I had a severe reaction to taking vitamin D3. I broke out in hives everywhere. I couldn't stop scratching myself. It was fairly awful. I immediately quit taking all vitamins I was using. Doing a little research online I discovered that vit D3 is derived from sheep's wool. I had no idea. I asked 3 pharmacists, 2 doctors, & a doctor specializing in allergies if they had heard of such a thing & neither of them had. Unfortunately I had gave the vitamins away after my reaction. If I had still had them the Doctor could've done a skin test on me. As it was I called the vitamin company and also the food & drug admin here in Canada & gave them both detailed reports of my experience with the Vit D3. Oh, I forgot to mention that yes, I am allergic to wool
You could try increasing your magnesium intake. Magnesium citrate is the best form. It's actually hard to overdose on magnesium when taking it orally, because if you take too much you can get diarrhea. Well, when that happens, though, you don't need to panic. You simply cut back on the dosage of magnesium until the diarrhea stops.
A lot of times a conventional doctor doesn't mention that you need to take magnesium WITH the vitamin D. I have no idea why conventional medicine doesn't recognize the connection when it's not new information. But, a lot of these guys will tell someone with vitamin D deficiency to take the vitamin D2 megadose to boost the vitamin D fast or take the vitamin D3 at a higher dose, but they leave the magnesium out of the equation. It has been proven that magnesium is the most important mineral to help the body synthesize vitamin D.
Just about everyone I know with autoimmune issues has a very hard time supplementing vitamin D. So, for someone to have difficulties taking oral vitamin D, this kind of issue just doesn't surprise me. And, I know some people really are allergic to oral vitamin D supplements. A lot of the same people with the oral vitamin D allergies also have problems being in the sun, so it's a really tough situation, because vitamin D is the key to immune function.
I just found out that my own vitamin D is low again. Fortunately, I haven't had any major problems that a lot of people in this thread are talking about with taking oral vitamin D. And, I do have autoimmune issues, too. I am quite grateful that I learned about the importance of taking magnesium WITH the vitamin D early on. Thank goodness, because I do seem to have problems keeping my vitamin D and my iron up unless I supplement them.
FYI: If you find yourself being told that you have iron deficiency, it is important to take vitamin C with your iron supplement. I have to use a natural form called chelated iron, because my stomach can't handle the prescription forms. If you can handle the prescription strength stuff, more power to you. Just be sure you're taking it with vitamin C. That's another one that conventional doctors don't usually tell people. Even natural vitamin C supplements are not crazy expensive, and most of the people I know who can't take oral vitamin D seem alright with a gentle form of natural vitamin C. It's just not the same thing that you're deficient on. Most people who eat plenty of fresh produce aren't going to be low on vitamin C, but it's also water soluble, so taking a 500-1,000 mg capsule of vitamin C with your iron isn't going to take you into vitamin C toxicity, which is also rare. It can happen, but it's very rare, because it's water soluble. Vitamin C should also be taken with CoQ10.
Muscle twitches and headaches are yet another two of the many symptoms of magnesium deficiency. It is commonly recommended to take calcium and magnesium supplements at a 2:1 ratio. If you have kidney disease check with your doctor first before starting magnesium supplements.
The most absorbable forms are magnesium citrate, glycinate, taurate, or aspartate, although malate, succinate, fumarate are also good. Too much magnesium can cause diarrhea so cut back the dosage if this happens.
The vitamin D council states that vitamin D has no known side effects.
However it is common for rising vitamin D levels to bring up symptoms of an underlying magnesium deficiency.
Histamine production rises when there is magnesium deficiency. Hives occur in response to the release of histamine into the skin. Your other symptoms of dizziness, heart palpitations, and breathing issues are also listed symptoms of magnesium deficiency.
I have had an allergic reaction to D3 made from Cholecalciferol. Most Cholecalciferol seems to come from sheep lanolin (a wool derivative), so it's possible that I have an allergy to that. I did find a brand of D3 made from fish oil that doesn't cause an allergic reaction in me. It is made by Solgar.
