formation of cell membranes, fatty acids are necessary, which in turn require the presence of vitamin B3 for their synthesis. Niacin also causes the synthesis of hormone-like substances that regulate metabolism in the body.

Normalization of cholesterol levels

Vitamin B3, according to research, reduces the level of bad cholesterol, which impairs blood circulation and leads to atherosclerosis. Niacin also reduces the amount of lipoproteins and triglycerides. At the same time, niacin can increase the level of good cholesterol. With these features, it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Genetic Process Support

DNA components require niacin for their production, and its deficiency (like the deficiency of other vitamins of the group) is directly related to genetic damage. The link between vitamin B3 and DNA damage appears to be particularly important in the context of cancer and its prevention.

Regulating insulin activity

According to some studies, niacin can regulate insulin metabolism and blood sugar levels.

Improving brain function

Back in the middle of the last century, a study was conducted according to which vitamin B3 in therapeutic doses can increase the percentage of remission among patients with schizophrenia. Niacin also has a mild calming effect.

Video about vitamin B3

Eggs – 0.19 mg.

What is vitamin B3 for?

1. In order for the body to produce energy. Thanks to nicotinic acid, enzymes are formed in the body. And they are cell assistants in converting carbohydrates into energy.

2. For the digestive system. Vitamin PP is a direct participant in the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, thereby helping the stomach digest food more easily.

3. Vitamin B3 maintains optimal blood glucose levels. That is, if your day was calm and by the evening you are still full of energy, then nicotinic acid will not do anything. But in the case when, after a hard workout or physical exertion at work, your strength slowly leaves you and the only desire left is to go to bed and fall asleep, the effect of vitamin PP is activated. He pulls out reserves of energy from the pantries that allow you to finish the day with dignity, and not like a soft toy - wherever you put it, there it will lie.

4. You know that bones need calcium. Only in this case will they grow stronger and develop normally. The same can be said about the brain and vitamin B3. The first one needs it, because without nicotinic acid it cannot work normally - and you suffer. Because: - you remember less; - associative thinking is turned off; - sleep doesn't come.

This is why doctors prescribe vitamin PP when a person suffers from schizophrenia or other diseases associated with mental disorders.

Minimum daily intake of vitamin B3

Children:- from six months to a year – 6 mg; - 1.5 years – 9 mg;

The benefits of vitamin B3 or niacin

Vitamin B3 has many names: nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, niacin. This is one of the most important vitamins for the human body. In addition, nicotinic acid is also used as a medicine. The benefits of vitamin B3 or nicotinic acid have long been proven by scientists and are very extensive. We will tell you more about the beneficial properties of nicotinic acid in this article.

Vitamin B3 has many names - niacin, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, vitamin PP - an abbreviation for “preventing pellagra”. This substance plays a vital role in the functioning of the human body and maintaining its health. Nicotinamide is especially important for maintaining healthy skin. The benefits of vitamin B3 are expressed in its participation in metabolism. If this vitamin substance is present in the body in insufficient quantities, rather unpleasant symptoms occur.

Nicotinic acid is of great importance for redox processes, tissue respiration, carbohydrate and protein metabolism. It has vasodilating properties and also has the ability to improve the secretion of gastric juice.

It is also worth noting another important role of nicotinic acid - its effect on the functioning of the nervous system. The benefit of vitamin B3 is that it ensures the stability of nervous activity. With its deficiency, the nervous system turns out to be vulnerable and unprotected.

Nicotinamide prevents skin conditions such as pellagra, or rough skin. In addition, it is an important necessary link in the synthesis of genetic material, protein metabolism, the synthesis of fatty acids and healthy cholesterol, and also contributes to the normal functioning of the central nervous system and brain.

The benefit of vitamin B3 also lies in the fact that it is a very effective remedy designed to normalize cholesterol in the blood. This vitamin substance helps maintain heart function and also increase blood circulation.

Nicotinic acid is a participant in many reactions associated with the conversion of fats and sugar into energy. It has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the cardiovascular system, helps to expand peripheral blood vessels, improve blood circulation, cleanse blood vessels of dense lipoproteins, lower blood pressure, and reduce the likelihood of developing cardiovascular diseases.

