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

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and started using MSM to see if it will help with the chronic inflammation. I started with 1/4 teaspoon, and worked up over 2x months to 1 teaspoon after breakfast. Unfortunately I have started feeling extremely tired, my blood pressure has become erratic, and I am experiencing heart palpitations 2 to 3x per day! It has been the only change to my normal routine for the last few months.These are apparently known side effects... I did see a slight improvement in inflammation levels though, but with these side effects it is not worth it for me.

I'm looking for some answers regarding MSM.

I was taking about 1-2000mg daily at the same time as using milk thistle and siberian ginseng. After the initial pronounced detox and ceasing of menopausal hot flashes I developed gout in the heels. At some stage, I have also had plantar fasciitis years ago but I'm fairly sure this is gout as I've also had that before when I first became ill with fibromyalgic and other crazy symptoms about a decade ago. I'm certain I have some kind of kidney dysfunction and have had it all my life...maybe something like Gitelman syndrome.

So my question is why am I getting gout in relation to the MSM? When I ceased the MSM the foot symptoms receded. Are my kidneys in danger from using MSM if I have some undiagnosed kidney problem? I thought msm was good for kidneys. I can't find any info online, all info says that msm is great for kodney function and helps lower homocysteine.

Confused

🙏

I've been taking MSM for many months/years but only recently very consistently. I take a teaspoon or a little more each day on an empty stomach. I take for my teeth and bones. I also do fermented cod liver oil. It has always helped and I've never had issues until recently... I noticed I was getting sores in my mouth. A lot. I was also noticing the front of my shoulders itching like crazy. Only the front of my shoulders, on both sides.

Just as an experiment, I stopped only the MSM. My mouth sores immediately cleared up and I hadn't noticed until now, the itching has stopped. So, this week, I started taking it again. A much smaller dose and only every other day. Today is the second time I've taken it and my shoulders have started itching. No mouth sores yet but I think I'm going to stop.

I'm wondering, how long should I stop? Should I even start it again? I really think it helps for my teeth and bones, I just wonder if you should only do it for a certain amount of time and then stop a certain amount of time to get the advantages of it?

That is a massive dose of MSM. According to a study I read, the large dose for arthritis is 3 grams. A low dose is 500ml. 19 tablespoons is 57 teaspoons. One teaspoon is 5.5 grams. So, 19 tablespoons is 313 grams of MSM. I'm not sure how long it takes you to drink that gallon, but that's high-dose MSM for over 3 months.

Auch im März 2022 mit MSM vergiftet worden? ...MICH hatte es Mitte März erwischt, kurz NACH Ausbruch des Ukraine-Krieges und 1 Monat vor meine Oma verstorben ist. Seither habe ICH meinen ganz "persönlichen, privaten Ukraine-Krieg" im Kopf durchgemacht... 2 harte Jahre lang. Tiefen-Erschöpftheit bis hin zur Lebens-MÜDIGKEIT und eine erbarmungslose emotionale Blockade im Gehirn wie ein Schraubstock! Und erst so nach und nach komme ich diesem heimtückischen Nervengift MSM, seiner Geschichte, Herkunft und den Hintergründen auf die Schliche. Es ist ein Oxidans eines Abfallproduktes der Papierindustrie, welches von den 2 unverantwortlichen US-Chemikern Dr. Stanley W. Jacobs und Dr. Robert M. Herschler (aus Portland, Oregon) als "omnipotentes Wunderallheilmittel" propagiert wurde. Leider findet man ÜBERALL im gesamten Internet NICHTS als 900%-ige Propaganda und Lügen über MSM! Und selbst diese ansonsten so überstrengen und übereifrigen DEUTSCHEN Kontroll- & Verbraucherschutz-Verbände & -Behörden haben im Fall des MSM bisher auf ganzer Linie versagt!!!

Lassen Sie uns zur Opfer-Selbsthilfe greifen! Denn: Helfen wir uns nicht SELBST, dann hilft uns niemand!

Google Translate:

Also poisoned with MSM in March 2022? ...it hit ME in mid-March, shortly AFTER the outbreak of the war in Ukraine and 1 month before my grandma died. Since then I have been going through my own "personal, private Ukraine war" in my head... for 2 hard years. Deep exhaustion to the point of FATIGUE of life and a merciless emotional blockage in the brain like a vice! And it's only little by little that I'm getting to the bottom of this insidious neurotoxin MSM, its history, origins and background. It is an oxidant from a waste product of the paper industry, which was created by the 2 irresponsible US chemists Dr. Stanley W. Jacobs and Dr. Robert M. Herschler (from Portland, Oregon) was propagated as an "omnipotent panacea". Unfortunately, you will find NOTHING EVERYWHERE on the entire internet but 900% propaganda and lies about MSM! And even these otherwise extremely strict and overzealous GERMAN control and consumer protection associations and authorities have so far failed completely in the case of the MSM!!!

Let us resort to victim self-help! Because: If we don't help ourselves, then no one will help us!

I am experiencing same. Like a clamp on my brain. 3k mg per day. I also am searching for remedy! Lots of brain fog and blurry vision here. 😩😫

(updated & corrected Version):

1.rst ANNIVERSARY OF MSM-POISONING !!!

Hello again,

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 2 Years.

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

I took 2000 Milligramms 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 Milligramms 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 ; like a "Fuse" burning in my Head:

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/Clamps/Lockjaw on 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.

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

The ONLY Information, I could gather about the Changes, that MSM causes in the Brain is, that MSM is a Neurotoxin ( a Cholinesterase-Inhibitor, like some Insecticides ( E 605) and most of the chemical Weapons (Sarin, Tabun, Soman, VX, Novitchok ) and it is transformed inside the Body into the 4 sulfuric Amino-Acids: Glutathione, Methionine, Cysteine & Taurine).

But I still cannot really phathom the ecaxt Damages, that MSM has caused & left in my Brain. Let alone, that I could think of a potential Cure whatsoever yet !

I have been sending Letters & E-Mails & Telephone-Calls to Emergency-Hotlines for Cases of Poisoning, to various Faculties of University-Clinics, to governmental Consumer-Protection-Agencies, to the EFSA and the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Union. NOnody KNOWS about MSM, NObody WANTS to know about MSM, NObody is reckognizing and acknowledging the Problem !! The whole "AURA" surrouding MSM is like a creepy Poison itself, just like the irresponsible Propaganda for MSM worldwide, too ! What scary Phenomenon are we facing here, with MSM???

In response to your post on side effects of MSM. I took 1500mg which was the recommended dose because of ongoing skin/parasite infections for which nothing else has really worked to get rid of it completely. It sounded like just what I needed to make my skin more resilient and fight infection. Sadly, a few days after I began taking it I started to feel the same sort of symptoms you have; I got really depressed and teary, felt really tired, increased anxiety and lost the will to do anything. I didn't know it was caused by msm at first but when I read your story I am sure now. My brain, at the front of forehead started aching and I got severe behaviour impairment such as feeling I'd lost my real self. This also caused great anxiety I spent the whole night crying. I think I felt poisoned as I thought I can't go on anymore what's happening to me! I stopped taking them last week after 2 weeks on them. Still have to sleep most of the time too and I just hope these symptoms will go away; although the deep fog of depression still hangs over me. I will not be taking MSM anymore! Good luck with your experience!

It effected me by a huge amount of anxiety. I quit taking it and will never take it again. It was scary and am happy that I quickly looked at all the side effects of the various things I take. I was just on it for about 2 days and it was gone in the same amount of time.

I recently began taking MSM after being diagnosed with osteoporosis. After taking the supplement for a few days I began to notice that foods like bacon, ham and all colors of peppers had a foul taste and smell- rotten food taste. I keep reading how beneficial it is so I am trying a different brand. Are those symptoms common?

I tried the supplement Osteobiflex with MSM by the recommendation of my primary care physician. It was horrible. I couldn't pee and going online I discovered it can cause urinary retention. I almost ended up in the ER. Any suggestions of what I can take that will help my back pain caused by osteoarthritis?

Good morning....I have MSM granules and take a teaspoon with water in the early a.m....however, I was experiencing insomnia so I stopped and restarted to ensure if was the MSM causing the issue which it was so I cut back to 1/4 teaspoon and it still gives me insomnia...could this be a herx reaction or would it mean that my body is not compatible with MSM?

I've read msm lowers molybdenum from Chris Masterjohn. Can cause glutamate toxicity and other problems especially neurological related. It's related to sulfites and sulfates. Learn more from C MasterJohn

MSM:

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

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

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.

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

Hi, I've been taking msm sulfur because I've heard good things about it, but when I take it I can't go 2 sleep and I don't know why. Can anyone explain?

Hello

Recently I started taking MSM and noticed a change in the color of my stools, much paler, wondering if anyone has had the same experience or know if this is a normal reaction? Many thanks! Leila

I did have a lighter stool at the beginning but later on it was normal, so I thought I was detoxing. After four years I stopped using it because I started to have panic attacks and flashing lights.

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

Are sore gums a side effect of MSM detox? I have been noticing that my gums are sore since starting MSM.

I'm still having this problem if anyone can please help me. When I take msm in a glass of orange juice I either feel nausea or actually throw up.I try taking it in low dosage and build it but but it eventually makes me sick. Could it be because I don't drink enough water during the day?

Seeking information and assistance on the following:

I started on MSM several months ago hoping to alleviate a trigger finger and thumb condition. I took it in the morning along with fruit and high quality Kefir that I make myself.

After some two months the trigger problem finger diminished, however one day after an increased dose of the msm I developed an inability to urinate. I stopped the MSM and Kefir and the dysuria condition abated. When I resumed the MSM and Kefir it came back. I've done this three times so I believe I have established the connection.