I've had a terrible reaction to Vitamin D2 50,000 UI once weekly. I was prescribed it to raise my calcium levels and started it just before going to visit future in-laws. I started having migraines, severe mood swing/depression/feeling suicidal, sensitivity to light, and my lips swelled up then started peeling and hurting. I thought my lips were sunburnt at first. It has been 7 weeks since I stopped taking vitamin D and my lips are still having issues with a pain/rash and sensitivity to sweat and sun exposure. The doctors gave me a steriod cream (eczema type), then an anti-bacterial gel, and since neither of those have worked I'm trying nystatin (used for candida) which is the only thing showing promise so far. Did you find something that worked for healing your lips after Vita D reaction?
I had a severe reaction to taking vitamin D3. I broke out in hives everywhere. I couldn't stop scratching myself. It was fairly awful. I immediately quit taking all vitamins I was using. Doing a little research online I discovered that vit D3 is derived from sheep's wool. I had no idea. I asked 3 pharmacists, 2 doctors, & a doctor specializing in allergies if they had heard of such a thing & neither of them had. Unfortunately I had gave the vitamins away after my reaction. If I had still had them the Doctor could've done a skin test on me. As it was I called the vitamin company and also the food & drug admin here in Canada & gave them both detailed reports of my experience with the Vit D3. Oh, I forgot to mention that yes, I am allergic to wool
I started taking just 300iu vit d a day at the end of Nov 2015, by the middle of Dec 2015 I began waking up feeling weird. Racing heart, couldn't breathe well. On Jan 4 2016, woke up and it was horrible. I was having all of the symtpoms of a heart attack. I went to the ER who of course checked my heart everything looked good. Began having what my doctor thought was panic attacks. At first they were just at night (the same feelings I had when I woke up Jan4). Then they began happening all the time. Then it starting feeling like just everything in me was shutting down. I was digesting food, urinating, my heart beat was so irregular that it would almost take me to my knees at times. My doctor put me on Buspar (which made things worse) began having a reaction to that sever jerking, foggy feeling, shaking on the inside. So I decided to stop everything I was taking. My ex talked to his sister who used to be a nurse and told her the vitamins that I had been taking she said to stay away from the vit d that it could cause all of the symptoms that I was having. So I slowly started reintroducing my vitamins and supplements one at a time except the vit d. I slowly began feeling better and the "attacks" became fewer and farther inbetween then it came time to add my multivitamin back in (I was only doing 1 at a time to find out how I would react before starting another) .
After taking my multivitamin for 3 days it all started happening again. I looked on the label to find vit d so I stopped taking it and within a week it all started going away again. I haven't taken anymore vit d or any vitamin with vit d in it since and things seem to be pretty normal except when I eat foods high in vit d I start having heart palpitations again and an irregular heart beat as well as difficulty breathing. The same goes for being in the sun. I only work part time (20 hrs) but about 6 - 10 hours of that is outside. It is getting warmer so I am not all layered up now and covered head to toe and by the time Friday gets here I have begun having the same issues as when I eat something with vit d in it. I don't get it. I have always been an outside person and have never had any kind of a problem with the sun of vit d before. I don't understand how such a small dose would cause such horrible problems!
Mykind organics brand of vitamin d3, certified vegan d3 from lichen and none GMO works for me. Howerver, if I drink just one glass of milk or eat anything that is fortified with d3, I will break out in hives and itch like crazy for two to three days. ugh!
I was taking omega3 from Trader JOes and got the worst reaction - my muscle became 'frozen' like for a week! Felt dreadful. Now years later am taking Vita D3 and just taking Vita A again and trying Salmon Oil. Realizing something is wrong as am feeling so ill and itchy! Started researching this and found that oils can go rancid and if there's an issue with Vit D3 or other can be your liver is reacting to it. The soy oil and other ingredients too. And possible can go into inflammations of the body which I feel am experiencing. Vitamins interact with each other and getting to much of one may throw the whole healthy thing off in your system. I take a bit of vinegar every day and add more to my foods (Asian style) and drinking more water! Am using Walmart Spring Valley brands and Trader Joes Salmon Oil which am going to curb but not my magnesium! Eat more of my vitamin D and A and not farm raised Salmon! Back to researching. My stepmother a nurse from the Army said 'you are what you eat'...ole school and just about right! Good health!
UPDATE:
I finally found a type of vitamin D supplement that I can tolerate.
There are currently three types of vitamin D supplements available:
1) supplements which contain vitamin D3 derived from lanolin (sheep's wool),
2) supplements which contain vitamin D3 derived from lichen, and
3) supplements which contain vitamin D derived from cod liver oil.
