Jojo asked
I took vitamin D3 and didn't realize it had glycerin in it. The next morning my throat, you know that punching bag thing in your throat, was swollen. I was having difficulty breathing but felt okay. I am trying to figure out what wrong and my wife gives me two pills of the D3. Then, 30 seconds later, I realize the only thing I have done different yesterday was take these pills. What should I do? Is there something I can take to help me?
At a glance
- If you do truly have a glycerin allergy stop taking your Vitamin D3 and take a dose of diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
- If you begin to experience trouble breathing, have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room.
- Vitamin D3 tablets without glycerin are available. Additionally, depending on the severity of your allergy, watch out for cosmetics, soaps, and lotions, as glycerin is a common ingredient.
Answer
Hi Jojo and thank you for writing into us.
I’ve never actually heard of a glycerin allergy before, but I have encountered my share of uncommon allergies throughout my years as s pharmacist, so I guess I can add this onto the list. First, if you have any sign of an allergic reaction, like hives, it’s a good idea to take a dose of diphenhydramine (Benadryl). It’s likely the strongest antihistamine over the counter in terms of helping alleviate mild allergic synptoms and a good first step to treating an allergic reaction. Hopefully that will stop the allergic reaction in tracks. I do want to caution that it can make you drowsy though.
If the allergic reaction becomes severe, your throat (or uvula, the “punching bag thing” in the back of your throat) begins to swell, and you begin to have trouble breathing, have someone drive you to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
As far as your Vitamin D3 goes, it looks like you to need to find a replacement. Fortunately, Vitamin D3 is available in several different formulations. I took a look online and it looks like most Vitamin D3 tablets do not contain glycerin. Before you purchase any, double check the ingredients on the back as there are dozens of different manufacturers. Lastly, glycerin is a very common ingredient in cosmetics, soaps, and lotions. If you have an allergy to topical (applied to the skin) glycerin, then be extra careful checking the ingredients on those products as well.
Thank you again and feel free to write back with any additional questions!
References
- Diphenhydramine Monograph , PubChem
- Clinical Pharmacology , Cholecalciferol availability page (subscription required)
