Most people may think of multivitamins as relatively harmless, but taking too many of them each day may cause side effects associated with an overdose. Serious side effects, including some that can be fatal, occur when you take an overdose of vitamins such as K, D, E or A, states Drugs.com. Multivitamins may contain minerals that can also cause serious overdose side effects. Check with your physician before taking any supplement such as a multivitamin, and follow the instructions on the multivitamin label for the correct dosage.
Menstrual Problems
Women who take too many multivitamins in a day may experience disruption of their menstrual cycles, Drugs.com reports. You may have heavier or lighter periods, or your menstrual cycle may change. You can also develop pain during your periods or miss periods from taking too many vitamins. Any side effect related to taking too many multivitamins requires immediate emergency treatment.
Hematuria
Multivitamins also may cause a medical condition known as hematuria, or blood in the urine. This can be a sign of a serious medical problems, so seek emergency medical treatment if you notice blood or your urine appears pink, dark or otherwise discolored after you take too many multivitamins.
Pain
Overdoses of vitamins K, D, E or A can cause severe pain. You may get extreme headache pain akin to a migraine, or severe pain in your back, joints or muscles. You also may get pain in your stomach, although it may not be as severe, Drugs.com indicates. Any instances of such side effects require immediate medical aid.
Alopecia
Your hair may begin to fall out as a side effect of taking excessive daily dosages of multivitamins. This may occur on your head or anywhere else on your body. If you have taken too many multivitamins and you notice you are losing your hair, seek immediate medical treatment.
Gastric Problems
You may experience digestive tract problems as a result of a multivitamin overdose. You might not feel as hungry as usual, or be unable to eat at all. You may feel nauseous or vomit. Too many multivitamins also may produce constipation or diarrhea, along with abdominal cramps.
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