My Co-Workers Might be Feeling the Effects of my MSM...LOL

[Hairsnob]

Oh my goodness! Nobody warned me about this rather unwelcomed side-effect of MSM..... Put it this way, a barrier with a warning sign and an exhaust fan in my cube would be nice right about now.

I've been taking Now brand powdered MSM for a few months now without this .....this..... rather unladylike side effect. That is, until I upped my dosage from about 2700mgs to 3600mgs. Uggh!! I have to start taking it twice a day instead of all at once at night. This has been a REALLY rough week as far as that is concerned.

I stopped taking the Biotin because of acne and figured I'd double up on the MSM instead and whoa baby. My body is NOT agreeing with that decision.

I absolutely HATE that I can't use the Google search feature on here anymore so I can't get the results I normally get. So here are my questions:

1) Those of you who complained of gas with MSM, is this temporary??
2) Do you think if I take it in two doses instead of one that it will help?


Thanks in advance!

ETA: Chamomile tea has worked wonders for me in relieving this problem. Almost instantly too!!

 

[aa9746]

I've read about others on the board experiencing side effects. I take it every day and haven't had any side effects.

 

[Janet']

Side effects can be serious...

 

[cmbodley]

The only side effect that I had was a case of severe detoxification-stomach cramps & all , I think that I was taking 4000mgs per day! I went back to 2000mgs per day I think I recall or read somewhere that I you take too much of any supplement the body will only use what it needs & the rest is not absorbed--> not sure if I explained it right but someone will chime in & correct me!

 

[JollyGal]

Oh dear!

Sorry to hear that you are experiencing side effects of that magnitude

With all supplements if you experience side effects it's best to lower your dosage or try taking it at a different time of day.

As far as I am aware Biotin and MSM are two different things so replacing one with a high dose of the other may cause detoxing effects.

 

[Hairsnob]

The only side effect that I had was a case of severe detoxification-stomach cramps & all , I think that I was taking 4000mgs per day! I went back to 2000mgs per day I think I recall or read somewhere that I you take too much of any supplement the body will only use what it needs & the rest is not absorbed--> not sure if I explained it right but someone will chime in & correct me!

Wow, sounds like you had a bad case with the severe stomach cramps. That's scary. I always wonder about that detox thing. I was thinking that if it's detoxing then at some point it would have to get better because everything is gone, right? Unless I'm constantly putting the toxins back in.

I'm going to definitely cut back in some kind of way because this is not worth it. If I knew it would go away I'd hang in there but I don't know.

Thanks!

Oh dear!

Sorry to hear that you are experiencing side effects of that magnitude

With all supplements if you experience side effects it's best to lower your dosage or try taking it at a different time of day.

As far as I am aware Biotin and MSM are two different things so replacing one with a high dose of the other may cause detoxing effects.

Thank you! I'm going to do only half the dose tonight and start with half doses twice a day tomorrow to see if that helps.

 

[hair4romheaven]

Only side effect is when I take it at night I have horrible dreams. Very vivid but yet horrible. Had one last night.

 

[SunySydeofLyfe]

Here is a great article that may help
(NaturalNews) The body performs different functions at different times of the day. Many people suggest adding food supplements at varied times of the day to accommodate for the digestion and assimilation of these nutrients.

At night, many suggest taking calcium. This is because calcium is utilized at night, and also because calcium can help you get to sleep when taken at bed time. Remember the adage of a glass of milk before bed? Calcium absorption is the reason this makes sense. Magnesium is needed to work hand-in-hand with calcium. Many people take magnesium along with calcium, in the same supplements, at bedtime, although some suggest that magnesium is best absorbed in the day time. If the calcium supplement contains magnesium, taking both at the same time is appropriate.
Many vitamins are best ingested with food, so taking them at meal time is advised. It's easy to remember to take vitamins with meals, since you are eating and drinking at that time, anyway.

Fat-soluble vitamins need fat in order to be absorbed, so they should always be taken with meals that contain fat. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K.

Vitamin C lasts only a few hours in the bloodstream. It should be repeated every three hours for best results, or the entire dose should be divided up to take a third with each meal.

Fiber is best ingested in the morning upon rising. That way it will do its work in the colon without being impeded by food. Fiber can cause vitamins to not absorb, as it can act as a coating to the intestines, so it is best to not take vitamins before fiber. Iron is especially not absorbed well with fiber.

Probiotics are taken with meals and sometimes before a meal, usually about 20 minutes. Digestive enzymes are taken with meals as well, for best effect.