Vitamin B3 is used in the treatment of the following diseases:

Diabetes. Nicotinamide prevents the destruction of the pancreas, which leads to the body losing the ability to produce insulin on its own. Patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus while taking vitamin B3 require injections with less insulin.

Neuropsychiatric disorders. Vitamin B3 has a calming effect, and therefore it is used in the treatment of decreased attention, depression, schizophrenia, and alcoholism.

Osteoarthritis. With the help of nicotinic acid, they reduce pain and joint mobility during illness.

Pellagra. Vitamin PP is used to prevent this skin disease associated with the development of various dermatitis, inflammatory lesions of the mucous membranes of the tongue and oral cavity, and atrophy of the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract.

Sources of niacin

The benefits of vitamin B3 are maximized if a person receives it together with natural products, and not with synthetic drugs. The following foods contain nicotinic acid: meat, liver, fish, vegetables, milk, and cereals.

In addition, nature provides for the possibility of independent synthesis of vitamin B3 by the human body. It is produced from the amino acid tryptophan. That is why experts recommend saturating your diet with foods that contain tryptophan. These are bananas, oats, sesame seeds, pine nuts.

Vitamin B3 dosage

The requirement for nicotinic acid for an adult is 12-25 mg per day. The dosage depends on the age of the person, his physical activity, and the presence of certain diseases. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, during intense physical and mental stress, during nervous stress, when taking antibiotics and other drugs, in a very hot or, on the contrary, cold climate, the dosage of vitamin B3 should be increased.

Nicotinic acid deficiency

A lack of nicotinic acid provokes a lot of unpleasant symptoms. This condition is evidenced, first of all, by various emotional manifestations, such as anxiety, fears, aggressiveness, irritability, decreased concentration, anger, and weight gain.

In addition, a deficiency of nicotinic acid can lead to headaches, weakness, insomnia, irritability, depression, decreased ability to work, digestive disorders, nausea, and loss of appetite.

To avoid such manifestations, you need to carefully monitor your diet and be sure to include foods rich in nicotinic acid in your diet.

Excess nicotinic acid

An overdose of vitamin B3 usually does not provoke any dangerous consequences. Sometimes it causes slight dizziness, redness of the facial skin, muscle tingling and numbness. With prolonged overdose, fatty liver degeneration, stomach pain, and loss of appetite may occur.

In addition, people with exacerbations of peptic ulcers, complex liver lesions, severe forms of hypertension and atherosclerosis, gout, and excess uric acid in the blood should know that taking vitamin B3 is contraindicated for them.

As for harm, it occurs in the case of an allergic reaction and gastric ulcer. In this case, it is better for a person not to take vitamin B3.

Nicotinic acid for hair growth

Now let's talk about the non-standard use of vitamin B3. Most girls want to have long beautiful hair. Therefore, they are looking for all sorts of natural ways to activate hair growth. Note that inexperience in this case can play a cruel joke on you.

As mentioned above, not all people understand that vitamins are, first of all, medicines that also have an impressive list of contraindications and side effects. But here, when purchasing, the word “vitamins” itself plays a decisive role, which, unlike “antibiotics,” supposedly does not involve any health risks.

So, girls sometimes take both nicotinic acid tablets and rub the contents of the ampoule into the scalp. In both methods of use, you harm your body.

If you take the tablets on an empty stomach, you may experience severe nausea and vomiting. And an overdose (when taking 2 tablets a day) leads to an allergic reaction, which manifests itself in the form of hives on the body and a rash on the face. Agree, the picture is not the most pleasant, and, moreover, the end does not justify the means.

Many girls who used ampoules of nicotinic acid noted that after rubbing it in, they began to have a severe headache that did not go away within 1-2 days. And this happens because vitamin B3 in large quantities increases blood pressure, and the heart begins to intensively “pump” blood. And such a load on the vessels is simply dangerous.

What about the hair? Is there any effect, given the suffering that the fair sex had to go through? The fact is that it is impossible to notice it instantly. This takes some time. But it is considered normal for hair to grow 1-2 cm per month.

And to speed up this process, you can use an alternative, and, most importantly, safe method - use pepper tincture.

