FRIDAY, April 20 (HealthDay News) -- Eighteen callers to a drug and poison control center in 2006 reported taking high doses of niacin to mask urine drug test results, according to a report in the April 20 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. There have been no reported deaths, but other cases have involved life-threatening symptoms.
Carrie Mendoza, M.D., of the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, in Denver, and colleagues analyzed call records for adverse drug reactions to niacin (nicotinic acid or vitamin B3) between January and September, 2006. The center serves 10 million people in five states.
Of 92 calls involving niacin, the researchers counted 30 dosing errors; 23 childhood accidents; 18 reports of intentional niacin use, including eight to change drug test results; 18 reporting no reason; and three suicide attempts.
Of intentional niacin users, the median age was 18; eight reported taking 1,000 to 8,000 milligrams to change drug test results; eight took 400 to 5,000 milligrams to flush their systems. Most common adverse reactions included vomiting, tachycardia and flushed skin.
No proof exists that niacin changes drug test results, the authors wrote. "However, readily accessible information on the Internet lists ingestion of niacin as a way to prevent detection of tetrahydracannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana."
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