Vitamin B complex side effects?

[Essexlil]

Hi,

I have Hashimotos under active thyroid, taking 75 mcg daily of levothyroxine. I decided to take Vitamin B supplements a few days ago, one twice a day. I started to feel very anxious and ‘hyped up’ and my heart felt strange, kind of racing and uneaten beat. I’ve stopped taking it now and it all seems to have stopped. I wasn’t tested for vitamin B deficiency - do these side effects mean I was overdosed? Anybody else had these symptoms?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

What brand were you taking?

[Essexlil in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi, Igennus Super B Complex full spectrum B vitamins & vitaminC

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Essexlil]

There have been a few members who haven't got on with Igennus Super B.

Although the suggested dose is 2 tablets, it's often best to start with one and see how you get on. So you could retstart with just one tablet and see if it's any better for you.

Other than that I was going to say it could be Niacin flush, symptoms of which can be:

•Severe skin flushing combined with dizziness

•Rapid heartbeat

•Itching

•Nausea and vomiting

•Abdominal pain

•Diarrhea

•Gout

However, B3 (Niacin) in Igennus is the nicotinamide form and that should be the non-flushing form of Niacin.

[Essexlil in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi, no haven’t got most of those symptoms. Thank you for your help - I’ll try just one tablet

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Essexlil]

Suggest starting with just half a tablet

Then increase to just single tablet immediately after breakfast

B complex can make you feel “wired” when first start supplementing

[Essexlil in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, yes ‘wired’ is a good description. Thank you I’ll try half a tablet - only problem is that I take my levothyroxine 30 mins/1hr before breakfast - is it ok to take the supplement so close to that?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Essexlil]

Levo needs to be an hour minimum before breakfast

And avoid calcium rich foods (like milk or yoghurt) within four hours of taking levothyroxine

NHS guidelines on Levothyroxine including that most patients eventually need somewhere between 100mcg and 200mcg Levothyroxine.

nhs.uk/medicines/levothyrox...

Is there any food or drink I need to avoid?

There are some foods and drinks that don't mix well with levothyroxine.

Drinks containing caffeine, like coffee, tea and some fizzy drinks, can reduce the amount of levothyroxine your body takes in. Leave at least 30 minutes after taking levothyroxine before you drink them.

Calcium-rich foods, such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and broccoli, can reduce the amount of levothyroxine your body takes in. Leave at least 4 hours between taking levothyroxine and eating calcium-rich foods.

Soya in food and supplements may stop levothyroxine working properly. If you regularly eat soya or take soya supplements your doctor might need to do extra blood tests to make sure you're getting enough levothyroxine.

Kelp (a type of seaweed) can contain high levels of iodine, which sometimes makes an underactive thyroid worse. Do not take supplements containing kelp if you're taking levothyroxine.

This is one on the reasons taking levothyroxine at bedtime may be more effective....as most of us have milk etc for breakfast

verywellhealth.com/best-tim...

[Essexlil in reply to SlowDragon]

Hi, I have wondered about taking it at bedtime. I go to bed at 10pm but only finish dinner around 7pm - is that enough time between eating and taking it?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Essexlil]

Yes as long as not too huge a meal

[Essexlil in reply to SlowDragon]

Ok thanks

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Essexlil]

If eating out late ....just take levothyroxine in middle of night when get up for the loo

Some members take levothyroxine in middle of night, every night

[helvella Administrator in reply to Essexlil]

I'd say, yes it is.

Better than half an hour after tablet to breakfast!

I have always taken mine at bedtime.

By the way, I do not notice anything untoward when taking B12 or folate (as methylfolate or as folic acid).

[Essexlil in reply to helvella]

Ok thank you think I’ll swap to bedtime

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to SlowDragon]

Thankyou for this link Slow Dragon. If I swap to taking Levothyroxine at night, can I take it with magnesium glycinate? I’m finding the magnesium helps me sleep.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Buddy195]

No ....magnesium must be taken 4 hours away from levothyroxine

I find taking magnesium 6-7pm is just as effective

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the information; I’m glad I checked first!

[Jasp6]

Have you considered testing b12 and folate? It is useful to get a baseline reading, particularly for b12, as supplementing tends to distort later readings. Coming back to your question, my husband, who was folate deficient and lowish b12, had bad headaches when he started supplementing b complex. From looking online, side effects are not unusual early on. We found reducing the frequency and building up very slowly worked. Initially this was one tablet every 3 days, then every other day for a few weeks and then finally up to one tablet a day. It might be worth a try.

[Essexlil in reply to Jasp6]

Hi, thank you for your help, I didn’t realise this had to be taken so gradually, I took the stated dose of two tablets right away

[Min789 in reply to Essexlil]

I'm so glad you posted re vitamin b complex. It took me a little while to realise that it was possibly the b complex making me feel anxious and wired so much so that even though I would take it in the morning it would affect my sleep at night. I only took half of the dose recommended by Igennus but still felt the same. I have stopped taking it but will try half of one tablet as recommended in previous post.

[Essexlil in reply to Min789]

Hi, I hope the small dose is the answer, but I’m tempted not to try the more I think about it, as it may be doing more harm than good, who knows

[Jasp6 in reply to Essexlil]

No worries, I just mentioned in case starting more slowly helps. We are all different, some people have no problem supplementing B complex. I have always been OK, albeit I have only taken one tablet a day, not 2 based on some of the advice on here that one is often enough.

[Essexlil in reply to Jasp6]

Hi, yes didn’t realise how severe the side effects of two may be. Frightened me off the idea completely now 😂

[Hidden in reply to Essexlil]

Hi, I've had exactly the side effects you described so well. And I only took one tablet of the same brand.

I reduced it to alternate days but became scared to take it. Just so anxious, irritable, edgy and wired. Then I couldn't sleep at night, wide awake.

Think I'll stay of it, the side effects last every moment of the day and are just too horrible.

[Essexlil in reply to Hidden]

Hi, yes I agree I’m staying off it - besides the hyped up, stressed mood, my heart didn’t feel right at all. Think I’ll stick with what my GP prescribes and leave supplements unless she prescribes them!

[Hidden in reply to Essexlil]

Supplements are good in principle, but they go under the banner of food supplements, so are unregulated. I'm never 100% confident they have what they say or how they're made.

As the B-Complex from Ingenus is about 9 times more expensive than one you buy in a supermarket, its not worth the side effects.

I also had a rapid heart beats, tightness in my chest and edgy feeling.

[Essexlil in reply to Hidden]

Hi, yes I’m staying away from all supplements unless the dr prescribes them because I badly need them to keep me well proved by blood tests - this has always been what I stick to as all supplements can be dangerous. Sorry you had the same bad experience

[Hidden in reply to Essexlil]

To be fair I've had good results with some supplements, things you cannot get from the Dr. It's been trail and error though. Hope you will feel better soon.