Why can't I take vitamins????

[SandyM]

Always looking for ways to eat healthier, get more exercise, ya da ya da, I've tried repeated attempts to take a multi-vitamin every day. Since I don't know what I need, and since I would prefer not to take 6 pills a day, I figured a "cover-all" would be good.

I've tried this on several attempts - either Centrum, or 1-A-Day, and all with the same results - they make me physically sick. I tried first thing in the morning, right after lunch, right after dinner, right before going to bed - it absolutely does not matter - the result is the same.

Does anyone else have this problem?

[SusieO]

I have had that problem with my daily multivitamin, but I'm fine as long as I take it on a full stomach. I don't think this advice will help you, though, since you have tried taking it after meals. Sorry!

[Gina O]

As you have tried many things this may not help, but I thought it might be worth mentioning. Call me silly, but I find that taking children's vitamins (flintstones, ect) are easier for me to remember. Perhaps they may be a little easier on the stomach as well? Just a thought, Gina

[jungct]

SandyM, is it possible that you are lactose-intolerant? Lactose is often used as a filler in tablets, and I was thinking that it could be the cause of your intolerance for multi-vitamins. There are other possibilities: sometimes iron or even calcium will upset the stomach as well, depending on which form that tablet contains. Not at bad idea to try children's. Most children's have about the same amount of RDA as adult formulations. (might still contain lactose...) Centrum does make a liquid vitamin, which may cost a little more, but also might be worth a try. It is true that it could be one of the ingredients (active = vitamin or mineral or inactive = fillers). You can also get multi vitamins that do not contain minerals (iron, selenium, zinc etc.) and see of you can tolerate those. Also, try taking it with your largest meal. Good luck!

[mary4815]

Maybe I have the answer? The same thing happens to me IF the multiple has potassium in it! Sick, sick, sick...
You could check it out in your case and see if you can find a multiple MINUS potassium?

[julia]

Have you considred looking to see if you can get multi-vitamins in a liquid form - that might work

[food girl]

I tell all of my patients to take Centrum Silver because it has no Iron. Iron is usually the thing that upsets most stomachs. Most people get plenty of Iron and Iron overload is not good anyway.
Vitamin C in excess can give you diarrhea and Calcium Carbonate can be constipating.

Flintstones complete are adequate for an adult.

PS You fix a bad diet by fixing the bad diet...not with vitamins!!

[SandyM]

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions.

PS - I'm not trying to fix a bad diet - my diet is actually pretty good. I'm just trying to improve on what I'm already doing.

[SandyM]

Thanks Tink. I actually started taking Whole Food vitamins about two years ago, no problems whatsoever. No chemicals - just the good stuff. :)

[funnybone]

Originally posted by SandyM
Thanks Tink. I actually started taking Whole Food vitamins about two years ago, no problems whatsoever. No chemicals - just the good stuff. :)

Sandy, I'm going to have to check those out when I move closer to Whole Foods. Are they a gel or capsule vitamin, or a regular pill type? Right now I take some from HSN (Andrew Lessman) - all natural too, but they are pricy. I find the others irritated my stomach as well. I just can't seem to digest the ones that are not capsule.

[SandyM]

Hi Erika,

The brand name is MegaFood, and the vitamin I take is Women's One Daily. 100% Whole Food, with a vitamin, mineral, and herbal formula.

They aren't cheap, and I'm not sure if they're carried at Whole Foods - I get mine at The Vitamin Outlet (a chain here). A bottle of 90 tablets (not capsules) is $30.55 - pricey, but worth it, IMO.

I also take their calcium supplement, and Jim takes their Mens' One Daily.

[funnybone]

Originally posted by SandyM
Hi Erika,

The brand name is MegaFood, and the vitamin I take is Women's One Daily. 100% Whole Food, with a vitamin, mineral, and herbal formula.

They aren't cheap, and I'm not sure if they're carried at Whole Foods - I get mine at The Vitamin Outlet (a chain here). A bottle of 90 tablets (not capsules) is $30.55 - pricey, but worth it, IMO.

I also take their calcium supplement, and Jim takes their Mens' One Daily.

Thanks Sandy. I may try them, but since they are not capsules, I am not sure. I will have to see the ingredients and compare them to the ones I am taking. Yours are cheaper than the ones at HSN which cost about $30 per month supply. Since I take 2 different kinds, plus a Glucosamine and condroitin, I spend about $75 on vitamins a month. Ugh!

[ChristineVA]

Just wanted to let you know that you are not alone. I've noticed a relationship between taking adult vitamins and feeling bad. For me, if I take one of the "powerful" vitamins I will usually have diarrhea about 2 hours after. It has happened enough times that I won't do it anymore. I am also not lactose intolerant. I have no idea what causes it. I then switched to a more "low level" type of vitamin but I was getting mixed results on that. Finally, I decided to try my kids Scooby Doo vitamins and I seem to do okay on that as long as I only take it every other day. If I take it daily, I sometimes get intestinal cramping. Weird, I know.
Christine

[Cafe Latte]

I also take some from HSN - the Woman's Complete and Bone and Body. I really like them. They are expensive but I don't get sick from them either.

[Laurielee]

Maybe it is the vitamin B. When I take vitamin B supplements I literally get so nauseous, I throw up about 15 minutes after taking them, But then I can take multi vitamins with now problems.

[DocAgocs]

Here is the solution. Open your medicine cabinet or wherever you keep your vitamins and stuff. Take everything in it that is synthetically made (I estimate that is 100% of what you see there for 99% of you reading this) and throw it in the garbage. Eat enough fruits and vegetables every day so that you have very little room or appetite for much else and you will be giving yourself a pretty good backbone diet. Now find a doctor in your area that is familiar with Standard Process, Inc of Palmyra, Wisconsin (the leading manufacturer of high quality whole food nutritional supplements) and begin taking Catalyn. A three month's supply will cost you $32. After three months, return to that doctor and ask to fill out a Symptom Survey Form, which is a 180 question long form that looks for deficiencies in your diet,. Based on the results of how you answer the questions, the doctor will be able to recommend specific supplements and foods for you to address these deficiencies. If you continue taking synthetic vitamins, you'll make your deficiencies worse.