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What Are The Repercussions Of Overdose Of Herbal And Multivitamin Supplements?

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Posted on Tue, 13 Dec 2016
Question: Wanting to check as I take a few different supplements and if this matters or could if cause a problem?

Catalase - 5000 iu Copper - 1 mg Zinc oxide - 10 mg Saw Palmetto - 300 mg Vitamin B-6 - 10 mg Horsetail - 100 mg Plant Sterols - 100 mg Folic Acid - 400 mcg Para-Aminobenzoic Acid - 200 mg Chlorophyll - 20 mg Biotin - 300 mcg L-Tyrosine - 200 mg Fo Ti - 20 mg Pantothenic Acid - 300 mg Nettle Root Extract - 100 mg Barley Grass - 20 mg
These are the ingredients in one of the muti Vit

The other muti vit ingredients are:-
Betacarotene 350mcg, thiamine hydrochloride (vitamin B1) 7.5mg, riboflavin (vitamin B2) 7.5mg, nicotinamide 22.5mg, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) 7.5mg (as calcium pantothenate 8.2mg), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) 7.5mg, cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) 22.5mcg, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) 75mg, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3 100IU) 2.5mcg, d-alpha-Tocopheryl acid succinate (vitamin E 4.2IU) 3.5mg, biotin (vitamin H) 25mcg, phytomenadione (vitamin K1) 15mcg, folic acid (folate) 250mcg, calcium from (carbonate, citrate, amino acid chelate, gluconate) 125mg, chromium from chromium picolinate 25mcg, copper from cupric sulfate pentahydrate 233mcg, boron from borax 1.5mg, iron from iron amino acid chelate 4.5mg, iodine from potassium iodide 75mcg, magnesium from (oxide [heavy], oxide, amino acid chelate, citrate) 50mg, manganese from manganese amino acid chelate 2.5mg, molybdenum from molybdenum trioxide 12.3mcg, selenium from selenomethionine 30mcg, zinc from zinc amino acid chelate 2.5mg, oligofructose 200mg. Also contains tabletting aids. No artificial colours or flavours. Gluten free. Lactose free. Suitable for vegetarians.

another medication I was wanting to try is Coenzyme Q10 but was concerned as I am already on these other supplements and a bit worried about the interaction of the whole thing.

The other one is St. John's wort to help support mood through several neurochemical systems in the brain.
Ginkgo Biloba alters neurotransmitters as well as offering neuroprotection to support both mood and memory.

I think now you have the whole picture of what I am taking and please could you confirm if all should be ok. thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Too many supplements

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for posting your query for HealthcareMagic.

I am Dr Vaishalee (MD Pharmacology) and I will try to help you as best as I can.

All these are either Nutritional or herbal supplements or their derivatives. Alongwith you are taking multivitamins that also have supplements. You are taking too many of them. All these supplements should be taken only if you are suffering from any medical condition like dementia, high cholesterol, etc. Otherwise you may suffer from their side effects unnecessarily.

So please let me know why you are taking all these supplements. Then only I will be better able to help you.
In a normal person there is no need to take all these.

Waiting for your reply.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (7 hours later)
I will list each one and the reason for taking it:-
1. EPO - I have been taking it since my mid 20's the reason was I had bad skin and wanted to get off the antibiotics I was on also I found they help me with PMS.
2. Vitamin D was recommended by my doctor as I showed up being osteopean ie very early stage of osteoporosis.
3. Cod Liver Oil my sister suggested I take afford winter flue and colds
4. Vitality Which is the second list of ingredients I listed I started to take about 2 years ago as I was feeling very over done and going through menopause and had a major upset in my live.
5. Luminex which is st Johns wart and Ginkgo Bilob, I start to take about 2 years ago as some family members said I was depressed.
6. Getaway Grey I started taking about 2 years ago as my Hair had gone very thin and bold patch at the back and saw it advertised and hoped it might help which I do think it has.....The list of this ingredient is the first one shorter list.
7. 30 Idaprex 2mg for blood pressure doctors orders...around 2 years ago..
I think that is everything listed and hope that helps and would be glad of advise. Thank you..

I think that is everything list and the reasons why if you could
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
EPO, Vitamin D and Idaprex ok

Detailed Answer:
Hi
I have gone through the details.

From the medicines listed, You can take EPO, Vitamin D and Idaprex.

EPO has become part of your system, since you are taking it from a long time. So I suggest that you can continue it and can lower the dose if PMS symptoms are over.

Vitamin D can be taken, but keep a check on blood vitamin D levels. Since its a fat soluble vitamin, excess of it can cause side effects.

Idaprex is a prescription medicine and needed to control blood pressure.

You can discontinue cod liver oil, vitality, luminex, getaway grey, and any other multivitamin that you may be taking. These are not really needed and can have side effects. There is no need to start coenzyme Q10 as well.

Better (and safer) method to regain energy and restore health is to drink cleaner water from reverse osmosis technique and to do some yoga and meditation. This will help with skin problems as well.

Hope it helps. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (16 hours later)
Thank you, would it be best to reduced the supplements slowly not just all at once?
Also could you give me some idea what sort of side effects might be?

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Many Thanks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Mostly gut symptoms are side effects

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

If you are drinking cleaner water, then you can go off the supplements right away.

Whenever you go off these, you will experience exacerbation of skin issues and gut issues, irritability etc for 2-3 weeks. After that a balance is achieved between your immunity and these conditions, health is restored. So dont worry.

Side effects from most of these are gastrointestinal..that is shared by most of these. Cod liver oil causes a temporary feeling of well being, but causes low immunity, bleeding tendency, diarhea on use.
Gingko biloba can cause nausea, headache, stomach upset, dirhea, allergy, anxiety, insomnia.
Photo sensitivity is main side effect of St Johns wort. Mania like symptoms also seen.
So you are taking many of the supplements. These are not well researched, but can cause many known and unknown side effects. So be careful.

Hope it helps.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (35 hours later)
Thanks, One thing which I think I should mention is that I had a craving for marmite which has a lot of B vitimins in and then one I started on the multi vitamin I notice this wore off!! So my question is could I be lacking in B Vitamins?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (24 hours later)
Brief Answer:
B-vitamin deficiency can be tested

Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Sorry for the late reply as I busy with other professional obligations.

It is possible that you maybe deficient in B vitamins. But craving for one particular extract does not prove it. Blood tests can be done to find deficiency of some B complex vitamins like Vitamin B12 and folic acid.

It is ok to take vitamin B complex and c for prolonged time. These are water soluble, keep getting washed out and can often cause deficiency.
Vitamin A, D, E, K should not be taken if you are not deficient. These can cause toxicity because these are fat soluble and accumulate in body.

Dr Vaishaleee
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Vaishalee Punj

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 3269 Questions

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What Are The Repercussions Of Overdose Of Herbal And Multivitamin Supplements?

Brief Answer: Too many supplements Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for posting your query for HealthcareMagic. I am Dr Vaishalee (MD Pharmacology) and I will try to help you as best as I can. All these are either Nutritional or herbal supplements or their derivatives. Alongwith you are taking multivitamins that also have supplements. You are taking too many of them. All these supplements should be taken only if you are suffering from any medical condition like dementia, high cholesterol, etc. Otherwise you may suffer from their side effects unnecessarily. So please let me know why you are taking all these supplements. Then only I will be better able to help you. In a normal person there is no need to take all these. Waiting for your reply. Dr Vaishalee