Biotin and Headaches: What Users Say

• Pro...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 14, 2014

For Dietary Supplementation "PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO DRINK TONS OF WATER WITH THIS VITAMIN OR ELSE. Biotin will give you acne. It will cause severe headaches. It will make you nauseous, and you will complain it doesn't work and give up. THIS IS WHY PEOPLE DON'T GET RESULTS. In reality, you're doing it wrong if you're not getting enough water! It has worked wonders for me. I have lost hair due to medications and stress. I started noticing results in two weeks (eyelashes) and two months (scalp). And you will get hair growth everywhere. My hair has never looked healthier."

• mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2016

Biotin for Dietary Supplementation "I have been taking SHEDAVI Hair, Skin & Nails. I'm on my first bottle. I've been having more frequent headaches. I'm not the one to take any analgesic, but I've been forced to take one to relieve my pain. I also hallucinate a bit, I see things running around my house that I know can't be there. I was wondering if anyone had experienced the same side effects and should I stop taking it?"

• Con...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2022

Biotin for Dietary Supplementation "I have been using this product for about two weeks now, and my head has been hurting so bad since day one. Acne has started really bad on my face. I want my hair to grow, but not like this. I can’t take these headaches anymore, along with blurred vision. I think I'll pass on taking it."

• Epi...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 10, 2019

For Dietary Supplementation "After taking phenobarbital for years to control my seizures, I looked up the effects it had on my body. Hah! It depletes the biotin your body produces. I started taking biotin supplements. Really can't remember the amount, it was that long ago. I am 70 and have been taking phenobarbital since I was 17. I started taking biotin supplements about 16 years ago. I had strong nails for the first time in my life. My hair is thick and wavy to curly. My skin is still in amazing condition at my age. I can't give all the credit to biotin. Pretty sure genetics played a part. No headaches. No side effects. Just a better me where I needed help. Very happy I looked it up all those years ago. Look at me... long and strong nails for the first time in my life. I was a chef, retired now, and I have nails. Never could when I was working."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2017

For Dietary Supplementation "I am a 19-year-old female. I took this to make my hair grow. I am prone to headaches and acne and thought nothing of it until I had an inescapable migraine and weird cramping in my intestines that is most likely due to this drug. My head felt cloudy, and I also had trouble focusing at times. I'm trying to wean myself off and am coming to terms with the fact that my hair will grow at the pace that it wants."

• Kri...
• July 22, 2016

For Dietary Supplementation "I've been taking Biotin off and on for a few years and have noticed that certain brands seem to cause more headaches... And for someone who never really gets headaches, the ones I got after taking it were just unbearable... Stopped taking it and no more headaches, so my suggestion is to stick with a well-respected brand, and if you can, just buy a small bottle first to see if you have a reaction... On the plus side, I did see an improvement in my skin... Oh, and maybe it's just me, but I also noticed if I took it at night, I had the most bizarre dreams."

• Noa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2022

Biotin for Dietary Supplementation "I started taking the Extra Strength version of Hair, Skin & Nails and have been taking the suggested dose of 3 pills per day, but spread out throughout the day, and I only take it right after I’ve eaten something. The first couple of days, it gave me nausea, bloating, and heartburn. Now today, I woke up with a horrible headache that won’t go away. I’ve been drinking water while taking it, but maybe not enough, so I’m not sure if I’m dehydrated or not. But if getting headaches is going to be a regular side effect of taking this, then it isn’t worth it. I’m pretty sure I’m just going to stop taking it altogether because I really can’t stand the thought of getting another long-lasting headache like this."