Thus, a vitamin such as nicotinic acid should be used only as prescribed by your doctor, and not on your own initiative, which, as you know, is punishable. And here you will almost have to pay with your health, which is priceless!

Read about health:

Use of nicotinic acid

Nicotinic acid has nothing to do with cigarettes. This is vitamin PP, one of the components of the B-complex. Nicotinic acid has a beneficial effect on the human body; it is used both in medicine and in cosmetology.

Properties of nicotinic acid

Without nicotinic acid, the human body would not be able to function normally. It affects metabolic and educational processes:

improves liver function;
restores the hematopoietic system in the bone marrow;
dilates blood vessels;
lowers blood sugar levels;
improves the functioning of the cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

Scientists have proven that after consuming nicotinic acid, lipid metabolism improves; in addition, in patients with atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia, blood cholesterol levels decrease. With pellagra, after the first dose of acid, the effect of treatment is already visible. At the same time, not only this disease is eliminated, but also diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system go away, and the skin is cleansed. Three weeks after the start of the course, skin manifestations practically disappear, and intestinal and stomach disorders stop. Two months after the start of therapy, a person completely gets rid of pellagritic psychoses. The use of this product for weight loss and hair beauty is also popular.

For the drug to work, it is necessary to choose the right dosage and method of administration; nicotinic acid is prescribed in the form of tablets or dragees, as injections intramuscularly, intravenously or subcutaneously. These injections are very painful, so they are rarely prescribed.

The dosage is prescribed by the doctor based on the disease that needs to be cured. Typically, nicotinic acid is taken 0.1 g at a time three times a day. All tablets are taken after meals. As a preventive measure, nicotinic acid is taken in a smaller dosage - 0.020 g at a time, also three times a day.

Injections with nicotinic acid are given twice a day, 0.1 g intramuscularly and half the dose intravenously. The course of treatment with the drug depends on the complexity and type of disease. It can last from 3 to 5 weeks, then there is a break for 2 weeks and you can continue taking it again. MirSovetov does not recommend exceeding the daily dose of the drug - 5 grams for tablets and 0.3 grams for injections.

Nicotinic acid for hair

Due to its ability to dilate blood vessels, nicotinic acid is widely used for hair care. After the drug is applied to the hair roots, it is absorbed by the scalp and delivered through the blood vessels to the skin cells, enriching them and the hair follicles with nutrients. This method is the property of traditional medicine, and sometimes trichologists also recommend it.

For one course of treatment you need to purchase 30 ampoules. The ampoule must be opened and, without delay, transfer the liquid into a small container with a syringe. Everything must be done quickly, since the drug loses its beneficial properties in air very quickly. The drug should be applied only to a clean head, this is especially true for those with oily hair, since fat can become an obstacle to the penetration of the vitamin into the hair. Shampoo with silicone also does not need to be used during this period. Apply the product to slightly damp hair so that it is evenly distributed.

You can apply the liquid to your hair with a syringe without a needle or with your fingers, first covering the temporal part of the head, then along the partings and along the entire length of the hair. It is best to use one ampoule, although at first glance it may not seem like much. It’s okay if the solution does not reach the entire part of the head or there are gaps, because when it enters the blood, nicotinic acid will be distributed over the entire surface of the skin.

After applying the drug, there may be a slight burning sensation and redness of the skin, this is as it should be. If hives, itching and headache appear, then the person has an individual intolerance or allergy. You should immediately wash your hair thoroughly and not use nicotinic acid again.

There is no need to rinse the product from your hair; it will not leave any residue. This procedure must be repeated daily for a month. Then you should take a break for a month. Judging by the reviews of girls, this procedure can provoke hair growth of up to three centimeters per month.

Nicotinic acid for skin

Without nicotinic acid, oxygen exchange would not occur in skin cells. In addition, it dilates blood vessels and improves blood circulation, resulting in the skin looking elastic and healthy. It also works well on swollen skin and removes excess fluid from cells. Therefore, all decongestant cosmetics, as a rule, contain nicotinic acid.

