Multi-vitamin side effects

islandjumper
islandjumper Posts: 369 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
Every once in a while I feel the need to take a multi-vitamin. If I'm feeling tired or if I feel like there's something missing I'll start taking it. I started taking one a day, first with caffeine added, which made me jittery and nauseous. So I tried one a day without caffeine and still got nauseous, after about 2 weeks it made me physically sick.
So I switched to a different brand...natures own or natures choice...something like that and didn't have any problems for a while. Yesterday I started taking them again after about a month long break and had the same problem...I felt so ill after taking it.
I Always take my vitamins after I eat breakfast, so an empty stomach isn't the problem.
I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem?

Replies

  • ChristineandRoxy
    ChristineandRoxy Posts: 48 Member
    I used to im not really sure why but i think i may be sensitive to niacin i found taking it before i went to sleep helped the most for me but now i dont take a multi i take specific ones and dont have a problem now. Try taking a b-complex vitamin d and get your iron checked That should help with feeling tired
  • xHelloQuincyx
    xHelloQuincyx Posts: 884 Member
    i will puke if i take vitamins in the morning. weird huh? never found out why, never really tried another brand. tried taking them with food, with milk, with a saltine... gave up, its not worth it for me to feel like that. if i take them before i go to sleep it dosnt do anything (that i can tell while i sleep) maybe give that a try? if not i would talk to your dr.
  • AlixClockHeart
    AlixClockHeart Posts: 30 Member
    Depending on your size and such, try a children's vitamin. I take Flinstones and never have that problem but if I take "adult" vitamins they me nauseous too.
  • katydid25
    katydid25 Posts: 199 Member
    It's possible the potency is too strong. I finally found one I like after two others made me dizzy. The label suggests taking 3, but I only do one in the morning and one mid afternoon or it has the same effect.
  • maf66
    maf66 Posts: 211 Member
    Does the vitamin have Iron or Ferrous Sulfate in it? That could be what is making you sick. I can't take a multi, but I can take other supplements. You might try a B- complex at 50mg/day at breakfast or lunch. That will put a lil pep in your step :)
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    I use adult Gummie Vitamins. Have not had a problem with the nausea anymore.
  • rubysphoto
    rubysphoto Posts: 254 Member
    I take a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin with no problems but everyone's body is different. The one thing I have found is not all vitamins are made the same. Here is a video clip that opened my eyes and made me look in to vitamins a lot closer.

    http://youtu.be/7F1d_xP4Lpo
  • Frisky_CoastalNative
    Frisky_CoastalNative Posts: 140
    Multi-vitamins make me feel sick as well so I stick with B-Complex and Vit-D3
  • NKF92879
    NKF92879 Posts: 601 Member
    I have to take mine with food or I feel nauseated. I was also advised by my doctor that vitamins (multivitamins, fish oil, etc.) should always be taken with food.
  • delilah47
    delilah47 Posts: 1,658
    Most healthy adults don't need a vitamin supplement. You should see your doctor and get tested for deficiencies. They will know what to test for if you tell them how you are feeling. Also, during the winter some people get deficient in Vitamin D and feel sluggish and zombie-ish. I did and it got so bad, my memory was being affected. I had a serious Vitamin D deficiency because of medications I am taking. Per doctor's orders, I am taking 6000IU per day now. It only took about 3 weeks for me to notice a difference in how I feel and now I feel great! I wouldn't just take a bunch of Vitamin D without seeing your doctor first as you can get too much if you aren't deficient.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Don't bother if your eating all the foods groups you don't need them anyway. Many recent medical articles support this.
  • TheUnwritten
    TheUnwritten Posts: 158 Member
    Multivitamins make me feel weak and tired after taking them for some reason. I tried many brands and I get the same reaction. I stopped taking them all together and get my vitamins from food.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    I take a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin with no problems but everyone's body is different. The one thing I have found is not all vitamins are made the same. Here is a video clip that opened my eyes and made me look in to vitamins a lot closer.

    http://youtu.be/7F1d_xP4Lpo

    What exactly does "pharmaceutical grade multivitamin" mean?

    What a surprise, the guy in the video is shilling for a multi-level marketing organization.........
  • rubysphoto
    rubysphoto Posts: 254 Member
    I take a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin with no problems but everyone's body is different. The one thing I have found is not all vitamins are made the same. Here is a video clip that opened my eyes and made me look in to vitamins a lot closer.

    http://youtu.be/7F1d_xP4Lpo

    What exactly does "pharmaceutical grade multivitamin" mean?

    What a surprise, the guy in the video is shilling for a multi-level marketing organization.........

    It is considered a doctor quality supplement. Not made with the preservatives to keep it on the shelf of a store for years. When I searched on how a lot of the vitamins were made not all are the same. Not bioavailable, not cold pressed. Just something else to think about. I thought the same thing, great a MLM but opened my eyes when I looked more in to the claims.
  • 81Katz
    81Katz Posts: 7,074 Member
    I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this but a couple vitamins I have tried made me constipated and once I stopped taking them everything was fine.

    I tried a Walmart brand women's multi-vitamin that was something energy and metabolism. It was almost instantaneous that when I took it, I felt like I was going to puke. Even taking it after eating it made me feel bad. Not to mention jittery, with or without food. Threw them suckers away! I figure if I eat well I probably don't need all the extra vitamins anyhow. Sometimes I feel sluggish and wonder if I am not missing something in my diet. Probably should talk to a Dr. about that ...
  • katydid25
    katydid25 Posts: 199 Member
    I take a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin with no problems but everyone's body is different. The one thing I have found is not all vitamins are made the same. Here is a video clip that opened my eyes and made me look in to vitamins a lot closer.

    http://youtu.be/7F1d_xP4Lpo

    What exactly does "pharmaceutical grade multivitamin" mean?

