Why Does Taking A Multivitamin Make Me Sick?
I get very severe cold-like symptoms that stop miraculously after I stop taking the vitamins. I’ve tried this on 5 separate occasions throughout the year and it’s the same each time.
I’ve taken Flinstone chewables without problems, but I’d really prefer an adult formula.
I’ve also tried Centrum because I heard it’s the best, but still no luck.
It’s not the vitamin c – I’ve taken that as a stand-alone supplement in higher doses without problems.
Any suggestions on what’s causing my problems?
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August 10 2009 11:13 pm | Multivitamin supplements
Laura T on 11 Aug 2009 at 5:13 am #
There are many theories on this (I’ve heard allot of them, I worked in a healthfood store for two+ years). Some of the common theories are:
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1. If you are taking them with a hot beverage (hot coffee or tea) the coating is being broken down too fast.
2.The zinc in the vitamin is making you nauseous, try a low or no zinc vitamin.
3.Try taking them at night after dinner or before you go to bed. (This one works really good for me)
You could also just have a sensitive tummy, there are numerous liquid multi-vitamins on the market as well as gummy-bear style vitamins too.
Also, remember to drink plenty of water during the day, I know it seems like common sense but you’d be surprised how many people would come in saying that the vitamins sat in their stomachs and made them sick, but then you ask them what their average water intake was (pure, non-flavored water) and you could see the bulb go on. Water is essential for everything our bodies do all the way down to the cellular level, if your body doesn’t have enough water to perform even the basic cell functions, it probably doesn’t have anywhere near the amount of water to support a healthy digestive/renal/anything else system.
Hope this helps, good luck!
soccer1 on 11 Aug 2009 at 7:48 am #
I am going through that same exact thing right now! I started taking a womens one a day on friday…then one saturday, and then one again yesterday. EVERYTIME I take any sort of mulitvitamins, I get a cold, or at least all the sympotoms. I dont understand it. I also dont have a problem taking flinstones, but I too would like to have something a bit higher on the vitamin scale. I want to take vitamins, but not if i get sick all the time…:(
Crazy cat lady >^ ^< on 11 Aug 2009 at 10:27 am #
It’s usually the iron in them try taking half at a time and have a full tummy… Half in the A.M and half mid noon
Matt on 11 Aug 2009 at 3:56 pm #
Do a iron level test?
My doctor told me I was showing too much iron in my blood, which was causing me some minor problems. He switched me to a vitamin without iron. (I guess men don’t need as much iron as women.) It seemed to work.
zuka327 on 11 Aug 2009 at 5:57 pm #
I’ve been taking vitamins since I was a kid. Only until recently did the vitamins start upsetting my stomach. I stopped taking them all and then after a couple months, starting introducing one at a time, hoping to find the one that made me sick. That failed, so I went to the Vitamin Shop they recommended a liquid multi vitamin. I’ve been taking that for a couple months and that’s been working for me ever since.
Anonymous on 11 Aug 2009 at 10:41 pm #
I think you might be allergic to something in the multi-vitamins. I have allergies and get cold symptoms as well, stuffy or runny nose, major congestion etc. You’d probably have to get tested to find out exactly what is causing the problem.
skatetwi on 12 Aug 2009 at 4:50 am #
That’s not good. Maybe you have some allergy. You should visit your doctor