This vitamin also participates in protein metabolism, in the formation of collagen and elastin, which make the skin smooth, elastic and well-groomed. Acid also affects the formation of sex hormones in women; when their levels in the body are high, wrinkles do not appear on the face. It is useful to use cosmetics with nicotinic acid in sunny weather, as this drug reduces the risk of melanoma due to ultraviolet radiation.

Nicotinic acid is also useful in the fight against cellulite. For thermoactive wrapping, you need to dilute the ampoule of the drug in water in a ratio of 1:3. Soak a wide bandage in this solution and wrap it around problem areas. You need to wrap it tightly, but not tightly. Wrap the top with cling film and a warm towel or blanket. The skin should warm up well, and even better, sweat. You need to start the procedure with 15 minutes; if the skin responds well to the wrap, the time can be increased. Cosmetic stores sell bandages with ready-made impregnation. Their width is about 15 cm, one package is enough for several procedures. In addition to nicotinic acid, the wrap liquid contains essential oils, caffeine, and plant extracts.

Contraindications and side effects

Side effects may occur when taking nicotinic acid:

redness on the skin;

Nicotinic acid is a provitamin of nicotinamide (a water-soluble antipellagritic B vitamin).

Today this drug is available in several forms:

nicotinic acid in tablets of 0.05 g (50 tablets per package);
dragees in a dosage of 0.005 g or 0.015 g (50 pieces per package);
1% solution - injections of nicotinic acid, sold in ampoules of 1 ml;
powder in sticks of 0.015 g.

Pharmacological properties of the drug

Nicotinic acid is an extremely important vitamin for our body, contributing to the normal course of most metabolic and educational processes. It improves liver activity, has a trophic, healing effect on wounds and ulcers, stimulates the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow, eliminates spastic conditions of blood vessels, activates the production of the gastric mucosa and gastrointestinal motility, facilitates detoxification processes, and reduces blood glucose levels. Also, the use of nicotinic acid has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart, blood vessels and central nervous system.

It has been proven that the use of nicotinic acid has a beneficial effect on lipid metabolism and also significantly reduces blood cholesterol levels in patients with hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.

The use of nicotinic acid for pellagra is extremely effective. With the first course of taking the drug, a rapid therapeutic effect is observed. At the same time, positive dynamics are noted both in terms of gastrointestinal and skin phenomena, and in the central nervous system. After just three weeks of therapy, skin symptoms disappear completely and dyspepsia (gastrointestinal disorders) stops. And within two months of treatment, pellagritic psychoses also completely disappear.

However, this is not a complete list of the beneficial properties of this drug. The use of nicotinic acid is effective as an antipruritic, detoxifying, desensitizing, and vasodilator substance. Nicotinic acid is actively used for hair. The use of nicotinic acid for weight loss is also popular.

Rules for the use of nicotinic acid

Tablets and injections of nicotinic acid are prescribed for liver diseases, multiple sclerosis, and also as a vasodilator for endarteritis and other processes associated with angiospastic phenomena.

Vitamin PP is often used in the treatment of diseases of the skin and mucous membranes: eczema, photodermatoses, lupus erythematosus, neurodermatitis, dermatitis, psoriasis, parapsoriasis, skin porphyria, cheilitis, aphthous stomatitis, glossitis. This drug is also used in the treatment of dermatoses that cause peripheral circulatory disorders.

Vitamin PP is used as a detoxifying agent in the treatment of sulfonamide poisoning, as well as in long-term therapy with antimalarial and antituberculosis drugs.

This substance is often used as a diagnostic tool for identifying syphilitic roseola and erythema leprosy.

When treating various diseases and painful conditions, the correct dosage and method of taking the drug should be prescribed. The drug can be prescribed orally (nicotinic acid in tablets or dragees), administered intramuscularly, subcutaneously or intravenously (injections). Given the pain of nicotinic acid injections, the drug is rarely prescribed intramuscularly or subcutaneously.

Typically, nicotinic acid in tablets is prescribed in a dosage of 0.02-0.1 g per dose up to 3 times a day. They should be taken after meals. For preventive purposes, nicotinic acid in tablets is prescribed in a dosage of 0.015-0.025 g per dose, three times a day (adults) and 0.005-0.02 g per day (children).

