What is multivitamin?
Multivitamins and minerals are a combination of many different vitamins and minerals that are normally found in foods and other natural sources. Multivitamins and minerals are used to provide vitamins and minerals that are not taken in through the diet. Multivitamins and minerals are also used to treat vitamin or mineral deficiencies caused by illness, pregnancy, poor nutrition, digestive disorders, certain medications, and many other conditions. Multivitamins and minerals may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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What are the possible side effects of multivitamins and minerals?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic
reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
When taken as directed, multivitamins and minerals are not expected to cause serious side
effects. Less serious side effects may include:
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
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How should I take multivitamins and minerals?
Use this medication as directed on the label, or as your doctor has prescribed. Do not use the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Never take more than the recommended dose of a vitamin and mineral supplement. Avoid taking more than one vitamin/mineral product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar products together can result in a vitamin or mineral overdose or serious side effects. Minerals (especially taken in large doses) can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling. Read the label of any vitamin and mineral product you take to make sure you are aware of what it contains.
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What is the most important information I should know about multivitamins and minerals?
Never take more than the recommended dose of multivitamins and minerals. Avoid taking more than one vitamin/mineral product at the same time unless your doctor tells you to. Taking similar products together can result in a vitamin overdose or serious side effects. Minerals taken in large doses can cause side effects such as tooth staining, increased urination, stomach bleeding, uneven heart rate, confusion, and muscle weakness or limp feeling. Read the label of any vitamin and mineral product you take to make sure you are aware of what it contains.
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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
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What other drugs will affect multivitamins and minerals?
Vitamin and mineral supplements can interact with certain medications, or affect how medications work in your body. Before taking a vitamin/mineral product, tell your doctor if you also use: diuretics (water pills); heart or blood pressure medications; tretinoin (Vesanoid); isotretinoin (Accutane, Amnesteen, Clavaris, Sotret); trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole (Cotrim, Bactrim, Septra, TMP/SMX); or an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), etodolac (Lodine), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis), and others.
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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?
Do not take multivitamins and minerals without telling your doctor if you are
pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Some vitamins can harm an unborn baby if taken in large
doses. You may need to use a prenatal vitamin specially formulated for pregnant women.
Multivitamins and minerals can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby.
Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of vitamins A, D, E, or K can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Certain minerals may also cause serious overdose symptoms if you take too much. Vitamin overdose symptoms may include stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, loss of appetite, hair loss, peeling skin, tingly feeling in or around your mouth, changes in menstrual periods, weight loss, severe headache, muscle or joint pain, severe back pain, blood in your urine, pale skin, and easy bruising or bleeding.
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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking multivitamins and minerals?
Many vitamin and mineral supplements can cause serious or life-threatening side effects if taken in large doses. Do not take more of this medication than directed on the label or prescribed by your doctor. If you have any medical conditions, ask your doctor before taking multivitamins and minerals. If you have certain conditions, you may need a certain vitamin formulation or special tests while taking multivitamins and minerals. Do not take multivitamins and minerals without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Some vitamins can harm an unborn baby if taken in large doses. You may need to use a prenatal vitamin specially formulated for pregnant women.
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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.
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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.
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