Multivitamin with minerals and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• Heh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2020

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "My ophthalmologist recommended that I take these vitamins to slow down any potential worsening of my macular degeneration in the future. I had been taking Ocuvite 50+ but he said that there had been some studies for the AREDS and that he felt I should switch. I immediately noticed that they made me nauseous even though I was only taking one pill, but found that the nausea was less severe if I took the pill with a meal. After a few weeks, (at the age of 75) I also started getting frequent hot flashes and night sweats, something I had never had before. I am also having severe stomach cramps. I think that I shall stop this pill for a few weeks and then try again."

• lou...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 30, 2021

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "I was diagnosed with the beginning of macular degeneration by my optometrist and prescribed AREDS 2 about 1 year ago. I started taking them and soon had stomach problems, constipation, cramps, and very black stools. I did not at the time realize what was causing these problems as I have a hiatal hernia, had reflux, and indigestion for many years. I stopped taking them for about 3 months while I was adding other medications to my daily routine. I started again on AREDS 2 about 3 weeks ago and lately, I often have very dark (black) stools and very bad cramps. I also noticed that my eyesight is blurry and my eyes get very tired. After reading all the reviews, I will stop taking these right now. It's awful all the side effects this is causing. It should be taken off the market."

• Gra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2020

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "My ophthalmologists recommended I take AREDS 2 for macular degeneration. I have taken the vitamin in the middle of a meal, after a meal, and an hour after eating. I always end up with an upset stomach and at times vomiting, but always nauseated. I suffered through taking this vitamin for close to a year. However, I will not take another one. The ones I have are going into the trash. Plus, I haven't been able to tell that they do any good, and they are expensive."

• Cee...
• October 15, 2020

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "Eye doctor suggested taking 2x/day with meals, saying I had the start of Macular Degeneration. At first, I didn't associate the reflux, stomach upset, blurred vision, difficulty focusing on vision, and increased eye fatigue that I was experiencing. I decreased to 1x/day. Not much better. I skipped a day or two and didn't experience the increased blurred vision, upset stomach & reflux. By the way, on a recent blood test, they erroneously tested Vitamin E - which is in PreserVision AREDS 2 - the result was off the charts, way beyond the maximum range. I questioned the eye doctor if the level is too high; he had no comment on it. I've read that doses greater than 400 units/day can cause blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, unusual tiredness, or weakness. Excess Vitamin E supplements can cause an increased risk of bleeding in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke) -- A waste of good money, I think."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2020

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "I took my first one this morning. Within half an hour, I started to feel sluggish and have stomach cramps. Within an hour, I was vomiting. Awful! I have never been allergic to any medication or had a reaction like this. I only saw that others have had this problem when I came to this site. I can’t leave the bathroom. The rest of the container is going in the trash immediately."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 31, 2018

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "Was told to take 2 a day. I have to admit I was not loyal to doing it, but when taking it I noticed I was having stomach cramps/reflux and always felt like the pill had not dissolved. Today was the end, about 2 hours after taking it the stomach cramps, bloating, gas, and reflux started. I will not take it anymore and I had just bought a new bottle. It is an expensive way to feel nauseous... No more AREDS 2 for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2021

For Dietary Supplementation "I only took it for two weeks. I thought I'd found the miracle cure to hot flashes, and it was worth the stomach aches and diarrhea. But then I noticed an unusual weight gain in the center of my stomach. I have never carried weight here. I've only fluctuated 5 pounds in the last 25 years and always had a flat stomach or within a week of running of getting it back to flat. Once I realized this wasn't temporary, I realized it was the pills. I went on Amazon to see if anyone else had a similar reaction, and one of them wrote EXACTLY the same thing in the same way I'd say it - it was like a baby had formed. Despite discontinuing immediately and only taking 15 pills, my stomach is NOT back to normal. I'm here because I continue to investigate just how it happens. Despite reading somewhere that immediate discontinuation will stop whatever side effects, I don't see that being the case yet. It is NO FUN at all carrying weight in the center of my stomach. I run, and even my running feels worse."

• Val...
• June 7, 2017

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "Trying to use this product, bad nausea, unable to take 2 per day as recommended. Tried Vitalux - body can't handle them, stomach problems continually with both medications. Don't see any difference to eyesight. Have Drusen, which I was told could be a sign of age-related macular degeneration, but some articles read say you can have them with no degeneration. Thinking of stopping this medication, at least going to talk with the doctor when I see him in June."

