Multivitamin overdose or vitamin A overdose can cause symptoms such as hallucinations and depression. Your body needs vitamin A to keep the eyes healthy and to protect the cells from free-radical damage. Free-radical damage to the cells can cause chronic medical conditions such as cancer. Taking too much vitamin A may result in vitamin A toxicity. Taking too many multivitamins at a time that contain vitamin A can also result in toxicity.
Vitamin A Overdose
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin stored in the body. Although vitamin A is easily obtainable through eating foods such as sweet potatoes and beets, it may become necessary due to deficiency or certain medical conditions to take a vitamin A supplement. Men need 900 mcg of vitamin A per day, and women 700 mcg of vitamin A per day. Vitamin A taken beyond the recommended dietary allowance may cause toxicity.
Symptoms
Symptoms of vitamin A overdose are irritability, fatigue, drowsiness, dizziness, delirium, lethargy, nausea, stomachache and headache. Some symptoms of vitamin A overdose may mimic psychiatric problems such as severe depression, schizophrenia, hallucinations and paranoia. Additional symptoms of vitamin A overdose are vertigo, blurred vision, bulging eyes, skin redness, dry skin, fever, loss of appetite, coma and liver damage.
Considerations
Vitamin A overdose is split into two classes: chronic and acute. Acute vitamin A overdose occurs when a massive overdose is taken at one time. Chronic vitamin A overdose occurs when high doses of vitamin A are taken over an extended amount of time. People who have taken large amounts of vitamin A may experience carotenemia -- yellowing of the skin.
Warning
According to eMedTV, the treatment for vitamin A overdose involves treating the symptoms of the overdose, along with discontinuing the use of vitamin a supplements. If you have any symptoms of vitamin A overdose, including hallucinations, contact a poison control center or seek emergency care immediately.
Member Comments