niaspan and blood clots

[lostpawn]

I took niaspan for about a year as an alternative to statin drugs.
my cholesterol was about 214.
Then one morning I woke up with a serve pain in my side.
Turns out I had developed blood clots in my portal veins, the blood vessels connected to my liver.
I needed emergency surgery to clear up the clots and almost died.
I was in the ICU for about 7 weeks. The doctors could not give me a cause of the blood clots. It was like a medical mystery, but the only medication I was taking was niaspan and an occasional viagra. The doctors said niaspan does not have clotting properties, but I'm not convinced.

My question then is: Is blood clotting a side affect of niaspan?
Has anyone else had this problem who was taking Niaspan?

Thanks in advance for any insight.

[David Staup]

Lost,

I can find only that niaspan affect how your blood clots but not how.

however a cholesterol level of 214 is not high especially if you are older.

you can however lower you body's need (and production) for cholesterol with safer suppliments read the link below

http://www.ourhealthcoop.com/pauling.htm