Stimulating vitamins, such as vitamin C, should not be taken before bedtime, as it can keep a person awake. Some even suggest that citrus juice and vitamin C cause nightmares, but this is unconfirmed.

 

[KurlyNinja]

Only side affect are the dreams. Wow. Some of them are really crazy.... and frightening.

 

[Hairsnob]

Only side effect is when I take it at night I have horrible dreams. Very vivid but yet horrible. Had one last night.

I had the vivid dreams for probably the first month or so but they seemed to have tapered off. My first couple of vivid dreams were nightmares though. Then as time went on I remember actually enjoying or looking forward to the dreams. But I barely remember them now even though I upped my dose.

Here is a great article that may help
(NaturalNews) The body performs different functions at different times of the day. Many people suggest adding food supplements at varied times of the day to accommodate for the digestion and assimilation of these nutrients.

At night, many suggest taking calcium. This is because calcium is utilized at night, and also because calcium can help you get to sleep when taken at bed time. Remember the adage of a glass of milk before bed? Calcium absorption is the reason this makes sense. Magnesium is needed to work hand-in-hand with calcium. Many people take magnesium along with calcium, in the same supplements, at bedtime, although some suggest that magnesium is best absorbed in the day time. If the calcium supplement contains magnesium, taking both at the same time is appropriate.
Many vitamins are best ingested with food, so taking them at meal time is advised. It's easy to remember to take vitamins with meals, since you are eating and drinking at that time, anyway.

Fat-soluble vitamins need fat in order to be absorbed, so they should always be taken with meals that contain fat. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K.

Vitamin C lasts only a few hours in the bloodstream. It should be repeated every three hours for best results, or the entire dose should be divided up to take a third with each meal.

Fiber is best ingested in the morning upon rising. That way it will do its work in the colon without being impeded by food. Fiber can cause vitamins to not absorb, as it can act as a coating to the intestines, so it is best to not take vitamins before fiber. Iron is especially not absorbed well with fiber.

Probiotics are taken with meals and sometimes before a meal, usually about 20 minutes. Digestive enzymes are taken with meals as well, for best effect.

Stimulating vitamins, such as vitamin C, should not be taken before bedtime, as it can keep a person awake. Some even suggest that citrus juice and vitamin C cause nightmares, but this is unconfirmed.

This is very interesting about the vitamin C. I never knew it didn't last in the bloodstream that long either. I did start adding vitamin C to try to alleviate the acne and I was taking it at night (either the pill or with orange juice). I remember a few nights not being able to fall asleep when I took the pills instead of the juice. The MSM seems to make me sleepy so I guess it counteracted with the juice but couldn't counteract with the pills.

Thanks!

 

[Kerryann]

Ive never heard of gas side effects until u thats interesting

 

[southerncitygirl]

your body is likely detoxing, i suggest taking digestive enzymes (enzymedica or dherbs) at every meal and gradually adding more raw fruits and veggies in your diet. keep drinking lots of water and cut back slightly on your dosage....i've never had any side effects, but i don't take mine solely for hair growth because it has other benefits....i also don't have terrible eating habits either. if you do, stop drinking coffee and switch to green/white/oolong/ or yerba mate tea....and stop eating refined/processed foods. the symtoms will subside, msm is naturally in all fruits, veggies and water but lots of it is lost from cooking and sitting in the store until purchase.

 

[Hairsnob]

your body is likely detoxing, i suggest taking digestive enzymes (enzymedica or dherbs) at every meal and gradually adding more raw fruits and veggies in your diet. keep drinking lots of water and cut back slightly on your dosage....i've never had any side effects, but i don't take mine solely for hair growth because it has other benefits....i also don't have terrible eating habits either. if you do, stop drinking coffee and switch to green/white/oolong/ or yerba mate tea....and stop eating refined/processed foods. the symtoms will subside, msm is naturally in all fruits, veggies and water but lots of it is lost from cooking and sitting in the store until purchase.

Thanks! This is good info. It's funny you mentioned coffee. I had a cappucino on Monday that I hadn't had in a while and that's when it started so I thought that was the problem so I stopped drinking it. But it continued and got worse so I attributed it to the MSM that I just upped.

I just had a chamomile tea and I've been eating grapes all day, hoping I can get rid of this extra bloating.

 

[Vashti]

I've heard of the nightmares some people have with MSM. Which is why I choose not to take it. Never heard of it giving people gas.

