Yes. Vitamin A toxicity symptoms can develop when too much vitamin A builds up in the body, most often because of excessive vitamin A supplements or exposure to medicines related to vitamin A. Certain retinoid medicines can also produce vitamin-A-like adverse effects, and combining them with vitamin A supplements may increase the risk. However, headache, nausea, dry skin or other possible symptoms do not automatically mean you have vitamin A toxicity. (ODs)
Vitamin A is fat-soluble, which means excess amounts can be stored in the body, mainly in the liver. Toxicity may occur after one or a few very large doses or after excessive amounts are taken repeatedly over time. Symptoms can range from nausea and headache to vision changes, skin problems, muscle or joint pain and liver abnormalities. Severe toxicity requires urgent medical assessment. (ODs)
If you are trying to work out whether a supplement may be contributing to symptoms, see the Supplement Side Effects hub and our related parent guide.
This information is for general education and cannot diagnose vitamin A toxicity. If you think you or a child has taken too much vitamin A, or you develop concerning symptoms while using a vitamin A supplement or retinoid medicine, contact a doctor, pharmacist or appropriate emergency service.
How vitamin A Toxicity Symptoms can be linked to medicines or supplements
Vitamin A toxicity is also called hypervitaminosis A. The risk is mainly associated with excessive amounts of preformed vitamin A, such as retinol and retinyl esters found in some supplements. The body can store this form of vitamin A, so repeated excessive intake can accumulate. (ODs)
Acute vitamin A toxicity
Acute toxicity develops after a very large exposure over a short period. According to the US National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements, symptoms can include severe headache, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, aching muscles and problems with coordination. Very severe toxicity can increase pressure around the brain and may cause marked drowsiness, coma or, rarely, death. (ODs)
A suspected large accidental dose should therefore not be managed simply by waiting to see whether symptoms appear. This is particularly important when a child may have swallowed a vitamin product, as children can be more sensitive to excessive vitamin A. MedlinePlus advises contacting a healthcare professional when too much vitamin A may have been taken. (MedlinePlus)
Chronic vitamin A toxicity
Chronic toxicity occurs when excessive amounts are taken repeatedly. Possible effects include dry or peeling skin, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, hair changes and abnormal liver tests. Headache, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting and vision changes may also occur. (ODs)
Because these symptoms have many possible causes, they cannot confirm vitamin A toxicity by themselves. A healthcare professional may need to review all supplements and medicines you use and, where appropriate, perform blood or liver-function tests. (MedlinePlus)
Medicines and product categories that may be associated with this symptom
Vitamin A toxicity is more commonly associated with excessive supplementation than with an ordinary balanced diet. MedlinePlus identifies taking too many supplements as the most common cause and notes that toxicity from vitamin-A-rich foods alone is uncommon. (MedlinePlus)
Check stand-alone vitamin A supplements as well as multivitamins, combination supplements and other products that may contain retinol, retinyl acetate or retinyl palmitate. Taking several products at the same time can make the total vitamin A intake easy to overlook. (ODs)
The tolerable upper intake level for preformed vitamin A in adults is 3,000 micrograms (mcg) per day. This is an upper intake guideline rather than a threshold that can be used to diagnose poisoning, and it specifically concerns preformed vitamin A rather than all carotenoid forms of vitamin A. (ODs)
Retinoid medicines
Retinoids are medicines chemically related to vitamin A. A particularly important example is isotretinoin, which is used for severe acne.
South African professional information for Roaccutane states that taking vitamin A at the same time must be avoided because symptoms of hypervitaminosis A may be intensified. The SAHPRA-approved patient leaflet also tells patients taking Roaccutane not to use vitamin A supplements and to check that multivitamins do not contain vitamin A.
Do not assume that an expected retinoid side effect, such as dry lips or dry skin, proves that you have vitamin A toxicity. Instead, tell your doctor or pharmacist about every supplement, multivitamin, medicine and complementary product you use so they can assess the combination.
Vitamin A and pregnancy
Excessive preformed vitamin A is particularly important during pregnancy because high intakes can cause serious fetal harm. Retinoid medicines such as isotretinoin also carry major pregnancy risks. SAHPRA-approved Roaccutane information states that the medicine must not be used during pregnancy because of the risk of severe birth defects. (ODs)
If you are pregnant, could be pregnant, or become pregnant while taking a retinoid medicine or after a potentially excessive vitamin A exposure, contact your healthcare professional promptly for individual advice.
