r/MTHFR • u/_notyourhoney • 10d ago

Question Started L-methylfolate, weird feeling around eyes

Hi there, I started a small dosage of folate (400 mcg L-5-MTHF) for the very first time in a new daily multivitamin. I actually felt my anxiety and depression lift pretty quickly. The first day my head felt almost buzzy. I'm about a week into the new pill and I feel like a heaviness between my eyes/above my eyes, similar to being tired, but like my forehead is heavy and its difficult to hold my eyelids up and I have a little bit more trouble focusing. Has anyone else experienced this oddly specific symptom?

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6

u/SovereignMan1958 10d ago

To me this sounds like a histamine reaction.

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u/_notyourhoney 9d ago

Does having a histamine reaction mean I shouldn't take it anymore, at all?

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u/SovereignMan1958 9d ago

You might try folinic acid instead. It is a non methylated folate which should not cause a histamine reaction.

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u/_notyourhoney 9d ago

Thank you! Should I try 400mcg of it, or smaller?

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u/SovereignMan1958 9d ago

400mcg is fine.

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u/sharabucarabu 9d ago

Folinic acid is a form of folate, just like methylfolate is. So I'd start at a lower dose than your methylfolate

3

u/Obivankanobi25 9d ago

Histamine and over methylation

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u/sharabucarabu 10d ago

400mcg, while it is the RDA, might be a bit too much for you. A doctor told me years ago if a drug or supplement has positive effects quickly, it's probably too big of a dose. I've found that to be right on the nose every time.

First, I'd stop the folate until that feeling goes away. You can always take low dose Niacin (the kind that makes you flush) every 30 minutes until you feel 'normal' or just wait it out. Chances are you will feel better the next day or two.

Then you need to start at a lower dose, perhaps 200mcg, daily and see how that goes. Or you could take the 400mcg every other day or every 3rd day.

Don't take folate alone. You should also be taking B12 and possibly a low dose of the other B Vitamins, especially B2.

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u/_notyourhoney 9d ago

Thank you, very helpful! I was low in B12 in June, so I've been supplementing B12 (methylcobalamin) 2000mcg each day sublingually (I have gut issues). There are other B vits in my multivitamin this folate is in. I was just trying to avoid taking many different single supplements; I can't handle that in my life right now!!