MSM Side Effects: What You Need to Know Before You Take It

MSM said to take a 1/2 tsp 2-3 times a day. So I took 2. I was so exhausted. Told to take with Vitamin C so I did. When I took it I felt fine, then a couple of hours later I felt stoned and tired.

My scalp broke out badly. I have been on MSM for 2 weeks.

I have went down to a 1/2 tsp a day and I take it in the evening around dinner time. It helps me sleep but if I take it too close to bedtime it keeps me awake.

This has been a strange drug for me. I also broke out in a rash on my arms. That has seemed to subside but the stoned feeling I can't wait for it to go away. Good luck to all. Remember what doesn't affect you may affect someone else.

We purchased pure MSM in November (2020). My husband takes it daily and he feels it's helped his frozen shoulder and joints.

After the 7th day of 1/2 teaspoon MSM, I was besieged by heart palpitations. They finally began lessening in January. Made appt with cardiologist, all tests came back fine. I increased magnesium to 400mg 3x day, a banana and himalayan sea salt, which eliminated the palps.

2 days ago, I tried about 1/8 teaspoon of MSM and yup, a couple palps occurred. I think I'll try 1-2 crystals because my joints were feeling much better to see if that keeps the joints and heart happy.

I started MSM a couple of weeks ago because I discontinued my Chondroitin Glucosamine, and I have been experiencing cramping in my feet and legs. I see from this article that my occasional insomnia may also be from taking my MSM later in the day when I have forgotten it in the morning. I have also recently experienced some mild emotional lows.

Hello, When I take MSM, 1000 capsule, I start getting what feels like a UTI, doctor finds no infection. I feel this must be some reaction to MSM. Has anyone else had this sort of reaction and how did you cure it? Thank you

Wanted to thank you for posting the page of side effects from MSM.

I started taking it for joints (had a bum shoulder), skin and hair.

Started 1 capsule of 1,000 mg in the morning. Second day took 2.

Bottle mentioned therapeutic dose was 4 capsules. Day 3 I took 4.

Also had used 2 different skin lotions at the time on my face. My face sometimes reacts to serums and lotions.

Day 5 my face was reddened with several round red raised areas. They were only mildly itchy, at most. They turned into raised eczema patches which have persisted for 3 weeks now.

I wasn't sure if it was lotions or msm. Searched online but didn't see anything that said that msm could CAUSE a reaction. In fact, many sites mentioned that it was a treatment for eczema.

I couldn't see an ingredient that was unusual in the lotions. I searched again and came across this site. Now I'm certain. Thank you!

MSM:

Sometimes I feel that it aggravates my skin and increases aches all over I my body....

Hi Art,

There must be something in both that makes me feel terrible, sometimes with breathing problems. I also noticed a long time ago, as did my family, that if I had a glass of red wine, I could count on getting very congested afterwards, we thought possibly from the sulfites. I try to stay away from anything that contains any of those words.

My husband's hands were about the same, but he hadn't used the hand cream very long before he read about the kidney info. He almost died when he was a child from nephritis, and he has some kidney numbers that aren't optimal now, so he is hesitant to try something if he reads anything adverse.

Thank you for the info on several topics. I will post on the LP later. I am trying your homeopathic back treatment at the moment. I have had back pain with gardening or cleaning since I hurt my back years ago while shoveling and spreading a truck load of mulch. Not sure it is stenosis, but thought it couldn't hurt. I will take it until January or February, at least.

So good to read your posts with such good documentation. You give so many people hope with your research!

Hi Rsw,

You can be allergic to sulfa drugs and you can be allergic to an organic sulfur like MSM, but they are two different allergies and having one does not mean that you also have the other.

