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Nicotinamide (B3) 500mg twice a day for transplant patients?

Posted by hello1234 @hello1234, Feb 13 11:59pm

Hi all.
I was reading that taking Nicotinamide (B3) 500mg twice a day can be beneficial for organ transplant patients looking to prevent skin cancers. Does anyone take this or have you heard of it?
Thanks everyone!

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mollyv | @mollyv | Feb 14 7:06am

@hello1234 Yes! I take this every day and when I told my doctor that I didn’t think it was helping and that I was going to stop, they said I should absolutely keep taking it. I guess if it was really working I wouldn’t have any cancer, but what if I’m actually having less because of it? So I continue to take it faithfully every day. Good luck!!

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1 reply
hello1234 | @hello1234 | Feb 14 7:21am
In reply to @mollyv "@hello1234 Yes! I take this every day and when I told my doctor that I didn’t..." + (show)
@mollyv

@hello1234 Yes! I take this every day and when I told my doctor that I didn’t think it was helping and that I was going to stop, they said I should absolutely keep taking it. I guess if it was really working I wouldn’t have any cancer, but what if I’m actually having less because of it? So I continue to take it faithfully every day. Good luck!!

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Thank you so much for this information @mollyv 😊
I also see there is a drug called acitretin. Did your team mention any other treatments in addition to Nicotinamide? Do you have any adverse side effects from the Nicotinamide or you are just tired of taking it? Thanks a million for sharing your experience!!

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mollyv | @mollyv | Feb 14 7:43am

@hello1234 I have not heard of the drug you mentioned. I wanted to stop the nicotinamide because I was so discouraged about the skin cancer. I have no adverse effects from nicotinamide. I’m just going to carry on. I hope it helps!

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Mentor
Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Feb 14 7:59am

I am not familiar with Nicotinamide, and I have not located any information except advertisements promoting the product. I have developed a habit of being wary of promotional health supplements.

@mollyv, I commend you for discussing the use of Nicotinamide with your doctor.
@hello1234, Where did you read about it (Nicotinamide) as a prevention for skin cancer?

I did find this information for acitretin. Here is a link that includes usage, precautions, side effects, etc.
- Acitretin (Oral Route)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/acitretin-oral-route/description/drg-20061491

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1 reply
krsti | @krsti | Feb 14 9:36pm
In reply to @rosemarya "I am not familiar with Nicotinamide, and I have not located any information except advertisements promoting..." + (show)
@rosemarya

I am not familiar with Nicotinamide, and I have not located any information except advertisements promoting the product. I have developed a habit of being wary of promotional health supplements.

@mollyv, I commend you for discussing the use of Nicotinamide with your doctor.
@hello1234, Where did you read about it (Nicotinamide) as a prevention for skin cancer?

I did find this information for acitretin. Here is a link that includes usage, precautions, side effects, etc.
- Acitretin (Oral Route)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/acitretin-oral-route/description/drg-20061491

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Never heard of it. But I live in a high elevation area, so it would be helpful to me. But where did you hear about it? Is it something that the Mayo prescribed?

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1 reply
hello1234 | @hello1234 | Feb 15 4:52am
In reply to @krsti "Never heard of it. But I live in a high elevation area, so it would be..." + (show)
@krsti

Never heard of it. But I live in a high elevation area, so it would be helpful to me. But where did you hear about it? Is it something that the Mayo prescribed?

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Hi @krsti and @rosemarya 😊
One of my favorite sources of medical information is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
There are several comments about Nicotinamide used to help prevent squamous cell carcinoma skin cancer in kidney transplant patients. It looks like a couple of very small clinical trials had mixed conclusions.
I have a video consultation scheduled with Mayo to discuss Nicotinamide along with any other possible strategies that may help.
@krsti are you a transplant patient that have started to see some skin cancer form? Did you receive a kidney or liver?

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