Injections of nicotinic acid (1% solution, 1–5 ml) are usually administered intramuscularly at 0.1 g or at a dosage of 0.05 g (intravenously) 1–2 times a day. Nicotinic acid injections for children are prescribed intramuscularly at the rate of 0.002–0.003 g per 1 kg of body weight once or twice a day.

Depending on the complexity and type of disease, the duration of the course of treatment can be from three to five weeks; if a second course of treatment is necessary, it is prescribed after a 10-14-day break. The maximum daily dose when using injections is 0.3 g, when taken orally up to 5 g.

The drug is low-toxic and in most cases is well tolerated by patients.

Nicotinic acid for hair

The benefit of nicotinic acid for hair lies in the ability of this drug to dilate blood vessels. That is, when applied to the roots of the hair, this substance is absorbed into the scalp and, thanks to the blood vessels, delivered to the skin cells over the entire surface of the head, enriching the skin and hair follicles with the necessary nutrients. To strengthen hair and improve its growth, it is necessary to carry out a 30-day course of therapy. Of course, such techniques are not prescribed by attending physicians, unless a trichologist can recommend them to strengthen hair. But for the most part, this therapy is a find of traditional medicine and this recipe is passed on “by word of mouth” as recommendations. So, how is niacin used for hair? Everything is quite simple: apply a small amount of solution to the scalp, rubbing it in with light massaging movements. A ready-made solution in ampoules is used; there is no need to dilute it. You should use no more than 1 ampoule at a time; you should apply it literally drop by drop to different parts of the head: in the temporal zone, on the back of the head, along the parting line. It is better to pour the contents of the ampoule into a plastic container and, dipping your fingertips into the solution, apply the product to the scalp. This procedure is done daily after washing your hair for 30 days. However, you should not use more than 1 ampoule per day and do not exceed the course of rehabilitation therapy, otherwise you may cause an allergic reaction. In this case, temporary redness of the scalp after applying the drug is considered normal.

Nicotinic acid for weight loss

It must be said right away that nicotinic acid for weight loss is not used as a fat-burning agent. This drug does not have the ability to burn fat cells, but it perfectly normalizes metabolic processes in the body, stimulates the production of a sufficient amount of gastric juice and lowers cholesterol levels in the blood. Nicotinic acid is also effective for weight loss because it will help cleanse the body of waste and toxins, normalize blood circulation and saturate the body with useful substances.

Side effects and contraindications

With rapid administration of the drug, weakness, decreased blood pressure, and loss of appetite may be observed. Quite often, after using the drug, temporary redness of the facial skin, increased temperature, and a feeling of a rush of blood to the head may be observed. However, such phenomena quickly pass.

Instructions for use:

Nicotinic acid is a vitamin preparation, also referred to as vitamin PP.

pharmachologic effect

Nicotinic acid is a compound similar in structure to nicotinamide.

The use of nicotinic acid is important for stimulating blood circulation, brain activity, metabolism of amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.

This vitamin is of great importance for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. It helps reduce cholesterol, lipoprotein and triglyceride levels - substances that clog blood vessels, contribute to increased blood pressure and the formation of blood clots, and limit blood supply.

Release form

Nicotinic acid is produced in tablets and in the form of a solution.

Indications for use of Nicotinic acid

The vitamin is administered intravenously, taken orally, and subcutaneous and intramuscular injections of nicotinic acid are given.

The drug is used for the treatment and prevention of pellagra, the treatment of mild forms of diabetes, heart disease, ulcers of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, enterocolitis, gastritis with low acidity, poorly healing skin lesions, to relieve spasms of blood vessels in the brain, arms and legs, and kidneys.

The drug is also included in the complex therapy of neuritis of the facial nerve, atherosclerosis, and various infections.

Contraindications

The vitamin should not be administered intravenously for hypertension; do not use the drug for hypersensitivity.

In case of increased individual sensitivity to the drug, you can replace the acid with nicotinamide, except in cases where the acid was prescribed as a vasodilator.

Application instruction of Nicotinic acid

Nicotinic acid for prevention is prescribed for adults 15-25 mg, children 5-20 mg per day.