• Sco...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 26, 2019

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "I have been taking Centrum Silver for years. No problems. I have noticed you have up the percentages on some ingredients to 100% or more on some things. I am now having an upset stomach, and I think it may be related to the vitamin. I take it with food. I also take extra C, D, B12, Magnesium. I am at a loss as to which it might be. I wish you had left it alone. I may have to change."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2022

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "This morning when I woke up, I thought, “Why am I waking up daily feeling tired and unrested, and why am I experiencing nightly, negative, and complex dreams?” Tried to determine what’s new in my life — no new meds, no dietary change, no new vitamins — wait — I started taking this Bausch + Lomb pill due to cataract growth in both eyes. Recommended by a friend. Decided to research side effects, which led me to this website/postings. I swear God is doing the leading! After reading a few, I realized that I had experienced several of the same symptoms. Nausea? Check! Stomach cramps? Check! Diarrhea? Check! Blurry vision? Check! The first symptom was definitely nausea, and there was no logical explanation for it. Prior to finding this website, I didn’t take the morning dose today and decided to stop them entirely for a couple of weeks. After reading every single post, I’m not swallowing another. They’re going back to Costco!"

• Chu...
• July 30, 2021

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "Dr. said I needed cataract surgery. So, I decided to have the surgery on both eyes. During my first visit, for the pre-op eye exam, the optometrist recommended AREDS 2. I've been on the AREDS for 18 months and have just come into some unstable blood pressure readings. [I take no BP meds]. I mistakenly was only taking 1 tab a day. Started on 2 recently. [Up until I started the 2 tab dosage, I had no BP abnormalities.] Seeing these comments from others, I have linked the stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, blurred vision, headaches, upset stomach I am experiencing to this drug. My situation may be unique in that I take an over 50 multivitamin, 5000u D3, 99mg potassium, glucosamine/chondroitin. Vitamin overload? My daughter, a RN, has warned me about excessive potassium. Can cause heart issues. I am discontinuing the AREDS. HTH,"

• Wen...
• August 17, 2021

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "I just wanted to improve my eyesight, and my mom recommended AREDS 2. Never taken them consistently, but experienced nausea every time, especially if I took it on an empty stomach. Two days ago, I took my regular vitamins, which consist of vitamin D and iron, and a few minutes later, took an AREDS 2 and got horribly sick. I had severe stomach cramps and nausea, I couldn’t get out of bed I was in so much pain. After taking Prilosec and a Nexium, I managed to feel a little better that evening. The next day, every time I tried to eat or drink water, my stomach began to cramp, and I experienced extreme dehydration and joint pain no matter how much water I drank. Hopefully, the worst is over, will never take those again! They should be taken off the market or have some serious warnings on them!"

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2023

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "I took this for macular degeneration, and I would feel awful after taking just one AREDS 2. Stomach aches and pains, couldn't function for about 90 minutes. So, I began taking the pill with food. That helped. But, after about three weeks, I was getting acid reflux. I thought it was orange juice, thought it was tomatoes. I eliminated both of those foods, and yet I still had the acid reflux. And it was getting serious, waking me up at night. I believe it was the AREDS 2. I have stopped taking it and will not go back. The company states that it helped 25% with the 'risk' of macular degeneration. Not worth it to me."

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

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "I should have checked before ordering this medication. I took my first dose yesterday, and within an hour was horribly ill with stomach cramps, severe bloating, nausea, and back pain. Somehow, it didn’t occur to me that it was the PreserVision. I just took a second day's dose twenty minutes ago, and am already feeling sick again. Googled and found these reviews. I’m so angry. This is ridiculous. This shouldn’t even be on the market or, at the very least, should come with clearly marked warnings. Sitting here, wondering if I should try to bring this dose back up or flush my system with water."

