Safety Profile of Extended-Release Niacin in the AIM-HIGH Trial

Abstract

To the Editor: The results of the Atherothrombosis Intervention in Metabolic Syndrome with Low HDL/High Triglycerides: Impact on Global Health Outcomes (AIM-HIGH) trial were published in the Journal in 2011.(1) This study showed no incremental clinical benefit from the addition of high-dose extended-release niacin (Niaspan, AbbVie) to statin therapy during a 36-month mean follow-up period in 3414 patients who had stable atherosclerotic disease, low baseline levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and elevated triglyceride levels. In that article, we provided data on adverse events resulting in a reduction in the dose or discontinuation of the study drug. These results were . . .