What happens if you take too many prenatal vitamins?

Answer 1

As a water-soluble vitamin, folic acid is not especially dangerous in the case of an overdose. Any excess is usually just excreted in the urine without causing any problems. However, high doses of folic acid (especially if taken long-term) have been reported to cause some problems, such as: * Digestive problems (such as nausea or gas) * Rash * Problems sleeping (including unusual dreams) * Irritability, excitability, or hyperactivity * Bitter taste in the mouth * Zinc deficiency * Psychotic behavior * Seizures (typically in people who already have a seizure disorder). High doses of folic acid can also "mask" a vitamin B12 deficiency (effectively treating the anemia caused by the deficiency without stopping the nerve damage caused by the deficiency). There is also some concern that high-dose folic acid supplementation may also increase the risk of heart attacks in people with heart disease.

source: http://pregnancy.emedtv.com/folic-acid/folic-acid-overdose.html

Answer 2

If you're not getting enough vitamin B12 - known as vitamin B12 deficiency - taking doses of folic acid higher than 1 mg can hide this fact. An early symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency is anaemia. But taking large amounts of folic acid treats the anaemia without treating the B12 deficiency. If vitamin B12 deficiency isn't noticed, it can eventually lead to damage of the nervous system (neurological damage).

this was taken from the website: http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/nutritionessentials/vitaminsandminerals/folicacid/)

Answer 3

Folic acid is a B vitamin that is imperative to the growth of a healthy fetus. If you don't take enough folic acid during pregnancy, what could happen is that your baby might be born with spina bifida.

Answer 4

Well first after a couple of hours you start to feel dizy... After 1-3 days you go into a coma if you don't drink any water. Drink enough and you'll be JUST fine! Don't worry... By not drinking that water, the vitemins in your body with stop flowing and that could trigger a massive heart attack. You could be in a coma for about 3 hours to 24 days So make sure you drink water when on a b12 diet!

Answer 5

The question is too vague to answer. Some vitamins are toxic in high doses, others aren't, but it depends very much on what specifically is in the vitamins and precisely how many "too many" refers to. The answer is going to be different if you took two than if you took four hundred, and whether it was a one-time thing or you ate them like candy for the entire nine months.

Birth defects, or even the death of both mother and child, are medically POSSIBLE from overdosing on vitamins.

Answer 6

None. Folic acid is water-soluble and is eliminated by the kidneys in the urine.

Answer 7

Yes. Follow the instructions on the packet unless otherwise directed by a doctor. Typically, a daily dose of 400mg is considered sufficient.