• Sus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 28, 2021

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "My eye doctor recommended that I start taking this supplement after he discovered that I have the beginnings of glaucoma. I would take one in the morning and one at night. Within a short amount of time, I experienced a very sore feeling in my stomach, with a lot of belching and horrible, persistent gas. I thought it was due to a new coffee that I was trying. I have been diagnosed with gastritis and a bilateral hiatal hernia in the past, so I have to be careful of what I consume. I initially did not think that AREDS 2 was the culprit. I changed coffee and stopped taking all of my supplements, and quickly I felt so much better. I decided to slowly start reintroducing my supplements back in. And then it occurred to me that I should look up the side effects of AREDS 2. Boy, am I glad that I did! I found all of these reviews, and I was astonished. I felt that I needed to contribute my experience as well."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2022

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "I took one after eating and had a bad stomach ache. I tried again the next morning and became very nauseous and tired, and had projectile vomiting and slept all afternoon. Not a good vitamin for me. My husband takes it and has no problems! Go figure!"

• Sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2021

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "Was told to take 2 a day because of beginning macular degeneration. Immediately had upset stomach, pain in stomach, felt yucky. I’m getting my money back from Costco and telling my 2 eye doctors and will be looking for something else. I think PreserVision needs to know about these complaints and devise a new formula."

• won...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2021

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "Took one pill - headache, mild night sweats, and probably upset stomach. Trashed 138 soft gels. I found this site while trying to find information on this pill and any side effects it may have on the kidneys."

• Gra...
• September 24, 2011

For Iron Deficiency Anemia "I had gastric bypass surgery years ago and use it for anemia related to it. It is great at absorption and very little gastric distress, if any at all... WORTH the extra money and cheaper by far than IV iron transfusion."

• Cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2022

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "Bought this product 8-11-2022 at Costco store, was suggested by their pharmacist. Since I was diagnosed, I have cataracts in both eyes. Go home same day, take 2 pills as it suggested after my meal, threw up about 20 minutes later. 8-12-2022, only ate cereal, after that took 2 pills as it suggested, threw up about 20 minutes later. 8-13-2022, only ate steamed rice, after that took 2 pills as it suggested, threw up about 20 minutes later. Today, 8-14-2022, I’m going to stop taking this PreserVision AREDS 2. This product, to me, is like food poison, it made my stomach upset and made me nauseous and threw up. Not good. Will take the bottle back to Costco and get my money back."

• Pre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2021

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "Preservision AREDS2 was prescribed by my ophthalmologist about 23 months ago, 2 times each day. I found that I needed to take them with food as they upset my stomach. Now I have begun having severe diarrhea, running to the bathroom. I won't continue taking these. I already have a problem losing weight and feel this med may be to blame."

• Are...
• June 9, 2022

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "I took AREDS 2 Plus Multivitamin for a couple of years with no problem. Now they no longer sell it with the multi included, so I am taking the plain AREDS 2 formula. It causes me an upset stomach, and the other version caused no problem. I know AREDS 2 is the gold standard, but I am going to look elsewhere for similar vitamins. I have been on this version for 1 week."

• Gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2021

"Eye doctor wanted me to start taking these as a precaution against macular degeneration occurring in the future. He had me take another brand last year, which I threw out after two days due to nausea and sweating. Tried this brand for two days, once a day with food. The first day, I developed diarrhea, which I didn't associate with the pill. The second day, I had nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramps, lethargy, and weakness. This stuff is horrible and once again, threw out the bottle. I have been doing research for natural ways to help protect against eye problems, and there are many sound recommendations for the Mediterranean diet, which I will try."

• Anonymous
• March 11, 2025

For Vitamin/Mineral Supplementation and Deficiency "After taking one tablet dissolved in about 5 oz. of water in the evening, the next morning when I woke up, I had a discomfort like an upset stomach. It was not sufficient to throw up, but it came back a couple of hours after eating now for 3 days. If I drank a glass of water, the condition disappeared again for a number of hours. I took the Airborne tablet at the suggestion of my wife, as I felt a cold coming on. The cold never came on."

• avi...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 19, 2025

"A couple of years ago, my eye doctor said I had age-related macular degeneration. She also said it was familial and I should warn my children. She recommended AREDS 2. I was shocked at the cost, but I had been experiencing periods upon waking when I had big black blotches in front of my eyes, and I was frightened by that. Although the directions said to take 2-one in the morning and one in the evening, I found that taking the medication in the morning made me sick to my stomach, so I simply take one in the evening before bed. I have found that this indeed does keep those black blotches away, and if I run out and don't have any for 3 or 4 days, then the vision problem does come back. Other than the upset stomach, I have not noticed any other ill effects, and I do find it effective."