Taking vitamins is something that is recommended by physicians for our health and there are plenty of vitamins that you can choose from. Vitamins each serve some type of purpose for our individual health and finding the right vitamin that fits our needs can be a daunting task in itself. However, knowing what vitamin to take is one thing but knowing that can be side effects is another issue all together. Vitamin D, which is fat-soluble and plays a key role in our body functions to ensure continued good health and known as the sunshine vitamin. Vitamin works along with calcium in the body to develop strong bones, as well as, regulating our immune system. However, with all its benefits it also has some side effects that should be known prior to taking the vitamin.
Knowing what should and should not be taken with Vitamin D is extremely important because it can interact with other medications that you may currently be taking. If you take too much it this vitamin there is a chance that you may experience side effects such as, excessive thirst, bad taste in your mouth, vomiting, diarrhea and constipation just to name a few. In addition, if your body has high levels of calcium in the blood taking vitamin D can cause the levels to rise even higher making the problem worse. Taking vitamin D along with other medications can change the effectiveness of the medication.
There are also those individuals that suffer with high blood levels, heart and kidney problems that should not take the vitamin D supplement and should seek the advice of their physician regarding alternatives. You should also avoid taking this supplement if you are on certain medications because of the side effects that may occur in conjunction with vitamin D. Lipitor, for example, does not mix well because vitamin D can lower the amount of the drug in your system. If you take medication for high blood pressure such as Verapamil, which contains a calcium channel blocker, you should talk to your doctor beforehand to understand the potential risks. Another drug to be aware of if you are taking vitamin D is Digoxin, which is used for individuals with irregular heart rhythms, because of calcium buildup in the blood.
If you take too much vitamin D it can cause the amount of calcium in the body to rise which can cause hardening of the arteries, kidney stones, and problems with the lungs so knowing when you take too much is important, your vitamin D intake should not get over 4000 IU per day for adults and 2500 for children. Some of the symptoms that you may experience if you have taken an overdose of vitamin D is headache, weakness, dryness of the mouth, muscle and bone pain, a sudden weight loss, your skin can become itchy and fainting are just some of the signs that you may have taken an overdose of this supplement.
Good amounts of vitamin D is important for children in order to maintain their growing bones, watching the amount of vitamin D that your child takes is extremely important because too much of it can cause pain, constipation and digestive problems in children. Excessive amounts of vitamin D can also cause an Arrhythmia in your child so monitor your child if he/she complains about chest problems.
Other medications and conditions that you should be aware of that have the potential but not necessarily are: Water pills, if you are on a water pill you should also know that they can raise the amount of calcium in the blood so taking a water pill along with vitamin D can cause the level of calcium to rise too high. Vitamin D can also cause the level of magnesium in the body to rise in most cases this is not a problem but if your body already has high magnesium levels, it could potentially be a problem. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should also be careful because of the potential danger to the fetus or infant.
There are other sources of vitamin D that are less risky that can be a good alternative to taking the actual supplement. You can get your vitamin D from the sunlight because the body will store vitamin D when in the sun and food that contains vitamin D such as milk. If you were having adverse reactions to this supplement then using these as alternative rather than taking the vitamin would help immensely. If you take vitamin D, you should definitely talk to your physician beforehand. Never give your children this supplement without knowing firsthand what some of the adverse effects can be for them. If you begin to have any of the problems when taking this supplement you should immediately cease taking it and contact your physician as soon as possible and finally, know that vitamin D is extremely helpful for you if taken in moderation. Remember that in most cases vitamin D does not have any adverse effects on people.
Vitamin D Side Effects – Short Guide
Vitamin D is an important part of bone health and the body’s immune system. Most vitamin D is actually synthesized when the body is out in the sun; however, it can be found in a few foods and dietary supplements. While having enough vitamin D in the body is important to the overall health of a person, it is possible to have too much of it in the body, which can lead to a variety of problems.
When someone develops vitamin D toxicity, it is common for them to also develop hypercalcemia, or overly elevated levels of calcium in the blood. This is not a rapid process; it usually takes several months for this toxicity to develop. Additionally, vitamin D toxicity usually only occurs due to excessive use of supplements or when a medical condition is present. Medical tests have repeatedly found that this condition is almost never caused by extensive exposure to sunlight.
Even though vitamin D overdoses are uncommon, it is a very serious medical condition. Symptoms of vitamin D toxicity are very similar to those of hypercalcemia, which include: anorexia, nausea, insomnia, weakness, nervousness and a variety of kidney issues. Excess calcium can often lead to kidney stones and a many types of other renal issues, and once damage to the kidneys occurs it is almost always irreversible. Additionally, pregnant women can pass on vitamin D toxicity when they are pregnant or nursing. It is extremely important that women in either situation consult with a doctor before taking supplements as they can lead to mental retardation and facial deformities in infants.
Overdoses of vitamin D are normally cured by immediately discontinuing use of supplements and restricting foods with calcium in them. Most of the side effects of a vitamin D toxicity will diminish over time, but as mentioned, any damage to the kidneys or renal system is permanent.
Because of the wide array of side effects that are caused by excessive vitamin D intake doctors are becoming hesitant to recommend supplements containing this vitamin. Since most deficiencies can be made up by spending a few minutes a day in the sun, it does not seem to be worth the risk that supplement use brings with it.