Not pregnant, but taking prenatal vitamins?

MelindaMG · October 2010

I started taking prenatal vitamins about 2 weeks ago because I heard they were great for your hair and nails. Well about the same time I noticed that I was incredibly drowsy most days. Could there be a connection?

A Google search lists fatigue as a possible side effect, but that is listed for almost every kind of pill.

Anyone else taking them and notice any added fatigue?

pourroni · October 2010

I take them and my hair and nails are out of control! I actually take mine in the evening with a sleep aid, so if they do make me drowsy then I guess it's a good thing. I know a lot of women will take them right before bed to ward off any side effects. I've been on them about 3-4 months and haven't noticed being drowsy during the day.

brifox711 · October 2010

I started taking them about a year before I got pregnant, and I have never had any drowsiness while taking them. I take them in the morning. I know a lot of people get an upset stomach from them, but I have never heard fatigue.

ElizabethD · October 2010

It's not a bad idea to start taking them just before trying to get pregnant, but it's the hormones in being pregnant that create the amazing hair and nails. The bitter irony is after an amazingly lush pile of hair, post-pregnancy results in shocking hair loss... negating all the amazingness. Sigh

I'd stop taking them if it's exclusively for hair and nails. A better approach is to try altering your regular diet as I've heard celebrities say when they go in really amazing eating plans they see a huge improvement in their skin, hair, nails. I'm way too lazy for all that plus I know a lot of it is genetic so you can't make things better than they're going to be. (me? premature gray hair, fine and thin. wee.)

huwehotaling · October 2010

I grew out my hair before my wedding and also took this vitamin from GNC:

http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3943821

It did wonders for my hair and no side effects.

wittyschaffy · October 2010

I am taking pre-natal vitamins because DH and I want to start our family sometime after the holidays but this is not a side effect I've experienced.

anitalynn · October 2010

I take prenatal vitamins (but not PG or planning for it) - of course I suck at remembering to take them - but I take them at night. If I took them in the morning I'd just feel sick, but I've never felt drowsy.

Janell's Nest · October 2010

I'd say skip it...I never took pre-natal vitamins during pregnancy just regular flinstone ones when I remembered. There's a lot of studies out there about the negative affects of Folic Acid and the amounts found in pre-natal vitamins and the increased risk of cancer.

Breezy8407 · October 2010

I take them because they seem to be the only ones that don't make me nauseous. (well, besides the gummies)

I take mine with lunch. I don't recall ever feeling more drowsy then usual.

MrsKizdoodle · October 2010

Janell's Nest:
There's a lot of studies out there about the negative affects of Folic Acid and the amounts found in pre-natal vitamins and the increased risk of cancer.

Really? All you ever hear is "Take lots of folic acid!!". People need to make up their darn minds :-)

Do you have any links to research?

GermanGirl2007 · October 2010

My Dr. actually told me that all women of 'child-bearing age' SHOULD take pre-natal vitamins, or vitamins with at least 400mg. of folic acid. I take the Flintstones Complete vitamins because they do have the folic acid. I have never noticed being drowsy at all.

aimkins · October 2010

wittyschaffy:
I am taking pre-natal vitamins because DH and I want to start our family sometime after the holidays but this is not a side effect I've experienced.

I picked some up over the weekend and am going to start taking them tonight for this same reason.

I took them for awhile maybe a year or so ago but then forgot to keep taking them. I never experienced feeling more drowsy than normal. I had to take them at night because they made me sick feeling.

SoEnamoured · October 2010

I am also interested in the folic acid research. My Dr. told me to take prenatal vitamins a few months before trying to get pregnant and during the first trimester to prevent spina bifida in the baby.

MelindaMG · October 2010

Thanks for the input. Maybe I'm just coming down with something.

As a side note, I read that a lot of prenatals contain higher than expected levels of lead (not good.) Here is a list that I used when deciding which to take. ( I chose Stuart Prenatals):

Greatest Exposure, Pregnant and Lactating Women

After Baby Boost 1 (Tablet/Capsule)
A to Z Naturals Wow! PreNatal (Tablet/Capsule)
Vitamin Source Prenatal Complete (Tablet/Capsule)
Prenatal Superior (Tablet/Capsule)
Rainbow Light Complete Prenatal System (Tablet/Capsule)
Buried Treasure Prenatal Plus DHA Complete (Liquid)
DaVinci Laboratories Ultimate Prenatal (Tablet/Capsule)
Life Time Professional Pre-Natal Formula (Tablet/Capsule)
Daily Foods Baby & Me (Tablet/Capsule)
Carol Bond Women's Choice Prenatal (Tablet/Capsule)

Least Exposure, Pregnant and Lactating Women

After Baby Boost 2 (Tablet/Capsule) *
Nature's Sunshine Nature's Prenatal (Tablet/Capsule)
Nature's Plus Prenatal Liquid (Liquid)
Natrol PreNatal Care (ablet/Capsule)
Pregnancy Plus (Tablet/Capsule)
Pure Encapsulations PreNatal Nutrients (Tablet/Capsule)
Maxi Health One Prenatal (Tablet/Capsule)
Nature's Bounty Prenatal (Tablet/Capsule)
Stuart Prenatal (Tablet/Capsule)
Natural Wealth Prenatal (Tablet/Capsule)

http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/lead-vitamins-082803

SoEnamoured · October 2010

Yikes, thanks! Mine is on the greatest exposure list. Scary. Ugh, why can't they just get it right?

