There’s no shortage of tips and tricks found online to help you pass a urine test if you have THC in your system. However, you really do have to use a discerning eye when you come across some of these remedies. There are multiple claims that a niacin detox can be an easy lifeline for flushing THC out of the body, and getting the clear test results you need.
You can actually find and buy niacin pills over the counter, and they’re not expensive, which makes this an appealing option for many. Unfortunately, there are many conflicting theories about this process on the web both in how a niacin detox should be done, and in the remedy’s effectiveness.
If you’re in a tight spot and expecting a drug test, you may be tempted to try it yourself. But first, you need the facts. Here’s what you really need to know about using niacin to pass a drug test.
What is Niacin?
Niacin is vitamin B-3, which is one of the vitamin-B complex vitamins. It’s also one of the few that is water soluble. For most people, getting the recommended daily amount of niacin is no big deal, because it’s commonly found in foods, such as cereal, meat, and green vegetables. However, some people do have a niacin deficiency, which is why supplements are readily available.
In the body, niacin has a wide range of different advantages, including:
- Breaking down fats and proteins into usable energy
- Helping to produce certain hormones that cleanse the liver
- Supporting healthy skin by helping with healthy circulation
- Aiding in healthy digestion
In some cases, doctors will actually recommend patients take a dose of niacin daily to help with certain conditions, such as migraine headaches and even dizziness. However, taking niacin, especially in higher than normal doses, can also have negative effects on the body.
Some of the side effects from taking niacin supplements include:
- Flushing, or facial redness and feeling hot
- Nausea, upset stomach, or diarrhea
- Changes to glucose levels
- Changes in blood pressure
There are risks associated with taking niacin, especially if you have other health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure. It can also increase your risk of developing kidney disease, having stomach ulcers, and sustaining muscle tissue damage.
Additionally, niacin interacts negatively with several different types of medications, including blood thinners, anticoagulants, and diabetes medications, as well as some herbal supplements like ginkgo biloba.
Do Niacin Pills Help Detox for you Drug Test?
Because niacin has the ability to detox the liver of toxins, it is often touted online as being a safe way to detox before drug screenings. However, these claims are not scientific. In fact, there have been no scientific studies performed to test the effectiveness of using niacin to detox.
The claims proposed are risky because they have no real scientific merit. Many people are wondering how long does weed stay in your system, which lead people toward two ways of claiming niacin to work for drug tests.
First, there is a claim that taking niacin speeds the breakdown of fat in the body, thus eliminating drugs from your system faster. Because THC and other metabolites from different types of drugs are stored in your body’s fat cells, this is an easy assumption to make.
However, niacin doesn’t actually break down existing fat cells. Instead, it breaks down fat from the foods you take in. Eliminating fat and even fatty foods from your diet may be a good way to help you also eliminate THC. But this is not something you will be able to do by taking an obscene amount of niacin supplements.
The second common claim regarding niacin and passing a drug test is that vasodilation, or flushing, helps open up the blood vessels in your body so THC metabolites can be pushed out easier. Flushing or elevated blood pressure does not occur when someone who is healthy takes niacin supplements in most cases.
Even if this did work, it would only be a plausible solution for a select few. Furthermore, there’s no evidence to support the idea that the vasodilation is occurring in the fat cells in the same way as it occurs in the skin.
Niacin Benefits vs. Side Effects
Taking niacin to pass a drug test is not just a bad idea, it can also be a dangerous thing to try, especially for people who already have certain health conditions. While there are claims that niacin is the ideal way to detox the body before a drug test, there are so many risks involved that doing so could be damaging to your health.
While there have been no studies to prove the effectiveness of a niacin detox, there have actually been a few studies on people who ingested large amounts of niacin to detox before a drug screening.
One adolescent ingested 13 grams of niacin, only to come away with severe abdominal pain, chest pain, hypoglycemia, and a long list of other problems.
A 17-year-old patient was also admitted to the hospital with acute liver failure after ingesting a large amount of niacin.
And a previously healthy 23-year-old patient overdosed on niacin and was given mechanical ventilation and other life-saving measures to keep him alive. According to PubMed:
Although this patient was fortunate to make a full recovery, the case highlights the potential for multi-system toxicity with niacin overdose, and the potential for harm posed by medical misinformation on the Internet.
What is Niacin Flush
While some individuals may claim a niacin detox is the most effective last-minute method in flushing out THC toxins, one should note risks. There are considerable health consequences that come as a result, including niacin flush which is a common side effect of taking high doses of niacin supplements, causing flushing of the face.
What Does Niacin Flush Look Like?
Hence the name, a niacin flush appears as a flush of red on the skin of your face. Not only will a niacin flush produce a red flush, but an itching or burning sensation may also be present as another side effect. In some cases, the effects from niacin flush may feel and look like a bad sunburn.
Is Niacin Flush Harmful?
Although the side effects of niacin flush may be worrisome and uncomfortable, you will be relieved to know it’s harmless. The most common effects are reddening of the skin and/or itching and burning sensations.
However, high doses of niacin can produce more severe complications like liver damage. Individuals on certain medications or supplements should forgo seeking niacin as a detoxification method, as they may be more susceptible to experiencing side effects from niacin. All that said, niacin flush is not life-threatening.
How Long Does Niacin Flush Last?
The symptoms of niacin flush typically set in between 15-30 minutes after taking the supplement. Additionally, niacin flush symptoms commonly die down after about an hour or so. Individuals will experience the most intense symptoms (if any) after the first dose of niacin supplements. Most uneducated individuals who experience niacin flush immediately discontinue the use with fear that symptoms will persist or get worse. With continued use, however, the adverse effects of niacin will begin to subside within days.
What to do instead…
If you are looking for the best and safest route to pass a drug test, this form below will help us gauge your toxicity level and help guide you on the best path to cleansing your system.
Based on the following information, we’ll send you straight to the recommended approach to help you pass your test. And don’t forget to check your email for a special surprise from Neonjoint.
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FAQ
Does Niacin Speed up your Metabolism?
Niacin is one of the eight B vitamins, most commonly known as vitamin B3. Similarly to all other B vitamins, it helps convert food into energy. Niacin is a principal element of NAD and NADP, two coenzymes associated with cellular metabolism.
Even though niacin helps your body turn carbohydrates into fuel, it does not directly influence your metabolism. Speeding up your metabolism requires taking a few different measures, including eating a well-rounded diet, getting enough physical exercise, and making sure you have a healthy sleeping pattern.
In all, niacin does not directly speed up your metabolism but can aid in the process.
Can you Die from taking too much Niacin?
Consuming large amounts by eating niacin-rich foods cannot cause an overdose, yet large amounts of niacin taken over-the-counter or via prescription can be life-threatening.
Ingesting substantial amounts of niacin has been connected to liver damage and strokes. That said, an overdose is unexpected as long as you take your prescription in the quantity authorized by your doctor.
Niacin overdose signs and symptoms include:
- Severe skin flushing combined with dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Itching
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- Gout
If you think you may have overdosed, seek medical attention immediately.
Conclusion
With the given examples of how dangerous niacin can be in large doses, as well as the lack of information to support the claims of its effectiveness for detox, it is safe to assume that niacin would not be a healthy way to eliminate THC from the body.