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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nellie7 on August 21, 2007, at 13:17:33
Hi everyone,
Almost every vitamin or mineral I try has a positive (usually energizing and antidepressant) effect on me during the first day or two, but if I continue after that I feel very weak, nauseous and sick.
Several examples: vitamin C, vitamin D, iron, zinc (only one at a time, btw).Any possible explanation?
Thanks,
Nellie.
Posted by nolvas on August 21, 2007, at 20:15:03
In reply to intolerance to supplements, posted by nellie7 on August 21, 2007, at 13:17:33
It's possible the root cause is psychogenic. Many people are med phobic and also many people are just sensitive to taking supplements. They expect something to happen and their basis of hope is usually too reliant on the supplement, so the outcome is often negative. I experience this myself with many supplements.
Posted by nellie7 on August 22, 2007, at 14:28:31
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements, posted by nolvas on August 21, 2007, at 20:15:03
> It's possible the root cause is psychogenic. Many people are med phobic and also many people
are just sensitive to taking supplements.>Thanks for your reply.
In this case it definitely isn't psychogenic. After the first day or two of increased energy I expect "more of the same" but then am surprised to find that the supplement simply exhausts me and makes me sick. I know it is something physical.
Posted by Netch on August 23, 2007, at 7:38:19
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements » nolvas, posted by nellie7 on August 22, 2007, at 14:28:31
Nellie, usually it takes longer for side effects to kick in, so in the beginning you will only experience the benefits.
Netch
Posted by nellie7 on August 23, 2007, at 15:08:40
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements » nellie7, posted by Netch on August 23, 2007, at 7:38:19
> Nellie, usually it takes longer for side effects to kick in, so in the beginning you will only experience the benefits.
>
> NetchIn that case, there must be something weirdly wrong about me :)
Posted by Netch on August 24, 2007, at 8:42:04
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements » Netch, posted by nellie7 on August 23, 2007, at 15:08:40
The time before side effects kick in or benefits subside may vary from person to person. My experience is the same as yours.
Netch
Posted by DonnaT on August 28, 2007, at 11:23:09
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements » nolvas, posted by nellie7 on August 22, 2007, at 14:28:31
>
> In this case it definitely isn't psychogenic. After the first day or two of increased energy I expect "more of the same" but then am surprised to find that the supplement simply exhausts me and makes me sick. I know it is something physical.
>
I know this may sound very elementary, but are you sure you're drinking enough water? Both myself and my sister had this problem, but when we drank more water, specifically at the time when you're taking the supplements, the symptoms disappeared. Worth a try.
Posted by nellie7 on August 28, 2007, at 13:29:10
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements, posted by DonnaT on August 28, 2007, at 11:23:09
Thanks, Donna. I'll give it a try.
> >
> I know this may sound very elementary, but are you sure you're drinking enough water? Both myself and my sister had this problem, but when we drank more water, specifically at the time when you're taking the supplements, the symptoms disappeared. Worth a try.
>
>
Posted by Optimist on August 28, 2007, at 22:55:25
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements » DonnaT, posted by nellie7 on August 28, 2007, at 13:29:10
I have the same problem. My explanation of it... Most nutrients have a stimulating effect on metabolism including zinc, iron, manganese, selenium, iodine, sodium, potassium, vitamin B, C, E, etc... Pretty much everything in your basic multivitamin.
If you already have a fast metabolism (high thyroid function), then these nutrients will drive you faster causing increased energy at first, then anxiety, and depression.
The only nutrients that tend to slow down one's metabolism is calcium, magnesium, copper, vitamin D, DHEA (in males), and estrogen, with a high fat and protein diet and low carbs.
A fast metabolizer has also been referred to as a "fast oxidizer", histadelia, hyperthyroid, etc... if you've heard of those before.
This could totally be off base with you but this is what I've found works best with me. I would always think I would be getting better then a few days later I would crash and get much worse.
I have dressers full of failed supplement experiments. :)
Brian
Posted by nellie7 on August 29, 2007, at 14:49:39
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements, posted by Optimist on August 28, 2007, at 22:55:25
Hi Brian,
Thanks for your interesting post.
I had a bout of hyperthyroidism years ago but suspect having been hypothyroid now for quite some time.
I also have dressers full of failed supplement experiments:) and can't even take calcium and vitamin D which was prescribed for osteopenia.
Are you hyper T or simply a fast metabolizer?Nellie.
Posted by Optimist on August 29, 2007, at 16:17:32
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements » Optimist, posted by nellie7 on August 29, 2007, at 14:49:39
> Hi Brian,
>
> Thanks for your interesting post.
> I had a bout of hyperthyroidism years ago but suspect having been hypothyroid now for quite some time.
> I also have dressers full of failed supplement experiments:) and can't even take calcium and vitamin D which was prescribed for osteopenia.
> Are you hyper T or simply a fast metabolizer?
>
> Nellie.I definitely have a fast metabolism... I've never been fat in my life. :) It's not always a great thing though. The fatigue and depression caused by it are not fun at all.
I think I border along the hyperthyroidism spectrum. My TSH and T3/T4 are within "normal" limits but I have a lot of similar symptoms.
Brian
Posted by Loops on September 7, 2007, at 8:16:41
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements, posted by Optimist on August 29, 2007, at 16:17:32
me too!
I sometimes get out of balance when I follow recommendations for certain conditions - like recently megadosing B3 for anxiety - only to find I feel worse after a week or so.
Most supplements seem to be better taken in small quantities, apart from magnesium balanced with calcium for me. I even managed to get calcium deficient following advice to do magnesium without calcium for a long time. Once calcium was added back in I was fine again.
I recently realized I was not taking in any copper to balance some zinc I had been taking with B vitamins and then felt better balancing these two. Also a leg injury I have had for a whole year is suddenly clearing up. I googled copper and it turns out you need this stuff for connective tissue health. Doh. And why had I been ignoring it? Because everybody on the web says for anxiety and mental disorders you should take zinc, vit C, b vits etc. All the great orthomolecular people seem to say this.
But also then I found that ithyroid.com site and it all made sense - taking B vits without copper can lead to copper depletion and hyperthyroid (maybe worse anxiety?) for some people.
And for me, all those years of taking vitamins and not enough magnesium led to trouble. It turns out a lot of the stuff I was taking can be magnesium antagonists (like high doses of B vits). My eczema finally cleared up with magnesium.
Posted by nellie7 on September 11, 2007, at 14:17:47
In reply to Re: intolerance to supplements, posted by Loops on September 7, 2007, at 8:16:41
Hi Loops,
You're right- it's very difficult to find the right balance and supplementing with one substance can affect or deplete others.
I once took calcium and magnesium with my main meals for several months without knowing calcium interferes with iron absorption and became iron deficient.
Take care,
Nellie.
This is the end of the thread.
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