 

[ConstantlyDynamic]

is there a recommended dosage that people should take? one that wouldn't bring about these bad symptoms?

 

[Qtee]

My question is with all the ladies taking vitamins and upping doses..Is anyone consulting a dr or @ least talking to the pharmacist.. I take vitamins, but I discussed which would be best with both my dr and pharmacist. And I take the recommended dose...Dont want to be mommabear..but yall concern me with all this popping vits like its candy..

 

[Myjourney2009]

I posted on another thread about this. I started out with a very small dosage, less than the recommended amount for a week at a time. The gas started when I upped my dosage the 3rd week to 1/2 t 1x a day and 1/4 t 1x a day. I drank alot of water and took vit c with it.

It was horrible and quite embarrassing to say the least. I had to sequester myself. I got off it after that.

I took it for joint pain not for hair growth. It was not worth it.

Now I just use it in my tooth powder mixture.

 

[southerncitygirl]

My question is with all the ladies taking vitamins and upping doses..Is anyone consulting a dr or @ least talking to the pharmacist.. I take vitamins, but I discussed which would be best with both my dr and pharmacist. And I take the recommended dose...Dont want to be mommabear..but yall concern me with all this popping vits like its candy..

msm is water soluble so what your body doesn't use gets flushed out through urine, same with b-complex and vitamin c, some of these ladies do take too much stuff in the name of longer hair though. i see vitamins as insurance and try to eat very healthy every day.

 

[adeer2u]

for those taking MSM for hair growth, how long have you taken the MSM and have you notiiced any difference?

 

[Esthi777]

I had really bad bloating with this as well. I stopped taking it because I looked like I was 4 mos pregnant. Not worth it...

 

[Hairsnob]

is there a recommended dosage that people should take? one that wouldn't bring about these bad symptoms?

It's funny because some people can get symptoms at small doses and others don't get any at all at megadoses. Either way I'd say follow the recommendations on the bottle and ease into it.

Thanks!

My question is with all the ladies taking vitamins and upping doses..Is anyone consulting a dr or @ least talking to the pharmacist.. I take vitamins, but I discussed which would be best with both my dr and pharmacist. And I take the recommended dose...Dont want to be mommabear..but yall concern me with all this popping vits like its candy..

No problem, I appreciate you addressing this and looking out. I'm just kinda funny about asking docs about certain stuff because they always seem to steer you away from any kind of supplements that aren't prescribed. I know I have a conspiracy theory on that whole thing but that's another subject. But for the most part, I try to stick to the recommended dosage on the bottle. I'm taking probably the minimum dosage and have problems so I wonder how others are able to take those megadoses without problems.

Thanks!

I posted on another thread about this. I started out with a very small dosage, less than the recommended amount for a week at a time. The gas started when I upped my dosage the 3rd week to 1/2 t 1x a day and 1/4 t 1x a day. I drank alot of water and took vit c with it.

It was horrible and quite embarrassing to say the least. I had to sequester myself. I got off it after that.

I took it for joint pain not for hair growth. It was not worth it.

Now I just use it in my tooth powder mixture.

Your story sounds exactly like mine. I was okay until I upped my dosage and it all started. I drink water, take vitamin C, Super B complex and all but that's probably my threshold. So I'm sticking to my safe dosage.

I had really bad bloating with this as well. I stopped taking it because I looked like I was 4 mos pregnant. Not worth it...

It's funny, I initially thought the bloating came from not exercising. It's hard to tell because I know the B vitamins can cause bloating also. I'm planning to start working out again and if the bloating doesn't stop I'll have to wean off of it. I don't like that feeling.

Thanks!

 

[Hairsnob]

for those taking MSM for hair growth, how long have you taken the MSM and have you notiiced any difference?

I've been taking MSM for probably 4-5 months now but I also use topical growth aids (Sulfur/MN). I have a problem retaining my ends and I'm working on that so it feels discouraging when you don't see significant progress. But I'd say I probably get only 3/4 inches a month. I don't even know my normal growth pattern so I have to weigh out whether or not it's worth it. The plan was to get at least an inch a month but it doesn't always work out the way I plan.

But my hair has gotten EXTRA thick since I've been taking the MSM and I barely see any shed hairs in the comb. So it's working but until I get my retention on point I won't see the full effects.

 

[aymone]

You really need to drink a lot of water with MSM. When I was taking biotin, I did not have side effects. But for the MSM drink a lot of water and it'll go away. Also slowly build up your tolerance it. You also have to work out to make the best use of these vitamins.