    What a surprise, the guy in the video is shilling for a multi-level marketing organization.........

    Pharmaceutical grade is more a marketing term than anything. It really means that the products were manufactured in a building that also manufactures pharmaceuticals and really doesn't have much to do with the purity, potency, etc. And it makes them more expensive because people LOVE good marketing. Before taking any vitamin or supplement, I would ask the company how they products are tested. That part IS important. The 'pharmaceutical grade' is not so much.
  • 2kidsmckinney
    2kidsmckinney Posts: 39 Member
    I always would become sick from vitamins until I started breaking it in half. I take the first half and then wait at least 30 min and then take the other half. If you have the same luck you will never ever feel sick from a multivitamin. Let us know if any of the tricks work please.
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    I also will get sick to my stomach if I take a multi. I gave up on those years ago. I will do a single vitamin if I think it will help, but in general, vitamins just make my pee more expensive.

    I hear that gummi vitamins are easier to digest.
  • RikanSoulja
    RikanSoulja Posts: 463 Member
    I take a pharmaceutical grade multivitamin with no problems but everyone's body is different. The one thing I have found is not all vitamins are made the same. Here is a video clip that opened my eyes and made me look in to vitamins a lot closer.

    http://youtu.be/7F1d_xP4Lpo

    What exactly does "pharmaceutical grade multivitamin" mean?

    What a surprise, the guy in the video is shilling for a multi-level marketing organization.........

    Pharmaceutical grade is more a marketing term than anything. It really means that the products were manufactured in a building that also manufactures pharmaceuticals and really doesn't have much to do with the purity, potency, etc. And it makes them more expensive because people LOVE good marketing. Before taking any vitamin or supplement, I would ask the company how they products are tested. That part IS important. The 'pharmaceutical grade' is not so much.
    Why is testing important? How will that affect you? Or point to the quality?
  • vieilleame
    vieilleame Posts: 17 Member
    I always had this problem! I would take my vitamin in the morning and always feel nauseated.


    SIMPLE FIX: Take your multi vitamin on a full stomach! Eat some breakfast or lunch and then take the pill. No nausea! Works every time, I promise!!!
  • islandjumper
    islandjumper Posts: 369 Member
    Thanks for all your comments, at least I know I'm not alone. I do my best to get everything from food, but I worry about b12 and iron (i'm vegetarian) so I just got a b-complex yesterday I'll try out instead.
    The multi I tried taking recently does have iron in it.
    I always take it with food, after I finish my breakfast...doesn't help.
  • katydid25
    katydid25 Posts: 199 Member
    Why is testing important? How will that affect you? Or point to the quality?
    [/quote]

    The main reason it is important is because it ensures you're getting what is on the label, nothing more and nothing less. Then you know you're getting what you expect to be and not just a bunch of fillers. I've also heard stories of people buying a Calcium + Vitamin D supplement that had WAY more Vitamin D than the label claimed, which resulted in a build of a Vitamin D to almost toxic levels.

    Another reason is to be sure the raw ingredients used aren't from potentially harmful sources. For example, the gelatin used in most capsule coatings comes from either beef or pork. The testing will make sure the gelatin from beef isn't infected with mad cow disease. There is also the problem with high mercury levels in fish oils. Testing the products along the proper guidelines prevents things that like from making its way into your body and building up.
  • rubysphoto
    rubysphoto Posts: 254 Member
    I agree. I have done my research on what I take and my sister in law a nurse practitioner that referred me to these supplements has spoken with with the scientist that is behind creating the supplements. My 9 year old takes supplements to help with his ADHD and is now off his meds, trust me before he took it I looked in to it.

    Very good info for those that just buy something and put in their mouth because it is suppose to be good for you.
  • HBinOC
    HBinOC Posts: 78 Member
    I always take my multi's at lunch - stash them in my desk drawer- that way I usually have some more food in my system and not drinking coffee with them - or shortly after.
  • kelleygi
    kelleygi Posts: 583 Member
    bump! Want to read up on later!
  • RubyDarling
    RubyDarling Posts: 171 Member
    Definitely take them with food - I don't take a multi, but I take many separate supplements (naturopath prescribed). I then follow with a cup of peppermint tea.

    I thought my naturopath was joking that waiting too long after eating would equal throwing up... how wrong I was! Zinc is the queasy culprit for me.
  • thefuzz1290
    thefuzz1290 Posts: 777 Member
    The only time I've puked is when I took an Animal Pack (has like 5-6 pills) on an empty stomach...boy did I learn my lesson lol.

    If you're pee starts glowing a neon yellow, your multi-vitamin is too strong.
  • sweet110
    sweet110 Posts: 332 Member
    The short answer: experiment. Who knows why something makes any one person nauseous? There certainly are differences in how vitamins are made, but even a perfect quality vitamin will make a few people ill.

    In that vein, I would echo the folks who say maybe to supplement with a few things you think you might need, rather than a multivitamin. They do make "bundled" vitamins with 2 or 3 vitamins and minerals instead of trying to squeeze a dozen into one pill. Most of us don't need to supplement with multiple vitamins, but alot of us tend to be low in a few specific things (calcium, vitamin D, iron for menstruating women). If nothing else, it would make it easier to figure out if there is one vitamin or mineral that you have trouble tolerating.
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