To treat pellagra, adults take nicotinic acid in tablets of 100 mg up to four times a day for 15-20 days. You can administer a 1% acid solution - 1 ml up to two times a day for 10-15 days. Children are given 5-50 mg two or three times a day.

For other indications, adults take the vitamin 20-50 mg, children – 5-30 mg up to three times a day.

As a vasodilator for ischemic stroke, 1 ml of nicotinic acid is administered intravenously.

Intramuscular and subcutaneous injections of nicotinic acid, unlike intravenous administration, are painful. In order to avoid irritation, you can use the sodium salt of nicotinic acid.

Thanks to the ability of this vitamin to dilate blood vessels, nicotinic acid is useful for hair - it stimulates hair growth. To treat hair, the solution is rubbed into the scalp for 30 days, 1 ml (one ampoule).

Apply the solution in its pure form to slightly damp, washed hair. After a month of hair treatment with nicotinic acid, the scalp is cleared of dandruff, the roots are strengthened, and the hair grows by 4-6 cm. If necessary, rubbing courses can be repeated periodically, with breaks of 15-20 days.

Nicotinic acid has been successfully used for weight loss. Weight correction is facilitated by the fact that the vitamin speeds up metabolism, helps cleanse blood vessels, level cholesterol levels, and remove heavy metals and toxins. The dosage of nicotinic acid for weight loss is individual for each person and is 100-250 mg per day. Nicotinic acid is usually taken in tablets, no more than 1g per day, several times a day. A reaction to acid in the form of redness of the skin and a flush of heat is considered normal. In case of increased acidity of stomach secretions, take the vitamin only after meals.

Side effects

The use of nicotinic acid can cause: redness of the skin of the face, upper half of the body, rash, numbness in the extremities, dizziness, hot flash. These side effects go away on their own.

With rapid intravenous administration of the vitamin, blood pressure can drop sharply, and with prolonged use and in high dosages, the drug can provoke the appearance of fatty liver degeneration. To prevent this disease, the vitamin is prescribed simultaneously with methionine.

Nicotinic acid, produced in tablets and ampoules for injections, has great benefits for the body. This vitamin replenishes the deficiency of substances, improves health, has a positive effect on metabolic processes and energy production. Familiarize yourself with the indications for its use, dosage, and methods of administration. The amount of product used differs depending on individual characteristics.

What is nicotinic acid

Vitamin PP, B3 or nicotinic acid is an important substance for the body. Once inside, it breaks down to niacinamide, which is involved in the process of fat metabolism. The main purpose of the vitamin is to convert food into energy. The daily requirement for nicotinic acid is 5-10 mg, for pregnant women - 15 mg. The attending physician prescribes it if indicated.

Benefits and harms

Nicotinic acid causes harm in the form of allergic reactions and gastric ulcers, which intensify when taken. The benefit of the drug is its positive effect on metabolism and the following effects on the body:

lowers cholesterol levels;
removes toxins;
speeds up metabolism;
reduces inflammatory processes;
nicotine for blood vessels dilates them, thins the blood;
prevents atherosclerosis.

Compound

In medical practice, nicotinic acid preparations are used, available without a prescription. They are produced in powder, tablet and ampoules formats. It is recommended to store all varieties away from sunlight and away from children. The composition of the preparations includes pyridinecarboxylic-3-acid. It is a white crystalline powder, poorly soluble in cold water and alcohol, but readily soluble in hot water.

pharmachologic effect

Vitamin B3 plays an important role in ensuring the vital functions of the body and is a component of the prosthetic groups of codehydrase enzymes. The latter transfer hydrogen and carry out redox processes. Vitamin B3, entering the body and being broken down into nicotinamide, transports phosphates. Without them, the disease pellagra develops.

Release form

According to pharmacological definitions, the following forms of release of this vitamin preparation are distinguished:

vitamin B3 in ampoules - 1 ml, glass ampoules, pH solution for injection 5-7;
powder for injection;
tablets (50 pcs.) – a drug to replenish acid deficiency, the active substance content is 0.05 g;
sodium nicotinate solution – 0.1% nicotine solution.

