What should you not take with multivitamins?

Asked by: Dejon Nolan  |  Last update: August 12, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (36 votes)

If your brand of multivitamin also contains iron, avoid taking this product at the same time as antacids, bisphosphonates (for example, alendronate), levodopa, thyroid medications (for example, levothyroxine), or some antibiotics (for example, tetracyclines, quinolones such as ciprofloxacin).

What medications interact with multivitamins?

Multivitamins may have minor interactions with the following drugs:
  • tretinoin or isotretinoin.
  • an antacid.
  • an antibiotic.
  • a diuretic or "water pill”
  • heart or blood pressure medications.
  • a sulfa drug; or.

Which multivitamins cannot be taken together?

Some vitamins that should not be taken together, or have dosage limitations, include vitamin C with vitamin B-12, vitamin A supplement with vitamin A-rich foods, folic acid (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12, and vitamin E with vitamin K.

What not to mix with vitamin A supplement?

Possible interactions include:
  • Anticoagulants. Oral use of vitamin A supplements while taking these medications used to prevent blood clots might increase your risk of bleeding.
  • Bexarotene (Targretin). ...
  • Hepatotoxic drugs. ...
  • Orlistat (Alli, Xenical). ...
  • Retinoids.

What meds cannot be taken with vitamins?

Potentially Harmful Supplement and Medication Combinations
  • Vitamin C and antacids that contain aluminum. ...
  • Vitamin E and blood-thinning medications. ...
  • St. ...
  • Goldenseal and blood clotting medications. ...
  • Ginkgo biloba and blood-thinning medication. ...
  • Licorice root and diuretics or blood pressure medications.

These multivitamins can damage brain, liver and kidney

40 related questions found

What are two drugs that cannot be taken together?

What Are the 7 More Dangerous Medicines to Mix?
  • Alcohol and opioids.
  • Opioids and benzodiazepines.
  • Warfarin and acetaminophen.
  • Warfarin and ibuprofen.
  • PDE-5 inhibitors and nitrates.
  • Statins and amiodarone.
  • ACE inhibitors and potassium supplements.

What vitamins should you not take with the pill?

Additionally, taking vitamin C together with birth control containing estrogen may increase your estrogen levels, which can lead to more side effects from the birth control itself for some people [32].

What not to do when taking vitamins?

Multivitamins are usually well-absorbed with food. You can take them with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Just avoid taking them on an empty stomach to prevent upsetting your stomach. Fat-Soluble Vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are much better absorbed when taken with fat in the food.

Is it okay to take multivitamins with high blood pressure medication?

It is safe to take dietary supplements such as multivitamins with high blood pressure. Multivitamins such as Men One A Day or Women One A Day have not been shown to increase the short-term or long-term risk of developing high blood pressure, regardless of age, BMI (body mass index), and other risk factors.

What medications cannot be taken with B-12?

Possible interactions include:
  • Aminosalicylic acid (Paser). Taking this drug used to treat digestive problems might reduce your body's ability to absorb vitamin B-12.
  • Colchicine (Colcrys, Mitigare, Gloperba). ...
  • Metformin (Glumetza, Fortamet, others). ...
  • Proton pump inhibitors. ...
  • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements.

What vitamins should you not take at night?

6 supplements you should not take at night!
  • Vitamins B.
  • Multivitamins and energy herbs.
  • Vitamin D.
  • Calcium.
  • Vitamin C.
  • Zinc.

Can you take multivitamins with anything?

"Multivitamins, especially ones that contain iron, can upset your stomach," says Dr. Okunnu. "To reduce this, I typically recommend taking them with food." It's why the best time to take multivitamins is usually at mealtime.

What to avoid when taking D3?

Possible interactions include:
  • Aluminum. ...
  • Anticonvulsants. ...
  • Atorvastatin (Lipitor). ...
  • Calcipotriene (Dovonex, Sorilux). ...
  • Cholestyramine (Prevalite). ...
  • Cytochrome P-450 3A4 (CYP3A4) substrates. ...
  • Digoxin (Lanoxin). ...
  • Diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, others).

What are 2 negatives of taking a multivitamin?

Constipation, diarrhea, or upset stomach may occur. These effects are usually temporary and may disappear as your body adjusts to this medication. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

What are two blood pressure medications to avoid?

5 of the worst blood pressure medications
  • Beta blockers. Usually, beta blockers aren't used as first-choice therapies to lower blood pressure. ...
  • Loop diuretics. Furosemide (Lasix) is a type of diuretic (water pill) known as a loop diuretic. ...
  • Alpha blockers. ...
  • Vasodilators. ...
  • Alpha-2 agonists.

Who should avoid multivitamins?

If you smoke or used to smoke, you should avoid a multivitamin with a large amount of beta-carotene and vitamin A, as those ingredients may increase the risk of lung cancer. You also want to watch the amount of vitamin A if you're pregnant, as it can lead to an increased risk of birth defects.

What is the number one fruit to lower blood pressure?

Fruits that can help lower blood pressure in the long term include strawberries, blueberries, bananas, watermelon, and kiwis . Drinking pomegranate juice may also help .

What vitamins should you not mix with vitamin D?

Iron and vitamin D – taking vitamin D can potentially decrease your iron levels. Take them at different times, morning and evening, for best efficacy. Vitamin E and vitamin K, fish oils/omega-3 – as these vitamins may impact blood vessel health in those on certain medications.

What medicines cannot be taken together?

Specifically, drugs that slow down breathing rate, such as opioids, alcohol, antihistamines, CNS depressants, or general anesthetics, should not be taken together because these combinations increase the risk of life-threatening respiratory depression.

Which two vitamins should not be taken together?

What Vitamins Should You Avoid Taking Together?
  • Iron and Calcium. ...
  • High doses of Iron and Zinc. ...
  • High doses of Calcium, Zinc or Magnesium. ...
  • Copper and Zinc. ...
  • B Vitamins. ...
  • Vitamin C and Zinc. ...
  • Iron and Vitamin C. ...
  • What About Multivitamins?

What does the Mayo Clinic say about multivitamins?

Avoid megadoses.

High-dose supplements can cause toxic levels of nutrients to build up in your body. Therefore, it's better to choose a multivitamin-mineral supplement that pro- vides about 100 percent of the Daily Value (DV) of all vitamins and minerals — unless your doctor advises otherwise.

What vitamins are bad to take every day?

Possible health risks
  • High doses of beta carotene have been linked to a greater risk of lung cancer in smokers.
  • Extra calcium and vitamin D may increase the risk of kidney stones.
  • High doses of vitamin E may lead to stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.

What vitamins does the pill deplete?

It has been shown that the key nutrient depletions concern folic acid, vitamins B2, B6, B12, vitamin C and E and the minerals magnesium, selenium and zinc. Most research has focused on the levels of these vitamins and minerals in the blood of women who take OCs compared to women who do not.

What to avoid when taking pills?

Top 5 Things to Avoid When Taking Medications
  • Empty Stomach. ...
  • Long Term Direct Sun Exposure. ...
  • Over- or Under-Hydrating. ...
  • Starting New Medications, OTC, or Herbals Before Consulting Your Physician. ...
  • Discontinuing, Changing, or Increasing Doses Without Consultation.

Do vitamins interfere with medications?

Certain dietary supplements can change absorption, metabolism, or excretion of a medication. If that happens, it can affect the potency of your medication, which means you may get either too much or too little of the medication you need.