Multiple vitamin overdose (2024)

FAQs

Can you overdose from taking too many vitamins? ›

Any ingredient in a multiple vitamin supplement can be toxic in large amounts, but the most serious risk comes from iron or calcium. Additional risks are associated with large or toxic doses of calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin A.

You May Experience Digestive Upset

"Signs that you may be taking too many vitamins at once include digestive issues such as nausea, vomiting or diarrhea," says Whitney Prude, Pharm.

But fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, can build up to levels that cause symptoms when taken at high doses over long periods of time, or if an underlying health condition or a drug interaction affects how your body is using them. In rare cases, the toxicity may be life-threatening.

“Symptoms of an overdose are stomach upset, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, flushing, change in urine or stool color, serious headache, dizziness, muscle pain,” Udabor says, adding that some people can even experience liver failure and coma from a vitamin overdose.

Fat-soluble vitamins: A, D, E, and K —are stored in the body for long periods of time, and pose a greater risk for toxicity than water-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins are only needed in small amounts. The fat soluble vitamins D and A.

Yes, by ensuring you consume plenty of water. This will encourage urination, allowing your body to shed the excess vitamin D and calcium more quickly. Prescription diuretics like furosemide can also be helpful. A diuretic is a medicine that increases fluid loss.

It's tempting to take more than the recommended dose of vitamins when they taste like candy. But you need to be careful because it is possible to overdose on specific vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E and K. Too much iron and zinc can also cause side effects, such as diarrhea, stomach pain and vomiting.

Combining too many supplements or taking more than the recommended dosage can increase the risk of overdose. Keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration does not have to test supplements for efficacy or safety before they hit the market. Always consult a healthcare provider before taking a new supplement.

Do vitamins really cause weight gain? In a word, no. Vitamins cannot directly increase your weight, as they hardly have any calories. On the other hand, a lack of vitamins—vitamin deficiencies—may lead to adverse weight effects.

In most patients who discontinue the source of excess vitamin A, toxicity symptoms gradually reverse, and complete recovery is expected. Symptoms such as dry skin, headache, and nausea typically improve within a few weeks or months with no long-term complications. However, severe cases can have serious consequences.

What does vitamin toxicity look like in the body? ›

Nonspecific symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash, are common with any acute or chronic vitamin overdose. Vitamin-related symptoms may be secondary to those associated with additives (eg, mannitol), colorings, or binders; these symptoms usually are not severe.

Conclusion: Among the given options, vitamin D has the highest potential for toxicity when consumed in excessive amounts. It is important to follow recommended dosage guidelines to avoid any adverse effects.

It is not recommended to eat gummy bears every day because they are high in sugar and calories. Eating too much of them can cause gaining weight, tooth decay and other health problems.

If you or your child has eaten too many gummy vitamins, you should call Poison Control immediately. But it's unlikely you'll need emergency aid if you eat too many gummy vitamins. Eating too many gummy vitamins may cause diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, or headaches.

“You should seek medical attention if you have taken mega doses of vitamins — whether that's early on or if you have been taking them for several months and experience seizures, changes in mood, including irritability or confusion, increase in headaches or fatigue, or onset of GI [gastrointestinal] symptoms like ...

This isn't immediate cause for alarm. If you accidentally take two of your multivitamin in the same day, don't panic—you should still be fine. This is more about consistently taking too much of a supplement, even if it's something like calcium that you know is key for your health.

Getting too much preformed vitamin A (usually from supplements or certain medicines) can cause severe headache, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, muscle aches, and problems with coordination. In severe cases, getting too much preformed vitamin A can even lead to coma and death.

Taking 60,000 international units (IU) a day of vitamin D for several months has been shown to cause toxicity. This level is many times higher than the U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for most adults of 600 IU of vitamin D a day.