Indications for use

According to the instructions in medicine, the following uses of nicotinic acid for medicinal purposes are found:

Electrophoresis with nicotinic acid is used in the treatment of osteochondrosis. The method quickly removes lactic acid from tissues affected by inflammation, relieves pain and swelling, and enhances the healing process. To carry out the procedure, a 1% solution is used, a course of 10 days, once a day.
For the treatment of pellagra, improvement of carbohydrate metabolism, mild forms of diabetes, liver diseases, heart diseases, ulcers, enterocolitis, poorly healing wounds, myopathy.
Reducing the level of lipoproteins in the blood, lowering the concentration of triglycerides, treating hypercholesterolemia.
A specific remedy for gastritis, vasospasm, brain.
Stimulates hair growth (30-day course, rub 1 ml into the scalp every day), and according to reviews, eliminates dandruff.
To actively lose weight, against cellulite - take 1 g tablets per day, several times a day.
Prevention of diabetes, reduction of pain in osteoarthritis.
Increasing the effectiveness of medications for the treatment of depression and anxiety.
Detoxification of the body, prevention of migraines.

Nicotinic acid preparations

The vitamin is an integral component of the drugs Vitaiodurol, Vicein, Xanthinol Nicotinate, Lipostabil, Nikoverin, Nikoshpan, Spazmokor. It is found in two forms - acid and nicotinamide. Both formats are active components of the drugs, have the same pharmacological purpose, and similar therapeutic effects. Nicotinamide is included in the drugs:

tablets and solution for injection Niacinamide;
Nikonatsid;
Nicotinamide tablets and solution;
Apelagrin;
Niacin;
Nikoverin;
Enduracin.

Instructions for use of nicotinic acid

According to the annotation, vitamin PP can be used in the form of tablets (orally after meals) and ampoules (parenterally). As a preventive measure, adults are prescribed 0.015-0.025 g per day. For pellagra, take 0.1 g 2-4 times a day for 15-20 days, or inject a 1% solution of 1 ml twice a day for 10-15 days. For other diseases, adults take up to 0.1 g of the drug per day. If there are no side effects, in the treatment of atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism disorders, the single dose can be increased to 1 g, and the daily dose to 4 g.

Pills

Vitamin PP in tablets is used for long-term therapy and disease prevention. In the first case, they are recommended to be taken in autumn and spring for people with circulatory problems in the lower extremities. It is allowed to take 1-2 tablets three times a day, while simultaneously taking methionine preparations to protect the liver. If the patient has increased acidity of gastric juice, the medication is taken after meals, washed down with mineral water or warm milk.

If you take the tablets before meals, this may cause discomfort: a burning sensation in the stomach, nausea. Dosage depends on age, weight and illness:

for prevention, up to 25 mg/day is taken;
when pellagra appears, 100 mg 3-4 times a day for 15-20 days;
for atherosclerosis 2-3/day, 3-4 doses;
if fat metabolism is impaired, take 500 mg once in the first week, twice in the second, three times in the third, course 2.5-3 months;
to increase the concentration of high-density lipoproteins, take 1 g/day;
to reduce the risk of heart disease 500-1000 mg/day;
courses of therapy are repeated at monthly intervals.

injections

The drugs can be administered in the form of subcutaneous, intravenous or intramuscular injections. Injections of nicotinic acid are administered into a vein slowly, in a stream, in a hospital setting due to the possible risk of severe allergic reactions. Subcutaneous and intramuscular injections are approved for independent use at home. They are very painful, so you need to choose the right place.

The optimal areas for injections are the upper part of the shoulder, the front surface of the thigh, the anterior abdominal wall, provided there is no excess weight, and the upper outer quadrant of the buttock. For subcutaneous administration, it is better to give injections in the area of the forearm and the anterior wall of the abdomen. You can use 1.5 or 2.5% solutions for intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous injections, administered 1-2 times a day. The dosage depends on the type of disease:

for pellagra and deficiency symptoms - 50 mg intravenously or intramuscularly 100 mg 1-2 times a day for a course of 10-15 days;
for ischemic stroke – 100-500 mg intravenously;
For other diseases and for children, tablets are used.

