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?

Quick Answer

Yes, a multivitamin could contribute to anxiety, restlessness or panic-like symptoms in some people, depending on its ingredients, doses and individual response.

Potential contributors may include higher-dose B vitamins, stimulating herbs or other ingredients, while interactions with medications and other supplements should also be considered. If symptoms repeatedly appear after starting a particular multivitamin and improve after stopping it, reviewing the complete ingredient list is a meaningful place to begin. This pattern does not necessarily indicate an allergy.

Answer (updated September 2026)

First of all, it’s important to remember that each of us is biochemically unique and therefore our nutritional needs can be different.

Many people take multivitamins as nutritional insurance or because they feel their diet may not currently provide everything they need. However, a multivitamin can contain dozens of nutrients and other ingredients in a single tablet or capsule. The more ingredients contained in one formula, the more difficult it can become to identify which one may be responsible if you don’t feel well after taking it.

Nutritional requirements can also vary according to diet, age, health, medications, digestion, lifestyle and many other factors. This is why I prefer to ask a different question before automatically recommending a multivitamin: What does this particular person actually need?

A supplement is most useful when there is a reason for taking it, rather than simply because it contains a long list of nutrients.

Could B vitamins make you feel anxious or overstimulated?

This is one of the first areas I would examine on the label. B vitamins play important roles in energy metabolism and nervous system function, and some multivitamins contain amounts considerably higher than the recommended daily intake.

Some people may feel unusually stimulated, restless or uncomfortable when taking particular higher-dose B-complex formulations. This does not mean that B vitamins are inherently harmful or that everyone experiencing anxiety should avoid them. It means that dose, formulation and individual response matter.

If symptoms consistently appear after taking a particular product, rather than guessing which nutrient is responsible, review the exact ingredients and amounts with a suitably qualified health practitioner.

What about minerals?

Minerals deserve the same consideration as they are quite often included in multivitamin preparations. Our bodies require minerals such as selenium, copper and manganese, but more is not necessarily better. Nutrients that are essential in appropriate amounts can cause adverse effects when intake becomes excessive.

This becomes particularly relevant when supplements are added on top of an already nutrient-rich diet or when several supplements containing the same nutrients are taken together.

Practitioner Insight

I learned this lesson personally with selenium.

Brazil nuts can be naturally very rich in selenium, and I was eating them regularly while also obtaining selenium from other sources. Testing showed that my selenium level had become too high. It was a useful reminder that applies to nutritional medicine generally:

More is not always better.

The aim is not to consume the greatest possible quantity of nutrients. It is to obtain an appropriate amount for your individual needs.

Look beyond the vitamins and minerals

The vitamins listed on the front of the bottle are not necessarily the only ingredients worth investigating. Some multivitamin and “energy” formulations also contain herbs or other stimulating ingredients. These may include:

  • Panax ginseng
  • Guarana
  • Kola nut
  • Caffeine or caffeine-containing extracts
  • Licorice root

Depending on the person, the amount and the formulation, stimulating ingredients may contribute to symptoms such as restlessness, difficulty sleeping, palpitations or feeling unusually “wired”. This is particularly worth checking if the product is marketed for energy, vitality, stress or performance, rather than being a straightforward vitamin and mineral formula.

Supplements and medications can interact

Another important consideration is medication. Vitamins, minerals and herbal medicines are biologically active substances, and some can interact with prescription or over-the-counter medications. St John’s wort is a good example. It has important interactions with a number of medications, including some antidepressants, oral contraceptives and warfarin.

Importantly, simply taking a supplement and medication a few hours apart does not prevent every type of interaction. If you take medication regularly, particularly if a supplement contains herbs as well as vitamins and minerals, it is worth having the complete formula checked for potential interactions by an appropriately qualified practitioner or pharmacist.

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.

Could fillers or other ingredients be responsible?

Possibly. Apart from their active vitamins, minerals and herbs, supplements can contain other ingredients used in manufacturing, flavouring, colouring, coating or sweetening the product. Most people tolerate these ingredients without difficulty, but individual sensitivities can occur.

This is another reason to look at the entire ingredient list, rather than assuming the reaction must have been caused by one of the vitamins. However, I would be cautious about automatically blaming additives. The first task is to look systematically at everything contained in the product and consider the timing of the symptoms.