*Edit* Wait, mine is Vitamin Shoppe, not Source. Never mind, not on any lists.

Janell's Nest · October 2010

Ok this is one article on it...but not that you shouldn't take folic acid during pregnancy just that we get too much of it. Precisely why I didn't take pre-natals because I knew in my high fiber cereal I was getting what I needed in a day with out needing a supplement.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35874922/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/

Janell's Nest · October 2010

Here's another article I got off of google...

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1275/folate-folic-acid-may-raise-breast-cancer-risk-some-women.html

MelindaMG · October 2010

SoEnamoured:
Yikes, thanks! Mine is on the greatest exposure list. Scary. Ugh, why can't they just get it right?

All of these listed meet FDA requirements for "safe levels", but there is some question as to whether their safe levels are actually safe.

Janell's Nest · October 2010

And here's another article...

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/cancer/articles/2009/11/17/folic-acid-fortification-might-boost-cancer-risk.html

mefindlay · October 2010

Folic Acid is absolutely necessary to ensure healthy development of neural tubes in the fetus - and yes, to prevent spina bifida.

Folic acid is in the B vitamin family, so it's water soluble. Your body doesn't store it like the fat - soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). You'd have to have a LOT before you'd hit the top of the safe zone.

Janell's Nest · October 2010

pp were the ones making reference to safe levels. i was making reference to the link between too much folic acid and cancer you only need four hundred mcg of folic acid a day even when pregnant and people get that and even more in their daily diet because of folic acid enriched foods such as bread and cereal

mrs.katematch · October 2010

Prenatals alone DO affect your hair and nails -- not just pregnancy horomones. We recommend them to plenty of people in the salon because of that reason.

I need to start taking those, so thanks for that lead levels list, Melinda.

Not sure about the original question, though. I prefer to take any pills at night, because I'm sensitive to nausea.

Eri Paige · October 2010

I took them for when I was getting ready for my wedding, I loved how my hair and nails were!

I don't remember ever finding myself fatigued. Check if it has a lot of B-vits in them because those are suppose to actually give you energy.

I would suggest trying a different brand once this bottle it up!

good luck!

wittyschaffy · October 2010

You can't turn around these days without being told about the newest thing that will cause cancer... sun, eating grilled foods, heating plastic food containers in the microwave, drinking out of plastic bottles, etc etc etc. Before long, everything we eat, drink, or touch will be some sort of cancer causing compound and I, for one, am not willing to roll the dice on *not* getting enough of the nutrients I need to sustain a healthy pregnancy and give my future child the best possible start. Bring on the vitamins!

Janell's Nest · October 2010

wittyschaffy:
You can't turn around these days without being told about the newest thing that will cause cancer... sun, eating grilled foods, heating plastic food containers in the microwave, drinking out of plastic bottles, etc etc etc. Before long, everything we eat, drink, or touch will be some sort of cancer causing compound and I, for one, am not willing to roll the dice on *not* getting enough of the nutrients I need to sustain a healthy pregnancy and give my future child the best possible start. Bring on the vitamins!

I agree about all the things that cause cancer (I mean have you looked at christmas light box warnings???) but all I was saying is that there are enough foods that have folic acid in it that the studies are saying that perhaps we are over doing it since our livers can't process that much folic acid with out there being some lingering effects...

Breezy8407 · October 2010

Janell's Nest:
wittyschaffy:
You can't turn around these days without being told about the newest thing that will cause cancer... sun, eating grilled foods, heating plastic food containers in the microwave, drinking out of plastic bottles, etc etc etc. Before long, everything we eat, drink, or touch will be some sort of cancer causing compound and I, for one, am not willing to roll the dice on *not* getting enough of the nutrients I need to sustain a healthy pregnancy and give my future child the best possible start. Bring on the vitamins!

I agree about all the things that cause cancer (I mean have you looked at christmas light box warnings???) but all I was saying is that there are enough foods that have folic acid in it that the studies are saying that perhaps we are over doing it since our livers can't process that much folic acid with out there being some lingering effects...

Thanks for bringing attention to it. I had no idea and went and read some studies after you posted.

I personally do not eat store bought breads or cereals (all natural organic granola occasionally) or packaged foods in general. So, as usual to each their own.

I get what people are saying about there being more vitamins and minerals in a lot of our foods though.

Not pregnant, but taking prenatal vitamins?

Re: Not pregnant, but taking prenatal vitamins?

Greatest Exposure, Pregnant and Lactating Women

Least Exposure, Pregnant and Lactating Women

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