How to inject intramuscularly

After choosing a place, wipe it with an antiseptic, draw a solution into a syringe, release a few drops by lifting it up with a needle to expel air bubbles, give an injection, treat the puncture site with alcohol or chlorhexidine. For each injection, choose a new place, deviating 1-1.5 cm from the previous one. The intramuscular injection is done as follows: insert the needle deeply, slowly press the piston and release the solution.

Nicotinic acid during pregnancy and lactation

If pregnancy proceeds normally, vitamin PP is not prescribed. In cases of drug dependence, multiple births, dysfunction of the placenta, pathology of the liver and biliary tract, the drug is indicated for use. When carrying a child, the product eliminates spasms, improves blood circulation, and reduces its viscosity. Vitamin B3 prevents the formation of blood clots, blockage of blood vessels in the placenta, and reduces the risk of fetal death and premature birth. To increase lactation, tablets are indicated, but with caution and monitoring the child’s condition.

Use in children

Children under two years of age are contraindicated in taking vitamin B3 ampoule. The child can only be given the tablet format of the drug, orally after meals with cool drinks or mineral water. The dosage depends on the purpose:

for prevention – 0.005-0.02 g per day;
for pellagra – 0.005-0.05 g 2-3 times a day;
other diseases – 0.005-0.03 g 2-3 times a day.

Nicotinic acid and alcohol

Practicing doctors and scientists note the intoxicating effect of vitamin B3. It helps to quickly remove toxic substances from the body, binds free radicals, and neutralizes the effect of poisons on the cells of organs and tissues. The drug is widely used in the relief of hangover syndrome, in the treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction, and exposure to harmful substances at work.

Drug interactions

Before prescribing vitamin PP, tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications, as it has the following drug interactions:

when combined with fibrinolytics, cardiac glycosides and antispasmodics, it enhances the effect;
when taking barbiturates, neomycin, sulfonamides, and antituberculosis drugs simultaneously, it is accompanied by an increase in toxic effect;
increases the risk of side effects when used with antihypertensive drugs, aspirin, anticoagulants;
nicotinic acid develops a toxic effect with lipid-lowering drugs;
reduces the severity of the effect of the antidiabetic medication system.

Alcohol compatibility

According to the instructions for use of vitamin B3, it is incompatible with alcohol and drugs that contain ethanol. A dangerous effect is an increase in the toxic effect on the liver and a decrease in the absorption of bile acid sequestrants. You should refrain from drinking alcohol-containing drinks and medications while taking the drug.

Side effects and overdose

If the dose of vitamin PP is not prescribed correctly, the following side effects may occur:

redness of the face, upper part of the body (when taken on an empty stomach or by persons with hypersensitivity), fever;
dizziness;
urticaria, skin rash;
paresthesia (numbness of the limbs);
lowering blood pressure (with rapid intravenous administration);
gout;
acanthosis;
increased blood sugar levels;
increased frequency of arrhythmia attacks;
blurred vision due to retinal swelling.

Contraindications

Instructions for the use of vitamin B3 in ampoules and tablets contain instructions on contraindications:

severe forms of hypertension, atherosclerosis (intravenously);
hypersensitivity to components;
long-term use threatens fatty liver (you can get rid of this by combining the drug with foods rich in methionine, prescribed methionine or lipotropic drugs)

special instructions

The leaflet included inside each nicotine package contains special instructions that must be followed when taking the product:

High doses of the vitamin are contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
During therapy, liver function should be regularly monitored;
use nicotinic acid with caution for hyperacid gastritis, ulcers (irritation of the mucous membrane), hepatitis, cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus;
not used to correct dyslipidemia in diabetics;
at the initial stage of use, the content of fats, sugars, and uric acid is monitored;
Long-term use threatens the leaching of vitamin C.

Analogs

Based on the active substance, the following structural analogs of the drug in question are distinguished, having a similar therapeutic effect, produced by domestic or foreign manufacturers:

Niacin;
Nicotinic acid Bufus or Vial;
Enduracin;
Apelagrin;
Liplit;
Nicodon;
Nikonatsid;
Nicotene;
Nikovit;
Peviton;
Vitaplex.

Price

Vitamin B3 preparations can be bought in an online store or ordered from a catalog through a pharmacy. The cost depends on the form of release and the manufacturer. Approximate prices: