Side Effects of Resveratrol

Resveratrol Reactions

I saw the letter from someone who had their ankles swell up from resveratrol, and would like to add my experience.

My left ankle became swollen, red and painful and pinprick sores formed, one at a time up to about a dozen. The sores became infected and leaked a clear liquid. The first occurrence became so infected that my pelvic and arm pit glands became swollen, and I had a reaction with hives all over my pelvic area and arms. (I have never had hives).

My doctor prescribed anti-biotics and steroids which took care of the problem, until a week later it came back again, a total of four times. My doctor was able to heal me with steroids after the first occurrence. I had thought that it was insect bites and did everything I could think of to prevent that. I was researching vasculitis and found that two blood thinning drugs can create similar symptoms to what I was experiencing. My wife realized that resveratrol works much the same way as the two drugs and might be causing my problem.

I had been taking resveratrol for several months and since I quit taking it about two months ago, I have had no reoccurrences. My doctor does not believe that there is any connection, but has no other explanation. What do you think?

Information Source:

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/vas/vas_types.html
Hypersensitivity Vasculitis

Hypersensitivity vasculitis affects the skin. This condition also is known as allergic vasculitis, cutaneous vasculitis, or leukocytoclastic vasculitis.

A common symptom is red spots on the skin, usually on the lower legs. For people who are bedridden, the rash appears on the lower back.

An allergic reaction to a medicine or infection often causes this type of vasculitis. Stopping the medicine or treating the infection usually clears up the vasculitis. However, some people may need to take anti-inflammatory medicines, such as corticosteroids, for a short time. These medicines help reduce inflammation.

I always need to know the amt being taken, and it is seldom included how much resveratrol.

I started taking resveratrol also because it is supposed to be very good for you. I took it one evening. The next morning I had severe cramps and diarrhea. The cramps and diarrhea continued for two weeks. I called the company. They told me it might be the quercertin in the formula. I switched to another formula without the quercertin and the problem continued.

I have since stopped taking it. It has been two months and I am just starting to get back to normal. I realized that my mother had been very allergic to grapes. When she ate grapes and raisins it gave her severe diarrhea.

I can eat grapes and raisins, but am thinking the concentration in the resveratrol might be causing the problem. I am disappointed I cannot take it, but I decided the constant diarrhea would cause more of a problem than any benefit I received from the resveratrol.

The only comment I can make, is I also take Resvertol and have developed plantar fascists. I am going to discontinue the reservtol for a couple of weeks and see what happens.

Like Lisa's mother I can't eat grapes or raisins, and perhaps only a 6oz. glass of red grape juice a day without diarrhea. Now I know the reason why!

I have developed plantar fasciitis also. You have made me think. I wonder if taking the resveratrol is related.

I have just started taking resveratrol about two weeks ago....I woke up Sunday morning with what looks like bug bites, large welts on my shin on left leg, back of calf on the other leg. Both forearms have many round red welts, swollen and terribly itchy....driving me crazy.

Thought it might be spiders or bed bugs, but we can't find any evidence of any bug material. Just wonder if it could be an allergic reaction to the resveratrol. I also started taking Vitamin D3 and pro-biotic capsules on the same day. Could there be a reaction to the three taken together maybe?

HELP....I don't know if it's a reaction or a bug bite. I can see a pinprick dot in the middle of a lot of the welts....Please let me know what you think.

People often have different unpleasant side-effects from taking a product. Resveratrol is no exception. But you have to ask yourself: Is it the resveratrol that is causing the problem or it it impurities or the processing method?

If a person takes a product and has unpleasant side-effect; then goes off the product and the side-effects go away; then there is reason for suspicion. But I wouldn't blame it on the product until I've gone through the cycle of on then off at least 3 times with the same results. If you took the product in the first place hoping for benefits then rather than quit, try changing brands. Remember the cheapest isn't always the best.

There is something called a "herxheimer" reaction that sometimes occurs with antibiotic treatment and illnesses like Lyme disease, herpes, etc. It can mean that somebody is beginning to recover. Most don't realize it but most of us are infected with at least one or two latent illnesses that are endemic and usually are held in check by the immune system. But they also make the body sick, at a sub-clinical level all the time. My feeling (not a doctor) is that chronic sub-clinical illness is a problem that society doesn't want to address adequately for the poor because of the expense.

But, sometimes, they can be cured with antibiotics and then the immune system begins to recover and somebody gets better, or less frequently, other latent illnesses start causing symptoms that were not seen before because they are caused by the body fighting an infection and before the other infection was beaten back, the body simply didn't have the energy to fight.

Quite a few of these potent natural substances like resveratrol have the potential to fight infections to some degree.

I had the same reaction to resveratrol. Small itchy like bug bites but they where not bug bites. I have stopped taking the resveratrol to see what happens. I was away for a weeks holiday and did not take the supplement and I had no problems so I do think it is the resveratrol.

I am having the same problem when I sampled some at GNC. It's been three days since I've been itching. It was really horrible on the first night and it's mild now but I just want to know: how long did your itch last? It's driving me crazy and I'm on the fence about going to the clinic. I'd appreciate it!

Resveratrol Reaction -

I went through 2 bottles of high grade Resveratrol taking just 2 capsules a day and started get unexplained sores on my legs with a strange scab, these were about 3/16 in size and refused to heal no matter what I put on them.

Once I stopped the Resveratrol they went away, there might be health benefits but I believe there is also a toxin in knotweed the body doesn't like.

After taking resveratrol for about 1 month, my left ankle started to swell for no apparent reason. I was surprised, as I am quite active and in good shape. I finished the bottle and the swelling was gone.

My wife and I have tried resveratrol on several times and we had to stop due to the itchy bug like bite feeling.

I'm 100% sure its the resveratrol. I have recently tried taking a half capsule of the resveratrol and the itchy bug like bites are back. So I think I'm done with resveratrol, found no noticeable benefits while on the product

I could find a better use for my money, the product is not cheap.

I have never taken resveratrol but suffer from some of the conditions mentioned above. I'm also not a doctor though I like to do research concerning things that ail me. I do have a glass of wine in the evening -- usually white but sometimes a red. Stopping intake of resveratrol or any new addition to a diet -- is a place to start when an affliction strikes.

I've had psoriasis since I was a kid and as an adult was diagnosed with adult onset asthma. Also as a kid I suffered from pretty bad strep throat. I've had shingles as an adult -- only once, thank goodness. Three years ago I was diagnosed with chronic urticaria (hives). My dermatologist got this pretty much under control with 3 different antihistamine's a day: H1's and H2's; but it's not gone and is frustrating as heck. The antihistamines control the hives and the itching. From what I've read all of these issues are related to inflammation likely linked to a defective immune system.

I also have plantar fascitis and am having good result with off-the-shelf (circa $35) shoe inserts -- my brother had the same problem and his MD recommended Powerstep inserts. They're far cheaper than a medical orthotic and likely just as good. I would add that I tried one of those booties with the strap that pulls the toes back. For use when sleeping. This, for me, was shear torture and I stopped using.

Some of the issues you all have encountered while taking resveratrol may be coincidental to that use. But stop taking it and see what happens. I hope the above is useful.

Thanks for sharing about your plantars fasciitis. I also have developed plantars fasciitis after taking 500mg almost every day for 2 months. While there were other factors involved such as improper shoes, this is a condition I have never had before at all, and suspect a connection with the resveratrol.

Just added a supplement containing resveratrol and immediately my sinuses began draining, my throat became sore and felt like it was constricting. Very uncomfortable feeling! Waking at 4:30am from a very solid sleep with a bad headache. Anyone else have this reaction?

Yes we tried it. No I use it. Read the Scientific American article about ring DNA and we tried it. So I am still trying it. Susan is not. My cells don't feel super but my libido is good and I am happy. Susan is more attractive to me. But that might be me. No side effects except I want to invent things.

Had reaction to resveratrol which primarily consisted of abdominal and scrotal eczema like skin eruptions. Extremely itchy. Did not realize it was the resveratrol for some time. After a month of worsening symptoms finally tried eliminating the resveratrol and within a week symptoms had subsided greatly and in two weeks were gone.

To be certain I started taking it again and symptoms returned right away. Stopped and again they resolved. I took resveratrol supplements for over six months before any problems with skin began. In retrospect I now believe that this supplement was also causing heart palpitations.

During that six months I had numerous bouts of night time palpitations which at times were quite severe. After stopping the supplement they have all but disappeared. In searching the net I found that there are many others who have reported a similar reaction.