Now that I've been off the MSM a few weeks the trigger finger has shown up again. Please share your thoughts with me. William

BETTER BUT WITH SIDE EFFECTS

I have been taking MSM for over a year now and had some symptoms of rash(not as bad as what you describe) and hardening of my lymph glands and ducts when I started taking it. It is a side effect of MSM but is probably due to your system releasing toxins. I lowered dosage and continued taking until symptoms went away and then began increasing dosage. I currently take 24 grams/day split between morning and afternoon(215 lb bodyweight). It has worked well for my asthma, joint swelling, and pain. I was worried I would need another knee surgery but don't think it will be necessary for the time being. Make sure you are buying very pure crystals so you don't have other fillers that could cause problems.

Ann, Can you or anyone else offer a little more reassurance about the side effects of MSM? I started using it in the powdered form about a week ago. The label suggested 1/2 tsp. In 8 oz. of water. After about 2 days I noticed a mild rash on my arms and stomach. By day 4 the mild rash became severe and also spread to my thighs and backs.

It's late spring and I first suspected flea bites, but our pets have been treated and my husband had none of these little red marks. After racking my brains I realized the only new thing I'd introduced into my diet or environment was the MSM. On day 5, I stopped the MSM and the marks on my back largely went away. Those on my thighs and stomach persisted; perhaps they shrank slightly.

To test MSM as the culprit, on day 6 I took the merest pinch of it -- an 1/8 of a tsp, if that. Within an hour, the rash on my legs and stomach intensified. It spread to my chest area for the first time. Additionally, on two spots of my stomach, the redness resembled hives more than a rash. Whether as rash or hives, btw, it itches!

I'm 49 years old, was diagnosed as hyperthyroid three years ago, and have been slowly healing myself through diet and vitamins, acupuncture and meditation. I've been off the methimazole for months and returned to my customary weight (about 10 lbs over the normal range) about a year ago. I'm perimenopausal, so my hormone levels are undoubtedly fluctuating, and what bugs me the most, health-wise, is my on-going fatigue and hand/wrist numbness (I call it carpal tunnel, which is commonly associated with thyroid problems, but I've never seen a neurologist to have it formally diagnosed. You know--money issues.)

In short, I'd love to reap the benefits that MSM seems to promise most people here on Earth Clinic, but the intensity of the rash has me worried. I've never had a skin condition before, so to be wearing a rash for a week, so to speak, is a little creepy. Others have talked about cutting back on the dosage, but to cut back on the miniscule amount of a pinch is to eliminate it entirely.

I bought what seems to be a good quality form of the powder. The brand label asserts no wheat, dairy, gluten, sugar, yeast, etc. , I. E. , it claims to be hypoallergenic and suitable for vegetarians. I bought it from a reputable grocery chain.

So...suggestions, reassurances, tales of similar experiences from braver pioneers than me, anyone?

Thanks in advance for any help provided!

I take it 2x a day and never experienced any problems. Sounds like you are allergic to it. If you want to try it again, buy another brand, and maybe lower your dosage. It's one of those things our bodies need but can't store, just like vitamin C, so doubtful you are allergic, you get it from a lot of foods you eat. It's a real basic form of sulphur that comes from the ocean if I remember right.

Karen: It souns like you are having a reaction not due to allergy, but simply from the almost unique beneficial effect MSM has in greatly increasing cell membrane porosity throughout the entire body!

As such, any toxins will be mobilized in greater amounts, and that includes any Rx drugs or their metabolites.

MSM thus has the effect of amplifying the drug dose! So you have to increase the dose of MSM slowly over several weeks, and/or do not be on any Rx drugs when you do, if possible.

Drink lots of water to aid in flushing them out.

For the anemia, you are on the right track in that it can be caused by a lack of essential minerals, which can be had from things like a complete cane sugar, as near to unprocessed as possible:

www.wisegeek.com/what-is-demerara-sugar.htm

To make demerara sugar, sugar producers press sugar cane and steam the juice of the first pressing to form thick cane syrup. The cane syrup is allowed to dehydrate, leaving behind large golden brown crystals of sugar. Because demerara sugar is not heavily refined, it has a rich, creamy, molasses-like flavor which enhances baked goods. The large grains also remain crunchy through cooking, which makes demerara sugar a great choice of sprinkled topping on scones and similar dishes which might otherwise have a uniform texture.

As such, you might want to move up from the "brown sugar", since it is merely white table sugar (sucrose) sprayed with molasses to turn it just dark enough!

MSM is a natural substance (as is cortisol), found even in the oceans. It could be that your symptoms were simply caused by one of the healing aspects of MSM which very few other nutrients can replicate:

It increases, dose dependent and therefore also depends on body weight, the cellular membrane porosity , thus rate and amount of nutrient, metabolic waste and signaling molecules across the cell's membrane. This holds for all or nearly all tissue and organ cells. So perhaps you actually suffered a slight reaction to a too-fast re-balancing from too many toxins on the move at the same time?

This is why with MSM one should start with a small dose for the first week, then increase over many more weeks in increments to the maximum suggested dose based on body weight.