Art

Hi Deirdre,

Recently, my husband was having pain in his golf hands, and he read that MSM could be helpful. I told him I had some powder and he is using it with good results. However, when I got it out, I have written in black magic marker, “Not for RW! Allergic! Do Not Take.” I am allergic to sulfa medicines, and I think this is the reason I can't take MSM. It is the only supplement I have marked with a warning. I honestly can't remember what happened, but it may have been breathing or anxiety problems, but must have been bad for me to label it that way. It seems to work well to relieve pain for many people.

Thank you for your great post on MSM, Art!

I think people do need to be very careful when they take MSM orally. I have taken it in the past and it caused anxiety and this sensation of pressure on the heart that was intense! I think that is a common side effect for people starting out on MSM.

Turns out you also have to be equally careful with dogs too! I gave a very small amount to my dogs in their dinner recently to help with arthritis and the next day, one of them wouldn't stop whining all day. He was clearly feeling punk from the supplement. No more of that! After 24 hours it left his system and he was back to his happy old boy self.

I will have to try it topically (on myself, not the dogs) and see if has the same side effects.

Initially, MSM was the most profound remedy I had ever experienced. It gradually but successfully treated my chronic prostatitis, tendinitis, even substantially improved depression symptoms I'd lived with for a decade.

After taking 2-3 grams for almost 3 years, however, it riddled me with imbalances and complications that I have yet to recover from. initially I started passing kidney stones- not realizing the MSM could contribute to this. After reading of a few similar cases online, I stopped taking the MSM and had a brutish withdrawal period.

I broke out in full hives on my back, fever, etc. after the withdrawal, all of my original symptoms returned, but with a twist. Over time I became similarly sensitive to most anti-inflammatory herbs/nutrients. I can't even take fish oil without having reactions. My kidneys behave irregularly, I have cardiovascular involvement, and more recently significant adrenal dysfunction. I suspect I imbalanced something nutritionally from taking the sulphuric, but i've had little to no luck finding a combination of nutrients to restore the balance. Please use caution with MSM, and even if you find it to help you. PLEASE take regular breaks when using it. Do not stay on it long-term. It's been over a decade since I stopped, and I'm not certain whether I'll ever get my life back completely.

The Negative Side Effects of MSM​

I used MSM for several weeks. Though I was very pleased with having thicker, more lustrous hair, stronger nails, No arthritis pain and increased energy, I couldn't help but notice that I gained 14 pounds!! After continued use, I became an emotional mess, along with fatigue as opposed to energy. I stopped for a week and the weight is dropping. I want the beautiful, skin, hair and nails to continue. Is there a comparable supplement?

It helped with my pain but I was having panic attacks and an uneasy feeling. I eat only plants and am healthy but this was not for me. Sad about this

Thank you for a simple and very informative comment.

Sore gums is due to vitamin C deficiency.. you may have already had a slight deficiency and the MSM made it worse. As you detox, you are also losing nutrients. I would stop taking the MSM, get an organic whole food form of Vitamin C, not ascorbic acid, and start on it for about a month before taking msm again. I would take no less than 2,000 mg daily and break it up as much as possible.

I believe this is the most accurate take. MSM is wildly powerful: many of us looking for wholistic "cures" are already quite unwell and the detox process is no joyride. Take Vit C, start small with the pure MSM powder (and v.early in the morning) and drink plenty of water throughout the day. Add some physical movement, again start out gently, and enjoy the road to recovery!

Sulfa is not the same as sulphur. Two completely different things. When they say "sulfa allergy" it usually involves rx drugs. Sulphur is a very common component to food in low amounts, so it's unlikely one would have a sulphur allergy.

Were you able to resolve the side effects? In particular the tinnitus. How much MSM were/are you taking?

Hi Orion -

I wish you the best of luck on your health journey. My husband has just started the MSM/Vitamin C protocol too (he has Stage IV colon cancer and is suffering from cachexia).

This is what he is doing based on the Cancer Tutor protocol: https://www.cancertutor.com/faq_msm/

I apologize for the long post!

How to make “MSM Water”

To make “MSM Water, ” take a gallon jug of water which has ZERO chlorine in it. Use either purified water or tap water that has been out of the faucet for at least an hour before using it.

Put 16 TABLEspoons of “Organic Sulfur” (MSM) into the one-gallon jug of water.

It may take an hour for the organic sulfur to totally dissolve. To speed up this process shake the gallon jug every few minutes.

Once the organic sulfur has totally dissolved, and you do not see any crystals in the bottom of the jug, the “MSM Water” is made.

A person could put into the gallon jug 30 or 40 drops of “Cell Food” (a trace mineral supplement) as a way to get some trace minerals into the body. This is recommended but not required.

Do not refrigerate it, let it sit at room temperature.

Adding lypo-spheric vitamin C to the “MSM Water”

While the MSM water by itself may be able to revert cancer cells into normal cells; it is best to be on the safe side and add other things to the protocol that can definitely revert cancer cells into normal cells.

Thus, Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C, a high quality, very gentle brand of Vitamin C, has been added. Vitamin C kills microbes and the portion of the MSM that converts to DMSO (and perhaps some of the MSM itself) will “open” the ports of the cancer cells to allow microbe-killing substances inside the cancer cells.

A person cannot start out with high doses of MSM water because their stomach will not be accustomed to drinking it. Thus, instructions for the use of MSM water are more complicated than might be expected.

(NOTE #1: Vitamin C should always be taken 1/2 hour AFTER MSM. This allows the MSM 1/2 hour to open the ports of the cancer cells for the Vitamin C to enter.)

Doses of MSM Water (and build-up) – For an adult

Start with 1 TEAspoon of MSM water to test for allergies.

Two hours later you can start the “build-up.”

Day 1 build-up:

Take 4 TABLEspoons of “MSM water” (the “MSM Water” comes from the gallon jug you just made).

At this point check for nausea or rashes caused by the MSM water. One-half hour later take 1 gram of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C,

Three hours later take 6 TABLEspoons of MSM water followed 1/2 hour later by 1 gram of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C,

Three hours later take 8 TABLEspoons of MSM water followed 1/2 hour later by 1 gram of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C.

That is all for Day one. The first day achieved two purposes. First, was to get your stomach used to taking MSM. Second, and just as important, was to avoid too much Herxheimers. Herxheimers, although it is harmless, can make a person very sick and can scare a person from taking more MSM. It is caused by a massive die-off of microbes in the bloodstream. When the microbes die off they release toxins. If there are too many toxins in the blood it can make a person sick and/or cause “brain fog.”

Also, note that a person should drink plenty of purified water or “ozonated” water or “ionized” water or distilled water every day.

Day 2:

1) Take 8 TABLEspoons of MSM water (ALWAYS FROM THE GALLON JUG), then, 1/2 hour later, 2 grams of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C,

2) Three hours later take 10 TABLEspoons of MSM water then, 1/2 hour later, 2 grams of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C,

3) Three hours later take 11 TABLEspoons of MSM water then, 1/2 hour later, 2 grams of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C.

Day 3 and thereafter (i.e. ongoing dose):

1) Take 12 TABLEspoons of MSM water, then 1/2 hour later, 2 grams of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C,

2) Two or Three hours later take 12 TABLEspoons of MSM water then, 1/2 hour later, 2 grams of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C,

3) Two or Three hours later take 12 TABLEspoons of MSM water then, 1/2 hour later, 2 grams of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C,

4) Two or Three hours later take 12 TABLEspoons of MSM water then, 1/2 hour later, 1 gram of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C.

5) Two or Three hours later take 12 TABLEspoons of MSM water then, 1/2 hour later, 1 gram of Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C.

The Cancer Tutor also mentions LIPH but my husband isn't taking that. He is on so many supplements and protocols right now that we have to limit what we do.

Also, this protocol is very expensive when you use so much Lypo-Spheric Vitamin C but there are instructions on the Internet on how to make your own.

Good luck!

I use MSM with Vitamin C as part of an anti-cancer protocol. It gives the body's cells more oxygen which kills cancer and other fungi, namely fungal candida. Both of which I suffer from.

I consumed 3g of MSM and 24 hours later I'm still terribly ill. I have a lot of pressure and pain behind my left eye, my neck, migraine, extreme weakness, very nauseous, dizzy. I've taken 2 pills of aspirin and then 3 hours later 2 pills of ibuprofen, and by the 5th our I reached a plateau of moderate pain, but weakness and nausea stayed the same.

This is known as the Herxheimer reaction.. So if anyone is experiencing these adverse symptoms from MSM, it means you were already sick and just didn't know it. The MSM is actually killing the cancer/fungi which is releasing toxins (in my case MASSIVE amounts of toxins). Consequently you'll have to use smaller doses to minimize the amount of toxins your body has to cope with. Some of these toxins are not easily removed, like acetaldehyde (which also causes cancer lol). Molybdenum amino acid chelate can help remove it.

I started taking MSM 5 years ago. It has helped me with inflammation in my body. Firstly, always check that MSM is streamed distilled and not solvent distilled, there is a big difference. Most MSM comes from China where it is chemically distilled and not good for your kidneys. I recently found out that my cortisol level is high and this could be due to MSM so I have come off it and can already feel my aches and pains returning.

My point is get your cortisol levels checked just to be on the safe side of MSM.

Also, when MSM is ground into a powder it depletes the benefits by half. They grind it as to make it easier to package. There are companies that do offer steamed distilled MSM but you need to ask them, and most of them don't know. If it comes from China, it will be chemically distilled. To buy MSM from China direct would cost about $12 a kg.

I buy mine from Canada through an agent. I just wanted to share that often we don't know what we are taking or how it's produced. Ask before you buy, only buy granules and be aware your controls level may be elevated from taking it.

I also saw hair loss but then I saw regrowth of what appeared to be thicker strands. I think MSM is a serious nutrient we do not know enough about & it appears to work differently in everyone.

I have read over & over that organic sulfur is not the same as sulfa drugs. I would read info., from the Mayo Clinic.

I bought MSM from pipingrock quick release capsules 1000 mg each bottle contains 250 capsules & this is my 3rd bottle almost finished. It has been great for reducing inflammation in my hands, feet, knees, I can honestly say it works! Lately I have developed dry mouth especially bothersome at night, I have lack of quality sleep. I don't want to give up the capsules & go back to the way I was but I will put them on the shelf, mark my calendar & take a break to see if this is the cause of my dry mouth even though I have used the product for quite a while with no prior issues. It is freezing cold & we are living in dry indoor environments here but I have never been kept up at night by dry mouth.

Very concerned that MSM is related to a SULFA drug as I experienced Liver Rejection Post-Transplant after taking Batrim. My transplant coordinator said MSM was ok since it is sulfur based and not related to a Sulfa drug.

After taking MSM for 2 weeks I have become fatiqued, lethargic, ears ringing, and insomnia.

Can someone please explain.

Msm is a sulfur the body uses and gets depleted as we age. I use it daily . When you use it, it depletes other things it works with to restore youth and vitality and I use it for pain control. I know it depletes C and molybdenum, so if you use it and throw other nutrients off balance then your body produces histamine( hives is one sign of this) to let you know you are out of balance.

i also had a horrible reaction from taking msm. My whole body broke out in hives/rash. I never go to the doctor and prefer to treat myself naturally but it spread from head to toe and I couldn't Take it anymore. My skin was burning I had to go to the emergency room. The doctor said it was the worst case of hives he's ever seen. He gave me an extremely high does of prednisone. Which got rid of the hives but damaged my adrenals so 3 years later I'm still healing my body from the damage of the prednisone.

Thank you for this information. I have Sciatica and it subsided until I started to take quality organic MSM (2 weeks now).
I will observe what will happen over the next couple of weeks.