What Women Should Know About the Side Effects of Prenatal Vitamins

Potential Dangers of Vitamins

When we think of side effects, we usually think of medications and drugs, not of vitamins.  What side effects could vitamins have, we think?  After all, they are just vitamins.  How could you have side effects from prenatal vitamins?

While for the most part vitamins are not terribly dangerous, there can be some side effects from taking them.  Most commonly these side effects are not that dangerous, however in some cases they can be very devastating, in rare and extreme cases even deadly.  While this is not at all common, it is something you should know about.

Side Effects of Prenatal Vitamins

The most common side effects of prenatal vitamins include nausea and vomiting.  This is something that is true of all multivitamins, however it can be exacerbated during pregnancy.  This is especially the case during the first trimester, which is also when the taking of prenatal vitamins is the most important.

If nausea and vomiting are severe, you might want to consider changing your prenatal vitamin to something you can more easily stomach.  Chewable prenatal vitamins, for example, are often used to make the ingesting of the vitamin more palatable, and can be away of getting around these side effects of prenatal vitamins.

Nausea and vomiting that persists or becomes severe could become a problem, and you should go to your physician in such cases.  You should also consult your doctor if you are experiencing severe stomach pain, which is an unusual but potential side effect of prenatal vitamins.

More Extreme Side Effects of Prenatal Vitamins

In rare cases, you might find that you have an allergic reaction to prenatal vitamins.  Although these allergic reactions are not common, you should immediately consult a doctor if you find yourself exhibiting the symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Allergic side effects of prenatal vitamins can include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness and trouble breathing.  If you are having an allergic reaction, go to your doctor immediately to fight against the reaction.  You can also look for prenatal vitamins that will not invoke these allergic side effects in your system.