Question:
I have had two experiences in the past 3 years where I have taken multivitamins to boost my wellbeing at the time, and then about a week into taking them started to have very out of character anxiety levels and panic attacks. I correlate these attacks to the use of the multivitamins because both times I forgot to take the capsules for a week and suddenly the symptoms stopped. Is there something specific in the multivitamin I could be reacting to or would I need to do an allergy test?
Answer:
First of all we need to remember that each of us is biochemically unique and thus has different nutritional needs requiring individual assessments. Most people take multivitamins to attempt to get key nutrients their diet may not provide at present.
As such, many multivitamins only provide the recommended daily intake of key vitamins and minerals (or close to it). The nutrient amounts are generally at low levels to ‘safely’ cover the general population needs.
That means that amounts of nutrients per pill are usually low and thus safe for the majority of the healthy population. Unfortunately, the more ingredients are present in a single formula, the higher the chance of side effects and less results. Also, people with health issues and on multiple drugs likely have different requirements and need to be aware of potential drug interactions with synthetic minerals or vitamins present.
To overcome this, you need to find the formula that works for your particular health situation and lifestyle. Needless to say, this is not an easy task with so many different brands of vitamins/ minerals to choose from these days! Getting sound advice on an optimal formula for you is well worth considering.
It is well known that deficiencies or excess amounts of certain vitamins and minerals can cause symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks. Most vitamins and minerals are harmless and if you get more than you need, the extra just gets excreted, mainly via urine.
However, there are some minerals such as copper, manganese and selenium (to name a few) that are stimulatory in excess and can cause neurological symptoms (again excess levels are different for each person).
B-complex vitamins are also stimulating and may cause anxiety and even panic attacks in some people taking higher doses. Particularly people who have gene mutations of the MTHFR genes need to seek advice on which form of B vitamins (activated or otherwise) are suitable for them, as they can experience more side effects than others. Again, I suggest to seek advice of a knowledgeable practitioner before proceeding.
In addition, certain herbs such as Panax ginseng, guarana, licorice root or cola nut are stimulatory and can cause similar symptoms. These types of natural medicines can also disrupt sleep if taken in excess or close to bedtime.
Importantly, some medications may interact with multivitamins, especially the ones also containing herbs added without a herbalist’s input and assessment (these mixes are becoming more common now). This can be problematic and lead to various symptoms which can be hard to associate with a supplement and thus correct.
For example St John’s wort herb should not be taken together with antidepressants, oral contraceptives and warfarin, to name a few.
However, most people generally are not aware of these interactions and they buy OTC (over the counter) supplements that not are suitable for them and therefore may experience adverse effects. It’s worth noting that separating doses of medications and vitamins by at least 2-3 hours may resolve this in some cases. Again, talk to a practitioner who can help you with this.
Generally, if your diet already provides enough of required nutrients (unlikely but possible with well-planned, organic diets!), taking more of them every day in a synthetic multivitamin could lead to problems.
For example if you like Brazil nuts and eat them regularly (around 3-4 nuts 3-5 days per week) you are likely to have good selenium levels and supplementing additional selenium could lead to developing toxic levels.
Importantly, multivitamins also contain fillers and binders that allow the manufacturer to shape it into a pill and to improve taste. Some of the fillers are problematic excitotoxins such as artificial sweeteners. Excitotoxins are substances added to foods and beverages that overstimulate neurons in the brain which can cause anxiety and even brain imbalances in susceptive individuals.
Food-based, organic multis are much better options for many people replacing synthetic versions with natural extracts. But again, these options need to be carefully considered plus quality of ingredients is paramount!
For example, bee pollen is an excellent source of naturally occurring B vitamins, enzymes, minerals and proteins. Many people who take bee pollen report increased energy and improved brain function and memory. Before considering taking bee pollen please make sure you’re not sensitive to bee products! Find out about the impressive benefits of bee pollen in my post.
In summary, choosing the right multivitamin to get the benefits and avoid the pitfalls is really important. I recommend you consult a knowledgeable practitioner who understands your needs and will guide you through the multivitamin maze!
Feel free to make an appointment if you’d like to review your current supplements and replace them with natural, food based options, where possible.
