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

I have been taking MSM for 2-3 months. From the beginning, I had strong side effects, but I figured it was just the initial worsening of the symptoms. I was very excited, suffered from insomnia, my skin became increasingly dry, I developed severe dryness lines, my body was downright cold, my hands and feet tended to have a bluish/black discolouration.., Feeling dry in the throat.., fears, panic.. Now 6 months after stopping MSM, I am still having side effects and my skin has not fully healed.

I appreciate any feedback or help

Hello there,

MSM was aggressively recommended to me, as a "natural Remedy" to cure my strange, mysterious Leg-Infection, which had defied ANY Treatment yet so far, for over 1 Year.

I was told to start with 2000 Gramms per Day, which is 40 Times the MAXIMUM Dose, that is recommended by the official Doctors. ( 50 Milligramms). And then I should continously INcrease the Dose per Diem up to 8000 Gramms !!!

I took 2000 Gramms for about 3 or 4 Day each. But when I started feeling a bit "unwell", I somehow UNfortunately decided to INcrease the Dose to 4000 Gramms per Day. But I only did that 1 Time... then the Side-Effects hit sooo horribly HARD on me, all of a sudden, that I needed to STOP immediately !:

It was like a very short electric Shock, running through my Brain:

All of a sudden I felt sick, tired, exhausted and ill.

From THAT Day on, I never took ANY MSM again, and threw away the Rest of it. But my horrible, serious and severe Side-Effects from that short MSM-Intake just STAYED, ...even worse: They rather WORSENED all by themselves:

(1.) I now suffer from a DEEP Fatigue, with such a fatal Exhaustion, that I had become "life-tired / tired of Life" as we say in German. (When My Grandmother died in April 2022, I just wanted to JOIN her in her Grave !!!)

(2.) In my Brain (somehwere right behing my Forehead) an EMOTIONAL BLOCKADE established itself ! Something in my Brain now PREVENTS me, from truely being myself. (Like some mental Pincers/Tongs/Forceps at my Brain !!!)

All these extreme Side-Effects now continuously have existed and never vanished, ever since the Middle of March 2022.

The ONLY fair and critical Information I ever have read on MSM, was THIS Article on EarthClinic.com:

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/msm-side-effects.html

where I found ALL my Symptoms written and described! Unfortunately, I only found this Internet Page AFTER I took MSM.

What might have "co-caused" the whole Misery ADDITIONALLY, could be the many, many Vitamin-Supplements, which I took at that Time. I surely (still) have a "Hypervitaminosis", although I now completely stopped using Supplements at all.

Does anybody know these Kind of Side-Effects, and does anybody know any slightest Hint of WHAT could ease these massive Problems of suicidal Exhaustion/Fatigue and the emotional Blockade in my Forehead? Any Idea of a (natural) Relief for this MSM-caused Misery, please?

Thanks in Advance already

2000 gram is 2 kilograms!!! No wonder!!! Dose is 2000 Milligrams or 2 gram in a large glass of purified water or orange juice/vitamin C.

Hope you are ok.

Kathryn,

Have you considered borax?

Here is a link to how to use it for arthritis:

https://www.earthclinic.com/borax-remedy-for-arthritis.html

It has worked very well for me for well over a decade to keep my arthritis in remission.

Art

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.

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

I've also had an extreme skin reaction (itchy rash that looked like psoriasis on lower arms and legs) when taking MSM. And yes, MSM seemed to be the culprit, since I was taking nothing else new; and when I stopped it, the itching stopped immediately and the rash gradually faded. Would like to hear from others who experienced a similar reaction? It's wonderful to read about the advantages of supplements, but it would also help if we take the time to report setbacks as well. Thanks!

I have had insomnia for a long time. I currently had it under control when put on nature throid for Hashimoto's. I also take sleep mess which weren't really working before. Then I started MSm and started with 1 gram and increased by a gm/ day for 10 days. Fine until the 10th day when I started to become anxious and couldn't sleep and had a massive headache for 3 days. I cut back to 1gm and the headaches and anxiety went away but I still have the insomnia. Don't sleep at all for 2 nights and 3rd night sleep 3-4 hours. Thinking of stopping the MSm for a few days to see if it helps the sleep. I was using the MSm because I have chronic neck pain and some back pain and most recently injured my rotator cuff and want to avoid surgery.

I'm currently taking.progesterone therapy. I took msm and had side effects the second time I took it, headache, fatigued, bloating and nervesness. Started having night sweats...as if I never took the progesterone. It definitely affected my hormones. It also killed all my pain.

Try Magnesium Calm gummies, 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper and hibiscus tea for your heart palpitations. ACV might help too 1 teaspoon

Nicole: This could simply be "die-off" reactions as the detoxification is undergoing. You may want to consider taking Vit-C at different time than MSM as they will compliment each other. Alpha Lipoic Acid will also sync w/ the C & MSM. 3-12mg Melatonin prior to retiring w/ help detox as well as sleep.

I am one of those people for whom MSM did not work. I had insomnia. What does this mean? Do I need to detox? My joints are very creaky and noisy but are less painful than they used to be. MSM might not be an option for me. Any advice? Thank you!

WARNING!

MSM: Serious Side Effect

I started taking MSM for asthma. My husband takes it for arthritis and gets total relief. Unfortunately I reacted badly. I had developed high cortisol subsequent to using inhaled steroids (which I discontinued). The MSM drove the cortisol higher and I suffered an extremely high pulse rate, palpitations and insomnia. When I started using MSM I did not know of this side effect. So be warned. If you have high cortisol do not take this supplement. It can be very dangerous.

The warning you posted wasn't because of the MSM you were taking, The warning was for the steroids that you were ingesting. These drugs have been proven to be very dangerous. MSM is not a drug, it's a element.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

MSM is incredible... it cleared up my asthma...fixed my shoulder...helps my wifes allergies..she doesn't have to take antihystamines..... BUT ...... i started developing a red rash on my face...... red blotchy and itchy as the dickens...i stopped taking it for a week and then...the rash went away...i needed a fix on sunday as i had a heavy day so i took some more and this is thursday and i still have the rash worse then before it went away.......

i was taking two or three teaspoons a day...

I have not given up hope on it..i want to stop for maybe a month and then start gradually on it again....it does cause insomnia if you take it in the evening..it gives you great energy..i believe because you are getting a full lung full of oxygen because it clears out the bronchial passages........but that is only my theory as i suffer from asthma and this stuff really helps you breathe clearer...if feels like you are getting your money's worth for each breath you take...

i am interested in that term..i forget what they called it..but the idea of the msm flushing out the toxins..........i have been doing some reading on that and was contemplating doing the Hydrogen peroxide cleanse... and retry the msm..

i am a believer in the benefits of msm...but just to get rid of the side effects that people have.........
great page......keep the faith

MSM and Camu Camu

I am wondering if anyone can help me be able to take this supplement. I was excited to take this. I started with a teaspoon of MSM and a teaspoon of Camu Camu as it was recommended to take vitamin C together. I mixed this a large glass of water and chocked it down. The taste is pretty revolting. After a few days of this torture, I began to feel sick with 3 days severe diarrhea and nausea and stomach aches. I am wondering if this is related or normal.

MSM for back pain and hair thinning.

I started taking MSM organic powder in a glass of water every morning. I started taking a quarter of teaspoon for four days then started taking half a teaspoon for another four days and I reached taking one teaspoon around about the fourth week. I had much more energy, the extreme pain in my lower back had gone by 90% and my hair started to have some volume at the roots. I was over the moon. I thought that I would never stop taking it.

Then on the fourth week I got this horrible rash all over my body. Little welts that itched so much I just wanted to rip my skin off. There was nothing else in my diet that could have caused this except for the MSM. I stopped it and after about four days the rash stopped itching and the rash went away after a week. I am so disappointed. Now I contemplating about the fact that it is not supposed to be toxic and if it was the amount I was taking or is truly an allergic reactions or that my body was detoxing all the heavy metals and other crap from my body.

I am asking the community if anyone can give me answers and if there is some way to mitigate the rash? I would be truly grateful for some answers because I can't get a straight answer from my doctor or anyone else for that matter.

Sorry, it was a Mistake/Mistyping:

I was so emotionally overwhelmed, when typing that Story, that I confused MILLIgramms with Gramms. Pardon, please. I took 2.000 MILLIgramms, respectively 4.000 MILLIgramms on the LAST Day, before my MSM-Poisoning struck.

If I really took 2.000 GRAMMS or even 4.000 GRAMMS, I´d be already DEAD by now!!!

(Please also take in Consideration, that we use a "." in between the Hundred´s Column and the Thousand´s Column, here in Europe, instead of a ", " . )

I posted my Story a second Time already, with corrected Numbers.

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, Earth Clinic. I looked over all the MSM comments, and noticed several people say they were unable to take MSM because of a sulfa allergy, which I also have. This coughing and chest tightness is actually the same symptoms I got (only worse) when I was prescribed sulfa pills for a throat infection a long time ago. I was under the impression that sulfur was different from sulfa, but there may be some crossover. Although many people seem to benefit from MSM, I don't think it is going to work for me. So happy you directed me to those comments! Thanks!

