Vitamin B is used to help maintain proper cell metabolism. It is a water soluble vitamin that the body breaks down through digestion to promote proper bodily function. Originally scientists believed that there was only one B vitamin, but research has shown that there are 8 vitamins in the B vitamin complex: B1 (Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B3 (Niacin), B5 (Pantothenic Acid), B6 (Pantothenic Acid), B7 (Biotin), B9 (Folic Acid), and B12 (Cyanocobalamin). Each of these vitamins plays a distinct role in maintaining the human body. Many take vitamin B complex supplements to enhance these natural effects. Side effects of taking a B vitamin complex are not common, especially if the patient takes the medication as prescribed amount. Taking excessive amounts of a vitamin B complex can cause side effects. An overdose is signaled by: dizziness, frequent urination, change in the color of the urine, black stools, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, redness of the skin and itching.
In severe cases, patients may develop an allergic reaction to their vitamin B complex. If you are taking a B vitamin complex and suddenly experience itching, a rash, kidney stones, swelling, wheezing or hives stop taking the complex right away. If your symptoms persist or you feel as though your reaction is life threatening, contact your physician as soon as possible. Patients may also experience side effects from excessive exposure to a specific B vitamin. In most cases, this discomfort can be eased by limiting your intake of the vitamin. If your reaction is particularly severe, contact your doctor immediately. In rare cases, a thiamine overdose can cause restlessness, fluid retention, nausea, weakness and sweating. In severe cases, a thiamine overdose can cause dizziness, difficulty breathing, and tightness in the chest, swelling of the tongue or face, or discoloration of the skin. Allergic reactions to thiamine can cause itching, hives or rashes on the skin. Taking a riboflavin supplement will frequently cause the urine to turn a yellow-orange color.
This side effect is harmless. In higher dosages, riboflavin may result in increase in urination or diarrhea. Severe reactions can cause difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue, or hives on the skin. Niacin will frequently cause flushing, which may include burning, sweating, tingling, redness or chills. These can last as long as 4 hours after taking the supplement, but this is a harmless condition. Other common side effects of taking niacin include upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heartburn or dizziness. In severe cases, taking niacin can result in persistent headache, irregular heartbeat, swelling of the arms or legs, joint pain, or blurred vision. In rare cases patients may also experience intense abdominal pain, incessant nausea or vomiting, bloody or black stools, yellowing of the eyes and muscle or joint pain. Allergic reactions to niacin can result in swelling of the lips, tongue, throat or face, itching or hives. Patients who take pantothenic acid are very prone to overdose.
This can result in severe diarrhea. In rare cases, patients may develop an allergic reaction which may result in tightness of the chest, trouble breathing or swelling of the face, throat, lips or tongue. Harmless effects of pyridoxine include stomach pain, drowsiness, tingling, and loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting. Frequently ingesting large doses of pyridoxine can cause brain and nerve problems. In rare cases, this can lead to a numbing sensation in various parts of the body, most notably in the hands and feet, poor coordination or extreme fatigue. Allergic reactions to pyridoxine can result in swelling of the face, tongue, lips or throat, trouble breathing or hives. Taking excessive amounts of folic acid can increase the risk of heart attack, particularly in those who already suffer from heart trouble. Overusing folic acid may also increase your risk of developing lung or prostate cancer. Those receiving injections of folic acid may experience pain and swelling or pain near the injection site.
In severe cases allergic reactions may cause, swelling of the lips, face or tongue, tightness in the chest, hives, rash or dizziness. Patients using cyanocobalamin may experience diarrhea, itching or an increased risk of blood clots. In severe cases, allergic reactions to cyanocobalamin can cause chest pain, swelling of the face, tongue, or lips, swelling of the body, muscle weakness, fever, chills, bruising or bleeding. You should not take B vitamin supplements if you are breastfeeding, pregnant, suffer from diabetes, ulcers or gout, are prone to allergic reactions to medications or are taking additional herbal or complementary medications that could negatively react to these vitamins. Combine your supplement use with a healthy diet, natural sources of B vitamins, a balanced diet and exercise for the best results.The holidays can be stressful! While enjoying fun times with friends and family, you will most likely also be busy cooking, cleaning for guests and don’t forget – shopping!
This much activity can wear you down and often leave you feeling under the weather. You may even begin wondering if the Grinch stole your Holiday! As the holiday season gets closer, it is common for your stress level to increase. So how does stress affect your body? And how can you keep the “Grinch” from sneaking down your chimney?Here’s an explanation of what they have found: As you can see, stress negatively affects your body in a variety of ways. It is important to take care of yourself in order to remain healthy and relaxed so that you can continue to check off your holiday “to-do” lists! Here are some stress fighting tips that you can incorporate into your day to day life: All of these methods have been shown to reduce stress and keep the Grinch out of your holiday plans! If you still feel like you need some help getting on top of your stress, there are some additional options to help support your body through the stressful season. B complex is a vitamin product that contains several different B vitamins and they have a variety of beneficial effects.
This product includes folate, thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) and choline. Methylcobalamin is the activated form of vitamin B12. By taking vitamin B12 it can positively influence your health in many ways such as increased energy levels, increased cognitive function, sleep regulation and improved mood. One study revealed that patients taking methylcobalamin had improved daytime alertness and concentration as well as a shortened but improved sleep in healthy persons. Vitamins B1 and B6 have been shown to improve the glucocorticoid function of the adrenal glands and simultaneously normalizes the activity of the gland. Vitamin B5 or pantothenic acid enhances adrenal cortex function which is where our bodies produce cortisol. Cortisol is the hormone produced when our bodies are responding to stress, and by taking vitamin B5 it helps our bodies regulate the amount of cortisol produced in the stress response process.
A high-quality B complex product is Ortho Molecular’s Methyl B-Complex and you can get it here at Collier Compounding. Stay Calm, Cool and Collected! L-theanine is an amino acid found in green and black teas which results in relaxation and stress relief without causing excessive drowsiness like other products do. L-theanine is also used to help ease stress and improve concentration and focus. It relieves anxiety by increasing the levels of dopamine and GABA (a neurotransmitter in the brain that has calming effects) in the brain and has been known to generate creativity and cause wakeful relaxation. People often resort to consuming caffeine to help them get through busy or stressful times, and L-theanine helps moderate or regulate the effects of caffeine on the central nervous system. L-theanine also has protective effects by reducing neurotoxicity. **Talk to your Doctor first if you are taking blood pressure medication since L-theanine lowers blood pressure. Have you ever heard the term “sleeping like a baby” and wish it could be you?
Melatonin is a hormone produced in the brain and children produce it in higher amounts than adults. This may be the reason babies can sleep so well. Melatonin is an over the counter product shown to help you fall asleep faster and reduce sleep disturbances throughout the night. Melatonin is non-addicting and won’t cause a “hangover” effect like some other sleep aids. By improving your sleep you also help improve antioxidant activity, cardiovascular health and immune system function. Here at Collier Compounding we offer each of these products over the counter, and you can rest assured that the brands we stock are the highest quality. At Collier Compounding we are here to help in any way we can, feel free to give us a call or drop by with any questions or concerns you may have. Now that you understand how stress affects your body and how you can avoid that Grinch called STRESS we hope that you enjoy the holiday season with family and friends. Happy Holiday from your Collier Family!