Having a Weird side effect from taking Multi-Vitamin?

Question

I have been taking this GNC Mega Men multi-vitamin now for the past week or so and seem to be having this strange side effect...I have been waking up in the middle of the night to find that Hands,Feet and genital area seems to be going numb and i also have a pins and needles feeling in them....Sounds strange huh??..I thought these where supposed to be the best multi-vitamin for men but i hate these side effects..They scare me a bit..Am i hurting my body by taking this???..Here is the link please read the supplement facts...http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2133771&cp&sr=1&origkw=mega+men&kw=mega+men&parentPage=search

Im not taking any other medications..
The reason that i take these is becuase i dont eat fruits and vegetables as much as i should.

Answer 1

I agree with Patricia you may have something going on that has nothing to do with vitamins. Mega doses of anything is never good. First of all most vitamins on the market today are nothing more than a gimmick to get your money. If the vitamin won't dissolve in water I wouldn't take it. (* I know the stomach is filled with acid but we don't want it to produce more acid to try to digest the vitamin). Vitamins are absorbed in the colon and should be able to make it there. Vegetable varnishes and shellacs are typically used on vitamins and most of the time they come out looking the same way they went in totally unused and undigested. After working years in the health food industry I can only recommend one vitamin Nature's Plus "Source-of -Life" vitamin. This vitamins is composed mostly of whole foods and therefor is absorbed like a food. Supplementation for most Americans is necessary due to the amount of processed foods and food additives we consume. Also, the farming lands have so depleted the natural vitamins in the soil that you would have to eat almost a bushel of veggies a day just to get even the RDA, recommended daily allowance (the bare essential amount of vitamins and minerals needed to sustain life) of nutrients you need each day. The Standard American Diet is making us one sick nation, supplementation is more a necessity these days than an option. Moderation not MEGA is the key.

Answer 2

If I were experiencing what you describe I would first think sciatica - some damage to the nerve in the tailbone. If you are not experiencing the tingling at any other time except when in bed, I would feel pretty confident saying it is NOT a food allergy.

Just to be sure, lay off the vitamins for a week. If your symptoms don't seem to subside, get your back checked out. There is some possibility that something you were lacking in your diet and are now obtaining from the supplement has caused you to sleep more deeply. If you don't move around a bit at night, 8 hours in one position might increase strain on your slightly imperfect spinal alignment.

I did not see anything in the multi that is extreme enough to cause this reaction except in a person who is allergic to some of the ingredients, such as soy, grapefruit, etc.

Answer 3

Are you taking any other supplements? If so, you may be getting excessive amounts of B-complex vitamins. This is from the label:Thiamin (Vitamin B-1)(as Thiamin Mononitrate) 50.00 mg 3333% ;Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2) 50.00 mg 2941% ;Niacin 50.00 mg 250% ; Vitamin B-6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride) 50.00 mg 2500% ;Folic Acid 400.00 mcg 100%.;Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin) 50.00 mcg 833% ;Biotin 300.00 mcg 100%;Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium d-Pantothenate) 50.00 mg 500%. This is name, amount and daily requirement. You can see the DR's are very high for some of these.

B vitamins are water soluble and usually harmless, but very high doses can cause neurological symptoms. Whatever the reason, something is going on and you need to be seen by a doctor ASAP. It might be something more serious than the wrong vitamins. Be certain to tell the doc everything you take, food supplement, vitamin or whatever. Best of all take all the containers to the doctor's appointment with you.

Answer 4

How many are you taking? There should not be any side effects at moderate doses; although there is a lot of B-vitamins in these. The only thing I can think is a niacin reaction, or an interaction with something else you are taking- any medications? Long-term, massive B6 can cause some strange neurologic side effects due to damage to the proprioceptors (basically- the internal sensors that give you your sense of movement and position...), but this would require a huge amount over a long period.
BTW, Are you on anti-depressants?

Answer 5

I'm not sure how you've evaluated that the vitamins are the cause, but stop taking them just the same.

Also, like most vitamins, these are largely made from synthetic chemicals derived for coal tar, and petroleum chemicals. The only multivitamin you should even take should be made from whole food sources.

The FDA directed that certain dietary supplements be added to our staple foods in 1915 because it has been identified that we are challenged to get enough micronutrient support from food alone for over 100 years.

The AMA, through the Journal of the American Medical Association, stated that all people should take a basic dietary supplement because all data clearly shows we do not get enough nutrition from diet alone.

Those who say you can get enough nutrition from a "normal diet" have no data to back that up.

Your choice to take a dietary supplement is a good one, but I would suggest you seek out something better.

Answer 6

the ingredients in this supplement are a mixture of synthetic vitamins and isolates.mostly it's like trying to eat a synthetic orange and expecting real nutrition from that synthetic orange.go to www.4health411.com ,click on the 10 secrets prompt to learn all about real whole food vitamins that your body can actually use without side effects.

Answer 7

Gnc Multivitamin Review

Answer 8

Stop taking these vitamins right away and report the side effects to GNC, then see your doctor about the side effects. Don't delay. Megavitamins mean that you're getting far more vitamins than you actually need. Your body will react to this in sometimes unwanted ways. Do not take "mega" anything. You could be harming yourself. It should be noted that these "mega" products have not been tested by the FDA and are largely unregulated.

Answer 9

I just started these vitamins also + an aditional B complex. I havent noticed any thing bad see your doc

Answer 10

Multi-vitamins are for the most part a waste of money (if you're getting all the vitamins you need from food there's no point getting extra).

You really shouldn't be taking them (there's a reason for the disclaimer they have on their web page) because they're probably not actually doing anything to you.

There might be something else going on though so you should really see a doctor although it probably is just an overdose on Vitamins.

Mega-Vitamins are just another form of quackery anyway.