MSM helps with my fibromyalgia but I also get heart palpitations...if I keep taking it will heart palpitations go away?

Take potassium and magnesium.

Why not take one capsule for a while?

Nicole,

Re nausea when taking MSM with Orange Juice;

Idea: Orange Juice is acidic and the combo might cause the reaction. Try taking the MSM with a milder juice. I take MSM with water...along with a dozen other nutrients...never get nausea.

I NEVER drink orange juice unless I know I'm alkaline. OJ is worse than coffee and is hard on the body.

One time I couldn't go and had to drive to town to get some cranberry juice.... One cup and my urine was back to normal. Now I keep cranberry tabs and extra bottles of juice in the pantry, save an expensive trip to town during the night.... Love, Joy

Hi, you can try Paida and Lajin, it is introduced by Hongchi Xiao. You 'clear' the meridians with Lajin (streching) and toxins will be expelled by Paida (slapping on the joints). It's is a holistic approach and is good for your overall health.

Rashes are a common detox symptom. I have read that MSM can initially cause detox reactions as the body purifies. In my own case, I had a headache at first, but it went away with continued use.

I don't take steroids and when I started the MSM, after a week or so, it caused me problems with elevated cortisol levels. So then, How would you explain that?

You said you were taking 2-3 teaspoons? Thats probably too much unless your Dr./Naturopath recommended that much. I thought a normal dose was 1/4- 1/2 a teaspoon, once or 2x a day. 3 teaspoons = a Tablespoon, enough for 12 or more people. Many things that are good for us in small doses are not good in high doses.

MSM sort of a warning...

I started taking MSM a few weeks ago, in the hopes of getting rid of, or at least fading, the melasma I have. I started with 2000mg capsules in the a.m. Then increased to 3000mg, and last week to 4000 mg., a combo of tablets and powder (just because I had both, so mixed 'em up). I have not noticed a difference in the melasma, (I am applying topically, too) but have experienced sleeplessness. I already have a problem with insomnia, so this is not good. I noticed the sleeplessness got really bad after increasing to 4000mg., so I've cut down to 3000mg. I really noticed the increase in energy when I started taking the MSM, despite a lack of sleep. About 2 months ago, I began taking SAM-E for mood, and it seems to have helped, but that is also a sulphur compound, so perhaps that with the MSM is too much?

WARNING!

re: MSM suppliment, 1000 mg -- I had some bad symptoms similar to Joanna's taking only 1 capsule a day for several days. I'm not allergic to any substances to my knowledge but awoke with difficulty breathing, very sharp pains in my sides, an ache in my back,and my eyes dried out. I'm not real fond of this MSM supplement. Also, my mood was downcast.Watch yourself with this one..

For the Sake of FAIR Information for a Change:

About the History and Background of MSM & DMSO:

DMSO is a Bye-Product of the Paper Industry, and was first scientifically described by russian Chemist Dr. Alexander Michailowitsch Saizew in 1866. MSM however, is the OXIDATED Form of DMSO. The 2 US-Chemists Dr. Stanley W. Jacobs and Dr. Robert M. Herschler, who were asked by the Paper Company "Crown-Zellerbach" in Portland, Oregon, to find a Use for DMSO, irresponsibily claimed without Evidence, that DMSO would help with a faster Healing of Wounds, Ulcers and even Asthma. But because of the bad Body Smell caused by DMSO, Dr. Jacobs & Dr. Herschler soon focussed on the oxidated Form of DMSO, which is MSM. For MSM, they irresponsibly even claimed many, many MORE medical Benefits, ignored ALL possible Side-Effects, and Dr. Jacobs got 1 Patent on a MSM-Product (and published lots of Propaganda-Books), and his Colleague, Dr. Herschler even got 11 Patents on MSM-Products!

Until this Day, NO serious Long-Term-Studies for the Use of MSM have been made yet, whatsoever. But that doesn´t keep the worldwide Propaganda for MSM from insisting on the Opposite! Also until this Day, NO Consumer-Protection-Organization or -Authority has reckognized or admitted the SERIOUS possible Side-Effects of MSM, like Heart-Palpitations, Depression, high Blood-Pressure, Panic Attacks, ... Let alone WARNED about those! They have failed entirely!

MSM is an organic Sulfur-Compound from the active Substance Group of the Cholinesterase-Inhibitors, like Insecticides like E 605, and many Chemical Weapons like VX, Soman, Tabun, Sarin and Novichok. It therefore is a Neurotoxin. MSM is capable of passing the Blood-Brain-Barrier and can penetrate Cell Membranes of the Body. As Reports from People taking MSM orally, from all over the World show, MSM is not a "natural Remedy" but a Nerve-Toxin and far from being "harmless".