There are a few manufacturers who use *only* cod livers in their cod liver oil products. Most "coid liver oil" products contain primarily vitamin D3 derived from lanolin as the source of their vitamin D. The problem with most of the pure cod liver oil formulations is that they contain an excessive amount of vitamin A.
I have tried several of the lichen-derived products. Most of them contained other ingredients which I could not tolerate. I recently found a manufacturer who makes a very pure formulation which contains only lichen-derived vitamin D3 and organic rice flour. This product is called DailyD and is manufactured by Do Vitamins.
My vitamin D levels were below normal. I am so glad that this company is making this product!
DISCLAIMER: I have no financial interest in this company.
None of the previous posters on this thread are currently active on the forum, so it's unlikely that anyone will respond. It's good to have that information, though, in case someone else has the same/similar issues.
My vitamin D is really low, too. 11, in fact. I've had many of the symptoms, of course. I tried many different D3 supplements and felt worse once I took them.... even with a low dose of 100IU. After doing some research, I found out that the D3 I was taking (Cholecalciferol) is lanolin based... and I'm allergic to wool! So, I am allergic to that particular form of it! I found a VEGAN version (made by Country Life)... made from lichen... and tada! I can tolerate it now! I take 5000 IU a day for a month now, and I am starting to feel better. I'll go in for blood work soon to make sure it's getting better/not too high, but I have such a long way to go to get to normal levels. I hope this helps you!
You are not alone regarding your reactions to vitamin D. I, and others, have the same problem. I cannot tolerate any product that contains lanolin.
I am going to try a lichen-sourced vitamin D3 product made by Vitashine to see if I can tolerate that.
Thanks for your interest and help!
I cannot take *any* vitamin D product that contains lanolin. I react to even the liquid vitamin D drops that contain very few additional ingredients.
I did contact Solgar and was informed (by email) that ALL of their vitamin D products contain lanolin.
If you know of any vitamin D products that are sourced from fish oil (and contain NO added lanolin), would you please post that information here?
I have read that there is one brand that makes vitamin D from mushrooms, but I am allergic to mushrooms, too.
I have an autoimmune condition that prevents me from being able to get my vitamin D from the sun.
Thanks!
I have been taking supplements containing vitamin D for two years, not realising the chronic depression, runny nose, chronic joint and bone pain was related to this. I have been back and fore the doctors for the last few months , but nothing will get through to them that my symptoms are related to vit D supplements. My face started to change when I began to take the supplements but I couldn't pin point that this was the cause. In two years my skin has aged significantly. I now think I am allergic to Vit D . I am also very concerned that I was pregnant and breastfeeding while taking the supplements . Although they only contained 100 IU of vit D and were recommended for during the second and third trimester and nursing, the baby stopped growing in my womb at around 8 months - It is only now that I am putting all the pieces of the puzzle together.
It is more than frustrating as everyone thinks that I am crazy for thinking vit D could do this to me and I have been treated for ;mental health' issues instead of addressing the fact that I have all the symptoms of Vitamin D allergy/overdose.
P.S. Forgot to mention - the vitamin D's from fish liver oil don't generally use cod liver, but one or a combo of other fish liver oils in which the amount of vit D is more concentrated, e.g. halibut. Essentially it's been concentrated and the vitamin A removed - that process may also lead to something being left behind.
R
Hi into_the_mystic - have you contacted Solgar to ask? I've found them to be good at responding to queries about their products. Bluebonnet also make a 1000iu fish liver oil vitamin D using soy oil instead of safflower.
Have you tried piercing the softgel and mixing the oil into food or something to take it, thereby avoiding the softgel?
Depending on what the reaction is, maybe it's something else altogether (e.g. vitamin D needs other synergists - are these also being supplemented in sufficient amounts if taking high amounts of vit D?).
Another possibility is that the vit D is stimulating an already over-stimulated immune system and any other allergens in the formulation are also causing a reaction (e.g. safflower can be a problem for hayfever, asthma, allergic rhinitis, etc).
Sorry, perhaps not that helpful...
R
Hi all - reading the above, the symptoms many describe, such as palpitations, frequent urination, breathlessness, anxiety, lethargy, depression etc - are signs of vitamin D/calcium toxicity. Remember that vitamin D increases calcium absorption. Some people with low vitamin D may test low because the body is actually protecting itself from absorbing too much calcium. Calcium can be high for different reasons but is never normal - please make sure your calcium levels are tested at the same time, every time.
