I had the same thing happen with AREDS2, so I bought all the ingredients in that formulary separately and tested them each to see what was causing the stomach upset and pain. It turns out that the culprit was copper. So now I take all the ingredients minus copper and am doing just fine. I do eat liver once a week as it is a good source of copper. I might add that I did try a more user friendly copper for my stomach issue and that did not help. We just need to do the best we can.....
I had the same thing happen with AREDS2, so I bought all the ingredients in that formulary separately and tested them each to see what was causing the stomach upset and pain. It turns out that the culprit was copper. So now I take all the ingredients minus copper and am doing just fine. I do eat liver once a week as it is a good source of copper. I might add that I did try a more user friendly copper for my stomach issue and that did not help. We just need to do the best we can.....
Did you take the same amounts of all the vitamins and minerals, excluding the copper, that the AREDS contained? I think it has a very high zinc content.
I’m not quite ready to call it for sure, but in addition to the digestive upset (described in another post by me), I think the AREDS was causing me to lose hair at an alarming rate. In the past few years, I noticed that I was shedding a more than normal amount of hair in the shower/after shower finger combing/seeing hairs on our dark hardwood floors.
At first I thought it was my imagination and I was being paranoid. Then I thought it was just an aging thing and I was just shedding more hair during the normal cycle that everyone goes through.
But it’s been about six months since I stopped taking the AREDS. And I’ve realized that I’m losing noticeably less hair.
So, like I said, I’m not ready to call it. But it’s very coincidental.
Hi @sally1b2b
I've been taking AREDS 2 for about a year and have never experienced an upset stomach after taking the pill. I recently started taking one in the morning and one in the evening which I think is the dosage recommended on the packaging. I have a friend in his mid 80s who was involved in the Bausch and Laumb study for AREDS 2 and he still receives free pills from them. He's never had any stomach issues either. I did find that it is a known side effect that you should discuss with your doctor if you are having it.
My vision is getting slowly worse; esp far. I have gotten new glasses too. I guess the Avastin inj and vitamins are only doing enough to prevent severe vision loss. My Dr does not seem concerned. He is supposed to be excellent at treating this. I am pondering a 2nd opiion.
My vision is getting slowly worse; esp far. I have gotten new glasses too. I guess the Avastin inj and vitamins are only doing enough to prevent severe vision loss. My Dr does not seem concerned. He is supposed to be excellent at treating this. I am pondering a 2nd opiion.
I’ve tried taking Preservision, Macuhealth and Macuhealth plus for the last year. Each one has caused extreme gas, diarrhea, upset stomach and bloating. I take the meds after I eat. I tried building up to a full dose but had the same results. I’m about to give up.
My vision is getting slowly worse; esp far. I have gotten new glasses too. I guess the Avastin inj and vitamins are only doing enough to prevent severe vision loss. My Dr does not seem concerned. He is supposed to be excellent at treating this. I am pondering a 2nd opiion.
Does he communicate with you about your test results, i.e., OCT scans? Do you have fluid remaining under your retina? Otherwise, I would ask him or look at the visit notes. A good number to follow is the CMT ( central macular thickness) on the OCT scan. It should not be increasing.
I’ve tried taking Preservision, Macuhealth and Macuhealth plus for the last year. Each one has caused extreme gas, diarrhea, upset stomach and bloating. I take the meds after I eat. I tried building up to a full dose but had the same results. I’m about to give up.
I have been taking Areds 2 twice daily and have no intestinal problems, but I take with Metamucil. Occasionally I just take with water and usually have nausea. Maybe it would work for you ?
I’ve tried taking Preservision, Macuhealth and Macuhealth plus for the last year. Each one has caused extreme gas, diarrhea, upset stomach and bloating. I take the meds after I eat. I tried building up to a full dose but had the same results. I’m about to give up.
I have taken all three. I feel like the MaccuHealth Plus is causing a little less gas and bloating but all three cause side effects. I do believe they help slow down my dry AMD, so I am sticking with it. If I am going out, I try and wait to take it. I split the dose and take the partial doses with meals.
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I had the same thing happen with AREDS2, so I bought all the ingredients in that formulary separately and tested them each to see what was causing the stomach upset and pain. It turns out that the culprit was copper. So now I take all the ingredients minus copper and am doing just fine. I do eat liver once a week as it is a good source of copper. I might add that I did try a more user friendly copper for my stomach issue and that did not help. We just need to do the best we can.....
Did you take the same amounts of all the vitamins and minerals, excluding the copper, that the AREDS contained? I think it has a very high zinc content.
I’m not quite ready to call it for sure, but in addition to the digestive upset (described in another post by me), I think the AREDS was causing me to lose hair at an alarming rate. In the past few years, I noticed that I was shedding a more than normal amount of hair in the shower/after shower finger combing/seeing hairs on our dark hardwood floors.
At first I thought it was my imagination and I was being paranoid. Then I thought it was just an aging thing and I was just shedding more hair during the normal cycle that everyone goes through.
But it’s been about six months since I stopped taking the AREDS. And I’ve realized that I’m losing noticeably less hair.
So, like I said, I’m not ready to call it. But it’s very coincidental.
I have been taking 2 a day for 2 yrswith no side effects.
Hi @petersmom, Welcome to Connect. Good to hear that you don't have any side effects from taking AREDS 2. Do you think it's helping your eyes?
My vision is getting slowly worse; esp far. I have gotten new glasses too. I guess the Avastin inj and vitamins are only doing enough to prevent severe vision loss. My Dr does not seem concerned. He is supposed to be excellent at treating this. I am pondering a 2nd opiion.
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Hug
1 ReactionHave you been diagnosed with cataracts or macular degeneration that is causing your vision to get worse?
I’ve tried taking Preservision, Macuhealth and Macuhealth plus for the last year. Each one has caused extreme gas, diarrhea, upset stomach and bloating. I take the meds after I eat. I tried building up to a full dose but had the same results. I’m about to give up.
Does he communicate with you about your test results, i.e., OCT scans? Do you have fluid remaining under your retina? Otherwise, I would ask him or look at the visit notes. A good number to follow is the CMT ( central macular thickness) on the OCT scan. It should not be increasing.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have been taking Areds 2 twice daily and have no intestinal problems, but I take with Metamucil. Occasionally I just take with water and usually have nausea. Maybe it would work for you ?
I have taken all three. I feel like the MaccuHealth Plus is causing a little less gas and bloating but all three cause side effects. I do believe they help slow down my dry AMD, so I am sticking with it. If I am going out, I try and wait to take it. I split the dose and take the partial doses with meals.