What happens if you take 2 multivitamins

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Topics supplements news calcium. Sign up for our SELF Daily Wellness newsletter All the best health and wellness advice, tips, tricks, and intel, delivered to your inbox every day. Overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, tingly feeling in or around your mouth, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, severe headache, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine, pale skin, and easy bruising or bleeding.

You usually can get all the vitamins you need by eating a healthy, balanced diet. Some people with vitamin deficiencies or certain health problems may benefit from a multivitamin supplement. Most research studies have found limited evidence that multivitamins reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, cognitive decline, or early death.

Follow the dosing instructions on your product label carefully. Health Topics. Health Tools. Multivitamins Oral, Sublingual. Reviewed: December 10, Side Effects. Common side effects may include: upset stomach; headache; or unusual or unpleasant taste in your mouth. Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor.

Take your multivitamin with a full glass of water. You must chew the chewable tablet before you swallow it. Use multivitamins regularly to get the most benefit.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not freeze. If you think you or someone else may have overdosed on: Multivitamins Oral, Sublingual , call your doctor or the Poison Control center. If someone collapses or isn't breathing after taking Multivitamins Oral, Sublingual , call What to Expect You usually can get all the vitamins you need by eating a healthy, balanced diet. While rare, taking too much vitamin A, D, or E can lead to potentially harmful side effects 5.

Alternatively, taking high doses of non-synthetic vitamin K seems to be relatively harmless, which is why an upper intake level UL has not been set for this nutrient 6.

Water-soluble vitamins are readily excreted from the body, while fat-soluble vitamins can be stored in tissues. Fat-soluble vitamins are more likely to cause toxicity, although water-soluble vitamins can do so as well. When consumed naturally through foods, these nutrients are unlikely to cause harm, even when consumed in large amounts.

When taken in excess, some water-soluble vitamins can cause adverse effects, some of which can be dangerous. However, similarly to vitamin K, certain water-soluble vitamins have no observable toxicity and hence no set UL.

These vitamins include vitamin B1 thiamine , vitamin B2 riboflavin , vitamin B5 pantothenic acid , vitamin B7 biotin , and vitamin B12 cobalamin 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , Therefore, caution should be taken with all nutritional supplements. The following water-soluble vitamins have set ULs, as they can cause adverse side effects when taken in high doses:.

Note that these are side effects that healthy people may experience when taking large doses of these vitamins. Individuals with health conditions can experience even more serious reactions to taking too much of a vitamin. For example, though vitamin C is unlikely to cause toxicity in healthy people, it can lead to tissue damage and fatal heart abnormalities in those with hemochromatosis , an iron storage disorder Aside from vitamin K, which has a low potential for toxicity, the remaining three fat-soluble vitamins have a set UL due to their potential to cause harm at high doses.

Although vitamin K has a low potential for toxicity, it can interact with certain medications, such as warfarin and antibiotics 6. Both water- and fat-soluble vitamins can cause side effects when taken in high doses, with some causing more severe symptoms than others. For example, hypervitaminosis A can be caused by taking one large dose of over mg of vitamin A, or chronic use of more than 10 times the recommended daily intake Vitamin A toxicity may lead to serious complications, such as increased spinal fluid pressure, coma, and potentially fatal organ damage Additionally, taking megadoses of vitamin D — more than 50, IU daily — over long periods can lead to high blood levels of calcium hypercalcemia , which can lead to death Overdosing on other vitamins can likewise cause potentially fatal side effects, such as liver damage.

A case report found that taking very high doses of over 5 grams of extended-release niacin can lead to metabolic acidosis, a buildup of acid in body fluids, as well as acute liver failure — both of which can be fatal Keep in mind that these potentially deadly side effects are associated with taking exceptionally high doses of vitamins.

Even so, caution should always be taken when consuming any dietary supplement. The best way to get the nutrients you need is by consuming a well-rounded diet.