Efficacy and safety evaluation of a large niacin therapeutic interchange program.

Background: An extended-release niacin product (Niaspan, Abbott Laboratories) was identified as a product with a less costly therapeutic alternative; a therapeutic product interchange was implemented.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a product therapeutic interchange from Niaspan to a controlled-release niacin product (Slo-Niacin, Upsher-Smith Laboratories) among patients at a large US Department of Veterans Affairs health care facility.

Methods: Patients with active prescriptions for Niaspan underwent a therapeutic product interchange to Slo-Niacin; following conversion of the product, the medical record for each patient was reviewed and pre- and postconversion clinical information and conversion details were transcribed into a database for subsequent analysis and study.