what is the drug Niaspan used for

No idea, but its under diabetes..so.

Diabetes??

Niaspan is a long-acting form of niacin.
Niacin is a vitamin, but in large amounts it is used as a drug to help lower triglycerides, a kind of fat found in the blood, & also to raise HDL (high density lipoprotein) - HDL is the good component of cholesterol. Lowering triglycerides & raising HDL r both strategies to improve lipid patterns in some people who have heart disease, peripheral artery disease & similar conditions.

A problem with taking niacin in large doses, particularly the short-acting form, is that it often causes uncomfortable flushing (red, hot sweaty feeling particularly in the face). The long-acting varieties can still cause this, but often not as severe. A strategy to try to prevent the flushed feeling is to take an aspirin (regular 325 mg size, enteric-coated or not, it does not matter) about an hour before taking the niacin.

Hope this information helps.

Niaspan is used to lower cholesterol. http://niaspan.com/index.html

Carol B !
Niaspan Controlled-Release works by reducing LDL (''bad'') cholesterol & triglycerides & increasing HDL (''good'') cholesterol. Niaspan contains niacin a B vitamin (vitamin B3). It occurs naturally in plants & animals & is present in many multiple vitamin supplements.

Niaspan lowers cholesterol levels, reducing the risk for a second heart attack, slows or treats hardening of the arteries, & lowers very high serum triglyceride levels. It is used in combination with diet.

For further details
http://diabetesindetail.com

You can find a great deal of detail about Niaspan from the following site, but it briefly describes Niaspan as being for ''Improving cholesterol levels, reducing the risk for a second heart attack, slowing or treating hardening of the arteries, and lowering very high serum triglyceride levels.''

Take a look at the page and find out more.