Good health and blessings
Joanna Sochan
Wholistic Health and Lifestyle Therapist
Natural and Lifestyle Therapies for Abundant Health and Wellbeing
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Disclaimer: The above material is for informational and/or educational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose and it is not a substitute for a medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescription or recommendation. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should not make any changes in their health regimen or diet before first consulting a doctor or other qualified health provider with any questions they may have regarding a medical condition or their particular circumstances.
Joanna Sochan is a Natural Therapist and founder of Naturimedica Holistic Wellcare. She has a passion for helping clients transform their lives by becoming healthy and well naturally. Joanna has 12+ years experience in clinical practice and has special interest in solving complex cases, gut health, food sensitivities, hormone imbalances, autoimmune disorders and weight loss. She helps clients individually (mostly online) Australia-wide and also offers online therapeutic programs, eCourses and self-help books. View full bio.
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It is most likely one or two of the the different vitamins in the group b8 can cause mania some people also beta alanine. We should make a list of all anxiety causing vitamins.
Hi, this was very reassuring to read! I know this is a older thread but I am hoping somebody may be able to relate to this. I started taking a iron supplement with activated folate and B vits in it last Wednesday and that afternoon had what I feel was a panic attack/fainting episode. I took it for 5 days and every day was waves of complete anxiety, panic and heart palpations (which really scared me).
I have absolutely no history of anxiety/panic/heart palpations and am a healthy 24 year old. I know correlation doesn’t always equal causation however the timing is really strange! I am going to stop taking them and see if it helps. Has anybody else heard of this before?
Thankyou :)
I noticed this too. Even on good brands like bioceuticals and fusion . I thought I’d be ok with fortified cereals but had a panic attack anxiety and crying after having 4 weetbix befor bed last night followed by special k this morning . Could even fortified cereals be doing this as well?? Thanks
Most definitely. Cereals contain synthetics vitamins and you can react to them in the same way as to multivitamins.
Wow 🤩 thank you.
What about dandelion tea, gives me horrible depression every single time. Is this possible?
Thanks ☺️
Hi Emma
I haven’t come across any cases of dandelion tea triggering depression, however, we are all different in how we react to foods depending on what’s happening in the body. If you get this reaction, stop drinking dandelion tea for a while and retest again in the future, if you are keen on drinking it.
Thanks Joanna ☺️ I tried it again and yep I can’t drink it. Maybe it could cause low blood sugar in me or something . I also had a fortified soy milk yesterday (vitasoy calci plus) and felt great all day but the had horrible nightmares that were like awake hallucinations of something trying to get me like a monster at the bed all night. Was so scarey. I’ve had this happen before on centrum multi for women and it feels so real even though I tell myself all night it’s not real.
You may be reacting to the chemicals and preservatives in foods which are known to affect many organs/ systems in the body, especially the nervous system. Most multis are chemical concoctions comprising synthetic nutrients trying to impersonate real nutrients found in foods. I suggest you look into a gentle gut and liver detox for a few months plus drinking plenty of water (35ml per kg of body weight on average – read my water drinking posts for guidance and tips) and removing caffeine as well. In short – find a cause(s) and you’ll have a good chance to address your challenges.
Hi there I took b12 oral supplement 500mcg for 12 days . It has caused severe insomnia and anxiety . How long will it take to go away ? Thanks
Hi there
Vitamin B12 is generally safe to take and 500mcg per day is not considered a high dose. The body removes access of vitamin B12 quite efficiently but it can be stored in the liver for a few years. Did you know your vitamin B12 levels (via blood test) before you started supplementing?
There are many factors that could be in play that need to be considered in your case which can’t be reviewed without more information. Here’s some good information about vitamin B12 for you to readhttps://b12vitaminstore.com/default/blog/post/can-you-overdose-on-vitamin-b12
Hope this helps
Joanna
I am too experiencing horrible side effects of multivitamin. It is devastating experience to have anxiety, restlessness, loneliness, loss of interest, brain fog, dizziness etc all of a sudden without having a reason. I am experiencing these side effects after consuming it for 6-7 days. After stopping consumption all symptoms are gone but still I am feeling little bit dizzy and difficulty in concentration. Please tell when would all symptoms get away.
Generally, the symptoms should resolve within 2-3 weeks.
