Vitamin D is an important nutrient used in the body to maintain bone health and overall normal physical development. Drugs.com states that a patient taking vitamin D supplements can experience an allergic reaction and should only take supplements while under a doctor's supervision. If you believe you are experiencing an allergic reaction to vitamin D, contact a medical professional immediately. Most allergic reaction symptoms develop within a few minutes after ingesting a vitamin D supplement.
Allergic Asthma
Allergy-induced asthma affects about 50 percent of people who have been diagnosed with asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. During an allergic reaction to vitamin D, the body overreacts to the substance and attempts to fight it off with IgE antibodies and histamine. Increased histamine levels in the lungs, causes the airways to swell, restricting breathing. The common symptoms of allergic asthma are wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, coughing and shortness of breath.
Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common symptoms of all allergic reaction, such as hay fever, food allergies and vitamin allergies. Allergic rhinitis mainly affects the eyes, nose and throat, according to MayoClinic.com. Common symptoms include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, post-nasal drip, watery eyes, irritated eyes, an itchy throat, coughing and sinus pressure headaches. Treatment for allergic rhinitis is taking an over-the-counter antihistamine, which restricts mast cells from producing histamine. Histamine is the main chemical that causes allergic rhinitis symptoms.
Skin Reactions
Skin reactions from a vitamin D allergy include eczema, hives and general skin inflammation and redness, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Eczema is an allergic skin rash that forms in blisters that can fill up with liquid, weep and crust over. Eczema also appears in patches of extremely dry skin that appears leathery in appearance. Hives are clusters of welts that are raised, red and flat on the top. Hives can migrate from area of the body to another for no reason. All allergic skin reactions to vitamin D are extremely itchy and inflamed.
Anaphylactic Shock
As with any allergic reaction, a severe reaction to vitamin D can cause death. The common symptoms of anaphylactic shock are a sudden drop in blood pressure, dizziness, flushing of the skin, difficulty breathing, hives, anxiety, feeling faint and an increased heart rate, according to MedlinePlus. Call 911 immediately if you experience these symptoms.
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