How safe are vitamins,I have heard Niacin can be dangerous,or people can have a reaction to it?

Question

I would like to start stress vitamins because of my anxiety,but Im worried about the niacin,I have heard people can be allgeic to it. And does anyone have any ideas for IBS,AND ACID REFLUX? I SEEEM TO HAVE A VERY SWOLLEN ADOMAN,SORRY I KNOW ITS SPELLED WRONG

Answer 1

firstly ...I haven't heard anything about Niacin being dangerous (if taken in correct dosages), but it does tend to cause facial flushing - which freaks some people out. Usually just a lowering of the dose and drinking plenty of water helps with that.

On to the other things...IBS: lots of things can help...are you prone to constipation or diarrhea (most people are one or the other)..Fiber therapy helps with both and can be taken daily...just be sure to drink plenty of water or you'll end up bloated and constipated. There's other drugs available by prescription - talk to your doctor about them..if they don't feel meds are right for you, I've found that stress tends to make it worse, as does eating certain foods or eating at certain times of day (for me, I have to avoid eating early in the morning or late at night - and sugary or fatty foods seem to be a trigger). The abdominal distention is somewhat a normal side effect of IBS, but talk to your doc about that to rule out any other causes.

Acid reflux can also be treated with medications..if it's a daily thing, you'd probably do well to try Prilosec (which is now over the counter)...or if that's too costly, try Pepsid or Zantac - all of which treat acid at it's source and actually can prevent heartburn, instead of treating it once it's happened (as tums does).
There are also prescription meds available for that if the reflux is severe (ask your doc about it). Other things that help - eating no more than an hour or two before lying down to go to bed, elevating the head of the bed as you sleep, avoiding spicy or hot foods that can make it worse.

Answer 2

Mostly vitamins are healthy in moderate amounts. Some actually can interact with medications, and some people with certain types of cancer are warned against certain vitamins, such as "E". Niacin is best taken with food. A reaction to niacin would involve flushing and feeling hot, however it goes away quickly, and food will prevent the reaction.
Acid reflux can be serious enough to see a doctor if it's ban enough. Good Luck.

Answer 3

Vitamins or minerals can be dangerous in large doses. Usually the amount you find in vitamin pills is fairly safe, just don't overdo with other supplements. My mother's husband was seeing an alternative doctor and taking about 15 different herbal supplements recommended by this doctor. Finally, he decided to go to a real doctor and found that his heart problem was due to mixing these supplements. He got off the supplements and started to feel better, but had to have surgery as the damage was too much at that point. Just because they are 'natural' or 'organic' does not mean they are safe to take.

Talk to your doctor about your stress. Stress isn't something that is 'cured' by vitamins, it is something 'cured' by taking out the factors in your life that cause you stress or learning ways to cope with it.

Eat a well balanced diet - you can get all the vitamins and minerals you need from any well-balanced meal. Your body absorbs and utilizes them better if they are from natural sources.

Take time for yourself - reading a book, soaking in a hot bath, going for quiet walks, doing a puzzle.

Get more exercise - just a simple walk when you start feeling anxious can help calm you as it release endorphins that make you feel good.

Answer 4

You can take too much niacin. The amount of niacin in a multivitamin is OK. The signs of too much niacin include flushed skin, feeling hot and nervous, maybe a rash.

lf that happens, just seek a vitamin with a lower dosage of niacin.

Answer 5

You REALLY need to see your physician. IBS can cause distension of the abdomen, but so could other, more ominous things. Just be careful with Naicin-talk to yout Dr. about it. It can cause flushing or passing out.

Answer 6

See a doctor immeadiatly, especially if you have a swollen abdomen. It can be life threating if not treated properly.