another death by dorkage
So as most of you know, I suffer from a number of stooopid ailments. I have decided to step up my treatment with a better diet and adding vitamins to my life. I did some research to see what combatted fatigue and helped with better brain functions. I thought it strange that when I called my mother after a week of not sleeping at all, that when i told her I had just purchased Port with the intent of drinking it to enhance my xananx (which is a blantantly Stupid thing to do -- I already know that you shouldn't drink on the meds I take, but what the hell. Lets try it shall we? She was more appalled at my CHOICE -- Port evidnetly is yucky - then the prospect of my using it to enhance my drugs and I got a VERY stern lecture on the Niacin supplements I bought than about the Port. Today at around 11:30am, I took my Niacin and went to go help my sister with the kids. About an hour ago as I was typing away here at the computer, I started to feel as if I was starting to feel a bad sun burn come on. My skin was burning. My face, arms, chest, back were all beet red and I was getting non-itchy hives all over the red places. What the hell? I called my mom. She asked what I had taked or ate. Nothing. I had to have....I told her that I took the Niacin -- but its a vitamin... Nope, that will do it. She told me to take 4 benedryl right that second and to put cold compresses all over me. There was no way a vitamin I took 7 hours ago was causing this. Apparently, it was. I took, what my mother reffered to as, a killer dose. 500 mg of Niacin. The daily allowance is something like 15mgs. I bought it at shop-rite. The doses only came in 500 mgs. Why wasn't there a warning about this in my research or on the damn bottle? Niacin apparently is just NOT on of the vitamines you f88k around with and why the hell was I taking it in the first place. I have never had such a reaction. My dad was funny though. when I told him he said, "Sheri Honey, you have more than enough intellegence to know how to kill yourself without using Niacin." So, narrowly missing another death by vitamine overdose. I don't remember ever hearing that Niacin was THIS dangerous. It seems that I am one of the few, selected by nature, to be ignorant of the dangers. So yes, another Death by Dork averted. I am reeeeeaaallllllly sleepy due to the amount of benedryl I have taken. I got used to my contacts just in time to get an eye infection. Go me! I just got my letter stating that the state will be paying for my 2 classes, lab fees and books. Go me again!

Good to hear from you again, Mim. Sorry to hear about the niacin effect, it's not fun. I got a horrible sun burn on my thighs about a month ago after spending only 15 minutes in heavy sun. Guess the "makes you sun sensitive warning on my meds" was accurate. So your not the only one who underestimates the effects of pills. Hope you get over your hives and redness soon. GG

I did not know niacin could have such an effect if taken at high doses. I hope you will overcome your reaction to it very quickly, Mim.