Red flags: when this symptom may need urgent medical attention
Get urgent medical help if a possible vitamin A or medicine-related reaction is accompanied by severe or rapidly worsening headache, significant blurred or double vision, repeated vomiting, severe drowsiness, confusion, loss of consciousness or major problems with balance or coordination. These can occur with severe acute vitamin A toxicity and should not be assessed at home alone. (ODs)
A child who may have swallowed a large quantity of vitamin A-containing tablets, capsules or another product also needs prompt professional assessment, even if symptoms have not yet become obvious. (MedlinePlus)
Seek urgent care for yellowing of the skin or eyes, severe abdominal symptoms, seizures, a severe blistering or peeling rash, swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, or another rapidly worsening reaction. For people taking isotretinoin, the SAHPRA-approved patient information specifically identifies serious skin reactions and other significant adverse effects that require prompt medical attention. (Sahpra PI-Pil Repository)
Suspected toxicity during pregnancy also warrants prompt medical advice because excessive preformed vitamin A and retinoid medicines can affect fetal development. (ODs)
What to track before speaking to a doctor or pharmacist
Having accurate information about what you have taken can make it easier for a healthcare professional to assess whether vitamin A exposure is relevant. Where possible, record:
- the name and brand of every supplement, multivitamin and medicine you use; the amount of vitamin A shown on each label and whether it is listed as retinol, retinyl acetate, retinyl palmitate, beta-carotene or another form; how many tablets, capsules or doses you take and how often; when you started each product and whether the dose recently changed; when the symptoms began and whether they are improving or worsening; any accidental extra doses; whether you are taking isotretinoin or another retinoid medicine; whether a child may have swallowed the product; whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding or could be pregnant; and any history of liver disease or abnormal liver tests.
Keep the containers or take clear photographs of the labels. This can help a doctor, pharmacist or poison information service work out exactly which ingredients and strengths were involved.
Do not use symptoms alone to estimate how much vitamin A is in your body. When toxicity is suspected, medical assessment may include a clinical examination and tests such as vitamin A levels and liver-function testing. (MedlinePlus)
What not to do without medical advice
Do not try to treat suspected toxicity by adding other supplements or by taking another product marketed as a “detox”. Do not deliberately increase or double vitamin doses because you missed a previous dose.
If the concern involves a prescribed medicine, do not make routine dose changes or abandon treatment without speaking to the prescriber or pharmacist. Instead, explain your symptoms and all the products you are taking. For an overdose, severe reaction or symptoms requiring emergency care, seek immediate medical assistance and follow the emergency instructions in the medicine’s patient leaflet.
If you take isotretinoin, pay particular attention to the product information regarding vitamin A. SAHPRA-approved information specifically warns against taking vitamin A supplements at the same time.
Related side-effect guides and reporting options in South Africa
If you are unsure whether your symptoms could be associated with a medicine rather than vitamin A itself, browse the side effect symptoms A-Z and the broader guide to medication side effects.
You can also report a suspected medicine or health-product reaction to SAHPRA. The regulator accepts suspected adverse-event reports from members of the public as well as healthcare professionals through its reporting systems, including its electronic reporting options and Med Safety service. Reporting does not prove that a product caused the reaction; it contributes information that can be assessed as part of medicine-safety monitoring. (Medsafety)
See how to report side effects in South Africa.
Frequently asked questions about vitamin A toxicity symptoms
Is vitamin A toxicity a common side effect?
Vitamin A toxicity is not usually caused by eating a normal varied diet. Excessive use of supplements is a much more important cause. The risk can also become relevant when vitamin A supplements are combined with certain retinoid medicines. (MedlinePlus)
How long can vitamin A toxicity symptoms last?
There is no single duration. It depends on whether the exposure was acute or repeated over time, the amount and form of vitamin A involved, the person’s age and health, and whether complications have developed. MedlinePlus reports that most people recover, but suspected toxicity should still be medically assessed rather than relying on a predicted recovery time. (MedlinePlus)
Should I stop the medicine if I think I have vitamin A toxicity symptoms?
Do not routinely stop or change a prescribed medicine without advice from the doctor or pharmacist managing your treatment. Check the medicine’s patient leaflet, disclose any vitamin A-containing supplements you use, and obtain prompt professional advice. If you have taken an overdose or develop severe or emergency symptoms, seek immediate medical help.
When should I seek help?
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if you develop unexplained symptoms while taking high-dose vitamin A, if you may be getting vitamin A from several products, or if you use a retinoid medicine and are unsure about a supplement. Seek urgent medical attention for a suspected significant overdose, severe headache with vision or neurological changes, repeated vomiting, marked confusion or drowsiness, seizures, loss of consciousness, severe rash, breathing difficulty, or another rapidly worsening reaction. (ODs)
Vitamin A is essential for health, but more is not necessarily better. If you are concerned about possible vitamin A toxicity symptoms, check all potential sources, keep a record of what you have taken, and discuss the symptoms with a doctor or pharmacist rather than trying to diagnose or manage the problem yourself.