Do you need a multivitamin in the first place?

This is perhaps the more useful question. A multivitamin can be helpful in some circumstances, but it should not automatically replace a nutritious, varied diet. Food provides far more than isolated often synthetic vitamins and minerals. Whole foods provide protein, healthy fats, fibre, phytonutrients and numerous compounds that work together within the body.

If your diet already provides good amounts of particular nutrients, adding substantial amounts through supplements may be unnecessary. Conversely, if there is a genuine nutritional deficiency, increased requirement, restricted diet or health issue affecting nutritional status, targeted supplementation may be much more useful than simply choosing a product containing dozens of ingredients.

This is where an individual nutritional assessment can help us connect the dots between diet, symptoms, lifestyle, medications, health history and actual nutritional needs.

Explore more nutrition articles and guides in the Nutrition Hub →

Are food-based multivitamins better?

Not necessarily. Some people prefer food-derived or simpler supplement formulations and may find particular products easier to tolerate. However, words such as “natural”, “organic” or “food-based” do not automatically mean that a supplement is safer, better absorbed or more appropriate for you.

Quality matters. Dose matters. Formulation matters. And most importantly, whether you actually need the ingredients matters.

The same principle applies to natural products such as bee pollen. Bee pollen contains valuable naturally occurring nutrients and other bioactive compounds, but it is not appropriate for everyone and can cause allergic reactions in susceptible people. Therefore, natural does not automatically mean risk-free.

So, what would I do next?

Given the pattern you have described, I would not simply buy another multivitamin and hope for a different result. Instead:

  1. Keep the labels or ingredient lists from the products that caused symptoms, if you still have them.
  2. Compare the two formulas. Look for ingredients they have in common, particularly higher-dose B vitamins, minerals and stimulating herbs or extracts.
  3. Review everything else you were taking at the time, including medications, individual supplements, herbal products and energy products.
  4. Consider whether you actually need a multivitamin. A dietary and nutritional assessment may identify more specific priorities.
  5. Seek professional advice before experimenting further, particularly if the previous reactions were severe or involved genuine panic attacks.

If symptoms such as anxiety or panic attacks are new, severe, persistent or occur independently of supplement use, they also deserve appropriate medical assessment rather than assuming the multivitamin is the only possible cause.

What about allergy testing?

Based on the symptoms you’ve described, allergy testing would not usually be my first place to begin. Anxiety and panic-like symptoms alone do not necessarily indicate an allergic reaction. Reviewing the ingredients, doses, timing and possible interactions is likely to provide more useful information initially.

If you also experienced symptoms suggestive of an allergic reaction, such as hives, swelling, wheezing or difficulty breathing, that is a different situation and requires appropriate medical assessment. Difficulty breathing or a severe allergic reaction requires urgent medical attention.

Key Takeaway

A multivitamin is not one treatment. It is a collection of many biologically active ingredients. If you react badly to one, the useful question is not simply: “Are multivitamins bad for me?”

A better question is: “What was in this product, what did I actually need, and what might my body have been responding to?”

That little bit of discernment can make supplement use considerably safer and more useful. Overall, I recommend consulting a qualified health professional as to which supplement may be most appropriate for you at present.

Continue Exploring

For more evidence-informed information about food, nutrients and healthy eating, visit the Naturimedica Nutrition Hub.

You may also find these resources helpful:

If you would like individual help reviewing your diet, supplements, medications and health priorities, learn more about Online Naturopathic Consultations Australia. Naturimedica consultations are available online Australia-wide.

Best of Health
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Joanna Sochan
Wholistic Health and Lifestyle Therapist
Integrative health support combining clinical evidence, systems-based thinking and traditional naturopathic wisdom for lasting health and wellbeing 

Additional Resources

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen, particularly if you are taking prescription or over-the-counter medications or have a medical condition.

Joanna Sochan is a Wholistic Natural Therapist and founder of Naturimedica Wholistic Wellcare. She has over 15 years of clinical experience working with complex health presentations, with a focus on gut health, food sensitivities, women’s hormone health (including perimenopause and menopause), metabolic health, weight regulation, and senior health. She works with clients Australia-wide and online, and also develops therapeutic programs, eCourses, and educational resources designed to support long-term, sustainable wellbeing. View full bio.