I can attest that this also happened to me. I’m a male in my mid-30s, recently started taking multivitamins and noticing my anxiety going through the roof. I started to get dizzy randomly and then I would obsessively worry about what was happening to me which increase the cycle of my dizziness, anxiety, and panic attacks. I had several visits to my PCP and lab work and they determined overall, l’m healthy I should see a psychiatrist. I stopped taking my multivitamins and within 3 days I was back to Normal. The dizziness went away and my panic attacks/anxiety went away with it too.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I find it’s not uncommon. Multivitamins are one size fits all preparations, and if they’re synthetic and poor quality they can have many detrimental effects. Look for a food based, organic multis, there are good products on the market nowadays.
I can really tell you guy’s how refreshing it is to see how others have been through the same experience.i’m young healthy and very athletic, i have never experienced anxiety before till this week all because I started taking multivitamins, my sleeping patterns are really messed up, fear, uncertainty, I could not even trust my sleep anymore. The amazing part is just seeing other people have experienced it caused by multivitamins which caused a significant increase of relief, finding the root cause was my primary concern 😟.
Thank you for your comment.Quality of the ingredients play a huge role how/ if the multivitamin nutrients can be absorbed and utilised. Choose wisely!
I really want to take multivitamins especially during covid. Every single vitamin makes me jittery. Would I be able to find them in powder forms maybe in shakes? Not sure where to start.
Yes, it’s worth trying powder type in a form of a green powder with nutrients coming from food rather than synthetic vitamins. I’m not sure where you live but here’s an example of an Australian producthttps://www.amazonia.com/collections/supplements/products/raw-nutrients-womens-multi
I have PTSD and my doctor told me to take a B-complex vitamin because apparently people with chronic anxiety deplete our B vitamins very quickly. So I started taken Jamieson Brand “Stress-Ease” tablets. It says right on the bottle that it helps with stress. Well, an hour later I thought I was going to die. I had a horrific full-blown panic attack that lasted for about an hour, followed by sudden crushing exhaustion – I had to go to bed.Thank God I wasn’t driving! Never again.
My mother, on the other hand, takes the same B-Complex daily… she’s been taking them for YEARS… with no ill effects.
B vitamins are important for a number of body functions so finding the right supplement for you would be the aim here. It’s best to seek advice of a nutritionist or naturopath re the supplement you bought to look closely at the ingredients and then connect the dots with your symptoms. Vast majority of B vitamins on the market are synthetic which could a problem for some people. Brewers yeast are a good food source of B vitamins which work well for many people, so you may want to try them (staring with a low dose) and see if they work for you.
I woke up in the morning and i took zinc with vitamind and vitamin c i got jittery all day what shoul i do i am male 46 years old
Did you take it with food? Taking zinc on an empty stomach can cause side-effects. Also, the dose might’ve been too high for you on the day.
I recently started a multivitamin regimen and about a week in the horrible anxiety and panic set in. I was dumbfounded but not surprised since I have ptsd. I kept talking them for about another 5 days until one morning I forgot to take them and bam, no anxiety. My wife said I was reaching but low and behold I was right! … hopefully. Thank you for the informative article!
You’re welcome! Glad it was of use to you.
I have the same problem with multivitamins. I’ve tried several of them and have found that every one of them makes me nervous after taking them on a regular basis for several days.
Thank you for your comment Barbara! Additives and fillers could also cause symptoms so it’s well worth checking and comparing them as well.
I love your answer. Today i am testing my multivitamin because it seems like i have been getting nervous since I’ve been taking a multivitamin. Today i only took my 800mg of vitamin d which i need because my d levels go down because of my thyroid.
I am going to see how my anxieties are today and if they are down i am stopping the multivitamin and just sticking to vitamin d
I feel when i take the multivitamin that i am breathing fast feeling like i am going to pass out or just feeling the jitters.
I am prone to vitamin B causing me anxieties because i took a vitamin B my heart rate was racing like crazy.
I know now never to take a vitamin B
Hi Susan
You may consider trying food-based multis/ powders without any synthetic vitamins/ nutrients, when required. Also, I suggest you’ll do blood tests to check your vitamin and mineral status/ deficiencies including zinc, copper, selenium (especially for thyroid), iron, vit B12 & B6, folate. and vitamin D. (it sound you’ve already done it, good levels are between 120-150+) These would shed some light on what’s happening with your sensitivities.