Fish oil + Niacin = sleep trouble?

Mechatree

I've recently started taking these supplements together after my dinner, and they are relatively normal amounts (900mg EPA/DHA and 400mg niacin) and I have noticed a rapid decline in my sleeping ability. I'm exhausted all day and sleepy but as soon as I lay down, it takes hours to fall asleep.

I wondered if anyone else has experienced this? I wonder if it's just coincidental, since things at work are currently very stressful. My doctor suggested these supplements as well as a diet change in order to fix my triglycerides, but I can't do without sleep.

ecjim

I take fish oil at higher doses then that - sometimes at bed time and there is no problem with the sleep - I can't speak to the niacin . Try taking it rarlier and see what happens. Could be the stress at work

Luke_rabbit

Is part of your sleeping issue night sweats or hot flashes? Unless I have totally lost all of my knowledge from nutrition courses (which is definitely possible), niacin supplements can cause this. Perhaps try taking them in the morning.

Generally, my first advice if people have trouble sleeping (or staying awake during the day) after starting new medication is to try taking it at the opposite time (after verifying that this is okay with a pharmacist or doctor).

cwolfman13

Mechatree wrote: »

I've recently started taking these supplements together after my dinner, and they are relatively normal amounts (900mg EPA/DHA and 400mg niacin) and I have noticed a rapid decline in my sleeping ability. I'm exhausted all day and sleepy but as soon as I lay down, it takes hours to fall asleep.

I wondered if anyone else has experienced this? I wonder if it's just coincidental, since things at work are currently very stressful. My doctor suggested these supplements as well as a diet change in order to fix my triglycerides, but I can't do without sleep.

It's not the fish oil. It very well could be the niacin...one of the known and most common side effects of niacin supplementation is insomnia. In general, a lot of people don't tolerate niacin supplementation well.

kshama2001

I used to take my B complex twice per day, but stopped taking it in the afternoon/evening as I was worried it was interfering with my sleep. I've gotten the unpleasant "niacin flush" from other supplements but not this brand: https://www.amazon.com/Country-Life-Coenzyme-B-Complex-Methylfolate/dp/B001LXRWWE/
At 100 mg, it does have a quarter of the niacin that you are taking, but is still 500% RDA.

I don't feel that there are any adverse issues with the fish oil.

Mechatree

Thank you for the tips and advice. I'll have to take the supplements to work in order to take them at lunch but that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I haven't noticed any night sweats or hot flashes, just generally barely able to fall asleep and stay asleep.

I tried googling side effects of these supplements but couldn't find a clear answer so I'm glad I got some answers here with you guys.