• Kel...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 7, 2018

For Dietary Supplementation "I have had a 100% satisfactory rate with taking biotin. My hair was all busted off to about 4 inches on my head, and now my hair is in the middle of my back. I have an autoimmune disease, JIA, and it has helped me tremendously with my health issues. I think that the people who are getting bad side effects from it don't need it. I need it! My body is depleting daily of all kinds of vitamins and minerals, so as for the acne, the headaches, the menstrual cycles, all that, I've not been affected, and I've been taking it for over 2 years. I recommend it to everyone that I talk to, who has thin, wispy, or ugly hair."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2017

For Dietary Supplementation "I take this for my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. I heard that people with MS are in a study using 300-600 mg (!), not mcg, of biotin. I tried taking 5 mg, which is the highest available in a pill. I got a nasty headache, but it seems like it was a one-off because I haven't had it repeated. I know it was the biotin though, because I didn't read enough. Apparently, it can dehydrate you, so you have to drink a lot more water than you normally would. However, the very next day, I was 'sick' in the flu-like way that people with CFS/ME do. And the day after that, I had tons more energy than before. I think it may have helped my immune system to wake up and fight the (much denied) virus that causes this disease. But I wouldn't have to guess if the CDC, NIH, & FDA would fund ME/CFS research."

• Fyi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 26, 2022

Biotin for Dietary Supplementation "I take Hair, Skin & Nails and have never had a problem as long as I drink plenty of water. I did want to comment, however, that they have this supplement listed along with Biotin. I just felt it was important to say that Biotin is its own supplement (in case anyone found this confusing). There are many more supplements within the Hair, Skin & Nails supplement, besides Biotin. I felt as if it were very important to mention this fact. In many of the reviews where people are getting ill or having headaches but wanting their hair to grow or even their nails, taking just a Biotin supplement or collagen could possibly be a different option."

• Cin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 19, 2018

For Dietary Supplementation "I'm 58 years old. This year I complained to my doctor that my nails were thin and a mess. Lots of vertical ridges and splitting for many years. He recommended biotin. I took it a few years back without seeing any difference, so I stopped. Now I thought a bigger dose may be effective, so I am trying 5000 mcg daily. Six months later, most of the ridges have gone away, but my nails still are thin. My hair seems thicker. I did not get headaches, and I have always had acne, that hasn't changed."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2022

For Dietary Supplementation "I'm a 28-year-old transgender male who is generally healthy and physically active. I take no medication aside from testosterone, which I've been on for years for gender transition. At the suggestion of my hairdresser, I began to take a dose of 1000 mcg biotin once a day alongside my normal meals to help my hair grow out faster. After 4-5 days of taking this supplement, I had the first migraine of my life. It was preceded by a strong aura that messed with my vision, and the ache from the migraine lasted for days. I've never had issues with headaches before, and nothing else has changed about my life (diet, stress, etc.) in literal months, so I'm assuming the biotin triggered it. Since quitting the biotin, I have not had another migraine. If you don't have an active reason to think you need this supplement, I'd advise against taking it."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 24, 2022

For Dietary Supplementation "Yes, it seems headaches may come with biotin. So halve the dose. It's like in the hospital when you get an infection, they give you MASSIVE doses of antibiotics to absolutely be sure to destroy everything and anything. When it has been found that half doses or less work just as well. So if you are getting headaches, stomach cramps, or feeling nauseous, just halve the dose and see. Instead of taking a pill three times a day, try it once, at lunchtime preferably. And if you are getting bald spots from rubbing in a serum, stop using the serum."

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2020

"Age 61. Ah, I was wondering if the headache and flu-like symptoms were from the biotin. 5,000, 2 per day, for five days. Nails are noticeably stronger. I did have a headache and flu-like symptoms. I will cut down and see if that helps. I take other medication, so I was looking up drug interactions and found this. I have lupus. Lost my long eyelashes and have significant hair loss, right in front. I use this stuff called Caboki. I sprinkle it on, and it covers it right up. I am taking biotin for my thin, lost hair. I read that you need to drink a lot of water to lessen side effects. I know from experience it takes your body a while to get used to any medication and/or supplements. I am optimistic because of the change in my nail health in 5 days. That’s pretty good. Best wishes!"

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2018

For Dietary Supplementation "I’ve had an almost constant severe headache for about a week. I go to bed with it and wake up with it and the only thing I’ve related it to has been the biotin."