Side Effects of MSM-Adverse Dangers Liver & Heart

Are there any known MSM side effects?  What are the possible dangers? Can too much MSM cause serious side-effects, including heart disease, dizziness, fatigue and weight gain? Get to know more about the organosulfur compound effects and how to deal with these very effects.

What are the Dangers/ Side Effects of MSM? Is it Safe?

While talking about MSM as a wonder drug, the first question that  comes in your mind is whether it is safe to use. According to a chemist researcher, Robert Herschler, Ph.D. MSM is used in treating a wide range of ailments. In fact, it’s often praised for its pain relieving attributes.

Studies reveal that MSM should always be taken as prescribed. Beyond the specified dose, MSM starts giving problems. Usually the dose is of 1 gram per kilograms of body weight per day for 30 days. If taken in the form of intravenous injections, 0.5 grams per kg body weight daily for five days a week is prescribed. No measurable toxicity is found in the humans if consumed on a specified degree.

It is also tested as a food ingredient which results in no allergic reactions. According to a study by Oregon Health Sciences University, the long-term usage of MSM over a period of six months actually shows no toxic effects.

But, it can be lethal. It is found that the lethal dose (LD50) of MSM for humans is more than one and a half kilograms of per kilograms of body weight per day for 30 days. Here’s a brief overview of the bad effects of MSM.

MSM Side Effects Liver

Can MSM cause liver damage or disease? Is it bad the liver’s health and enzymes? For healthy individuals MSM is thought to be safey for the liver. However, in cases where this supplement is used for the sole purpose of detoxification, some users may experience a herxheimer reaction combined with strong detox effects. These effects
may not sit well with patients or individuals with unending health issues

Side Effects of MSM on Heart

MSM is surely a wonder cure for various health hazards, but consuming it more than the prescribed limit can trigger heart disease. This is why doctors usually refrain from giving MSM dose to patients with existing heart conditions. Several cases are reported where MSM consumption has caused the heart racing or increasing palpitations.

MSM and Gas Effecs

In an issue of “Osteoarthritis and Cartilage”, published in 2006, Dr. L.S. Kim has clearly indicated with a report that on a placebo-controlled osteoarthritis clinical trial, the patient was given 6,000 mg/day for 12 weeks. The high dose was given for relieving pain, but it led to gastrointestinal bloating in the treatment group, which is associated with stomach pain, gas, heartburn, vomiting as well as nausea. Research say, excessive amount of sulfur in the stomach actually reacts with the digestive acid, which leads to bloating eventually.

Taking MSM in any other form than powder was also shown cause severe bloating in the treatment group. The bloating can actually last for a day or two. The non-powder form of MSM supplement comes with adulterants, which when they pass into the duodenum cause severe reactions and make you bloat.

Constipation and diarrhea are the common outcomes of the stomach irritation when MSM doses go higher than the specified amount.

MSM and Weight Gain

Though MSM is known for its weight loss properties, it can reverse the effects if not taken according to the doctor’s prescription. However, in some cases, the right dosage also causes the reverse effects when taken for an extended period of time. What usually happens is, consumption of MSM increases appetite. The more you eat, more it makes your body healthy.

Doctors often say that it’s not actually about gaining fat, instead it’s about feeling healthy. MSM consumption increases your inclination towards fibrous foods, which accumulate in your digestive system to give you a healthy weight along with glowing skin. From this perspective, weight gain is not exactly a side effect. In fact, MSM doses are prescribed for people who are anorexic.

MSM Side Effects Dizziness

As experts at the University of Maryland Medical Center warn, MSM supplements can cause headache and dizziness, if taken for an extended period of time. It’s important to see a doctor, when you  are on MSM dose. Many patients keep taking it even without knowing that the course is over. In such cases, patients may feel sensations of dizziness and unstablity while standing or walking.

Sometimes, it also gives you worse headache that resembles the dull pain of migraine. Such pains not only affect your ability to concentrate on daily tasks, but also cause vision problems in the long run.  It’s important to consult a medical practitioner, if you are facing such problems.

Does MSM Cause Acne Break out?

Though MSM is known as a great medicine for treating acne and similar blemishes on the skin, excessive use of this product can work the reverse. You   might suffer from acne breakouts , if you consume this supplement excess. This organosulfur compound is  a sulphur supplement which is  supposed to compensate the sulphur imbalance in the  human body.

Again, it is prescribed to different patients for different ailments. If you are consuming it for something which does not require MSM , you might end up with acne scars. Also, you should start with a  small dose and gradually increase it over a two week’s time. MSM is believed to be a strong detoxifier, hence you might end up growing detox acne, if you start taking high-dose at the very beginning.

MSM Overdose Side Effects

MSM overdose is apparently very rare. Even if it happens, patients do not suffer any serious health hazards. Symptoms like detox acne breakout, heart burn, dizziness and abrupt weight gain tend to occur. Well, the side effects that you’ve already learnt.  Severities are usually uncommon unless you have some pre-existing heart disease.

MSM Adverse Effects

There is no conclusive information exploring the adverse effects of Methylsulfonylmethane.
However, seek emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction as a result of taking MSM.

Tips on how to prevent to side effects of MSM

Side effects in Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM are pretty uncommon. The potential side effects have already been mentioned above. However, the potentiality of side effects can be prevented. The following tips will be helpful.

1.  

   Avoid using MSM if you are allergic to any ingredient in methylsulfonylmethane or to any other sulfa or sulfonamide (eg, sulfisoxazole, sulfamethoxazole)

2. Do not consume MSM if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant in a year’s time. Breastfeeding mothers should also avoid taking MSM.
3. Check the MSM dose with the doctor if you are taking any prescription, nonprescription medicine or herbal preparation and dietary supplement.
4. Strictly follow the MSM dose as prescribed by the doctors.
5. Use it as a powder or pill as prescribed for you.
6. Drink lots of water to flush in case of herxheimer reaction and strong detox effects

In conclusion…

Methylsulfonylmethane or MSM is indeed a wonder medicine, but only when you are taking it as per prescription. An overdose might trigger annoying side effects.

Refrences and Sources

1. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-522-MSM%20METHYLSULFONYLMETHANE.aspx?activeIngredientId=522&activeIngredientName=MSM%20METHYLSULFONYLMETHANE
2. http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/alternative/msm2.htm
3. http://www.medicinenet.com/methylsulfonylmethane_msm-oral/article.htm
4. http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-154412/glucosamine-chondroitin-msm-oral/details/list-sideeffects
5. https://www.longhaircareforum.com/threads/msm-and-headaches-dizziness.104206/
6. http://nutritionandhealing.com/2012/10/22/save-your-head-with-this-addition-to-your-arthritis-treatment/
7. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/basics/causes/CON-20023004