Additionally, some oils used in softgels are known allergens - e.g. safflower and sunflower oils are both related to daisy/ragweed, and highly likely to cause a reaction in people who suffer hayfever or allergic rhinitis. Reactions can include swelling in face or mouth, asthma or difficulty breathing, etc etc.
Glycerin is another ingredient to be wary of, and another possibility is the gelatin capsule (dry vitamins) and/or other fillers such as magnesium stearate - these can contain traces of the potentially allergenic sources they were derived from. Magnesium stearate is generally derived from "vegetable" sources though it's never specified what.
Many manufacturers label products hypoallergenic, gluten free etc - however, unless they've made the entire supplement from scratch themselves, it's doubtful they'd know the origins of all ingredients. Unless the label states something like "formulated to be free from..." or similar, I'd ask the manufacturer (though more often than not they won't reply or may answer evasively).
One more thing to bear in mind - many things state they're free from yeast and wheat, but seldom mention bacteria or mold - these can also be problematic to people with compromised immune systems, and are used to make many supplements.
If you are taking any vitamin D - whatever you do, be careful taking supplemental calcium as well (including calcium fortified food). Lethargy, frequent urination, headaches, muscle aches and pains, tight chest feeling - none of these are normal and are signs of toxicity. Stop taking one or both as soon as any of these symptoms develop.
All the best,
R
Other clues that the Solar 1000 IU softgels product contains lanolin:
1) Fish liver oil is the *fourth* ingredient listed, after safflower oil, gelatin, and vegetable glycerin. This means that less than 25% of the contents of a capsule is fish liver oil.
2) The last ingredient is "cholecalciferol." There would be no need to include cholecalciferol as an ingredient if it were only a component of the fish liver oil.
I believe that the Solgar 1000 IU softgels *must* contain lanolin. If you search the Internet, you will find that one teaspoon of fish oil (e.g., cod liver oil) contains a minuscule amount of vitamin D. In my opinion, the only way Solgar could get that amount of vitamin D in their small capsules would be if a lanolin-based source of vitamin D had been added to the fish oil.
I have NOT been able to identify any other supplement company that sells a fish oil-sourced vitamin D product that does NOT contain lanolin. How plausible is it that Solgar is the only company that is able to do so?
OMG! Thank you for posting that! I have had the same experience and have found nothing on the web about it. I've tried 3 different times to treat my low d with different levels and types of supplements, no luck. Each time all of those same symptoms got worse. MUCH WORSE! Have any new info?
Taking magnesium transdermally, using Ancient Minerals magnesium lotion (or Swanson's). A much faster way to build up magnesium levels, and we excrete it fairly quickly...from all sorts of stress. So I also use lotion as maintenance.
In the Transdermal Magnesium book, there is an assumption that epsom salts baths may be a better source of sulfur (we need that mineral as well), than magnesium, due to the different form of magnesium.
Interesting discussion above. There is an assumption of an allergic reaction to D3. Had muscle aches all winter (first season I took D3) until I finally realized the source and stopped. Found listed by the Univ of MD posting that this is one of numerous "Symptoms of Excess D3". It seems D3 is oil-soluable, and is stored in body fat. If you have any symptoms, suggest checking out that posting and stop taking D3 for a while, and increasing intake of K-2 (MK-7 variety). Kefir (homemade from milk from organic whole grass-pastured cows) is another good source of K-2. We are all missing K-2 to some degree. K-2 directs calcium from foods to where the body needs it, and magnesium keeps calcium in suspension, and not precipitating out where you do not want it (arteries, kidneys and joints).
Took a while to put these pieces together. If you experience heart palpitations, please do your own research starting with Dr Sinatra's "HeartMD" website and the Hans Larsen Afibbers website.
Red Star is absolutely correct that the symptoms you are all describing are due to a magnesium deficiency. Most people in the US are deficient in magnesium. Other factors to consider also are lyme disease. Having lyme disease will eat away at your magnesium levels and can cause joint and muscle pain. Blood serum testing of magnesium is not accurate. It might be best to try to get your magnesium levels up for a while before you slowly start trying to add vitamin D again. Taking a hot bath with lots of epsom salts is also a good way for your body to absorb magnesium. Don't forget too that you must always also take a good natural vitamin K along with vitamin D.