AREDS 2 and side effects

Thank you. Just got back from my doctor but she had no idea what to do. I’m glad I’m not the only one. Thanks for your reply. I’ve done pretty much the same things you have.

Thanks for the advice. Will try it

I tried two different makes of Areds both hurt my stomach and could not take them
G

Last week, I had my annual optometrist appointment for the first time since going off AREDS in December. Granted, this doctor is an optometrist, not a retina specialist and she did not dilate my eyes. But she is very good and is the one that first diagnosed my MD and told me to take AREDS and see my opthamologist. I told her I had stopped taking the Preservision AREDS because it was making me sick. She said, "Yeah, it can cause digestive upset for some people." I thought, "NOW you tell me? That would have been nice to know in the beginning instead of letting me get progressively sicker and think I had some terrible disease!" Anyway, she told me that they think it's the high content of zinc in the Preservision that is causing the sickness, and if my retina specialist still wants me on an "eye vitamin" (quotes because I don't really believe eye vitamins have any effect), then there are others that have less zinc in them.

I see my retina specialist this week and will see what he says.

@mosaics

I stopped Preservision Areds2 last year because I was concerned about the zinc levels even though I never had any digestive problems. I have been taking Macular Support Formula. I get most of my vitamins from Pure Encapsulations. This Mac Support has no zinc …it has Vit A and C, bilberry and grape, zeaxanthin and leutin.
The dosage is 2 daily but I only take one daily. It’s more expensive but I figure one daily is enough and I also am not sure if eye vitamins are effective.

There are many other eye vitamins out there and I think we have to depend on a reliable reputable company for the optimum formula when we go searching. Pure Encapsulations has an outstanding reputation and is recommended by many medical professionals.

I make sure I get most of my vitamins from food…not always easy but I consider food as my “medicine” and approach vitamins as the supplements they are suppose to be. The SAD (standard American diet) is what’s causing us harm. Anyone who is talking or thinking about vitamins and food and asking questions is trying to be healthier all over, inside and out, and that’s a major step forward for us.

FL Mary

I would be concerned about taking vitamin A with macular degeneration. There is evidence that, with AMD, the retina has trouble metabolizing it. Most Americans get plenty of vitamin A from their diets. If it is the beta-carotene form of provitamin A, that should be safe.

@pacer3702

The vitamin I mentioned has Vitamin A as beta carotene. They call this type of vitamin A is called a pro-formed vitamin from plant pigments that the body converts into vitamin A. Preformed vitamin A are primarily retinoids. Both are found in the foods we eat. The concern is that too much vitamin A can be toxic….not sure at what level.

In todays world it probably is rare that someone has a vitamin A deficiency which can lead to blindness but it may be a concern in some really poor undeveloped areas. I agree we get enough in our diet and I would advise people to check their vitamins…especially those multi vitamins. That’s why I get most of my vitamins from a reputable company. And most of what I get are targeted specifically for certain things…like Vitamin D3 and K2 for osteoporosis. I always check for the addition of other vitamins which some pharmaceutical companies seem to add for no apparent reason.

I think a lot of us take more than one vitamin daily and we should check for the addition of duplicates in all the formularies. There’s just too many vitamins out there…I’m waiting for a vitamin for a hang nail lol. It’s big business for pharmaceutical companies and any other small company that decides to go in to the vitamin business along with selling makeup and shoes…..really.

But, I think we are getting smarter about these things….at least I hope so.

FL Mary

I believe the high dose/day of Vitamin E, which is fat soluble, has caused serious GI bleeding for me.
Fat soluble Vit.E will accumulate in the body and cause the blood to "thin out". Even nose bleeds become difficult to stop.
The 1st bleed took place after taking AREDS2 for a few years.
After experiencing a few more bleeds; I stopped taking AREDS2 and have experienced no more bleeds.

Agree with you about the vitamin E. My gums started bleeding a month or so after I started the standard daily dose of 2 soft gels per day. My gums have not bled in over 30 years! Over time I have figured out a modified dosing schedule that works for me as far as the side effects — I take one (1) Preservision areds or Occuvite 50+ in the evening. Sometimes I miss a day. I told my doctor what I was doing. She said it was okay to do that. My age related macular degeneration is in the early stage.

It quite annoying to me that nobody mentioned the possible side effects of taking Preservision. I'm going to report my symptoms and I hope others will, too. It caused me a lot of anxiety thinking I was seriously ill. Here is the website to report adverse reactions to drugs/supplements.