The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Tana (Orange, NSW) on 04/03/2013
Greetings, I would like to ask a question - I commenced taking 2 teas. ACV in water with honey, each morning, approx 1 year ago. As time has passed I now get horrible indigestion & acid reflux, burning right up to base of my throat. Particularly at night when I lay down.
The Dr. put me on medication for 30 days, which settled it down. Now, without medication it is starting up again. I had my gallbladder out 18 yrs ago.
I loved taking ACV, however, am now wondering if it actually has caused this problem? Rather reluctant to commence again. Would really appreciate advise.
Kind Regards.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Jnell (Lumby, Bc, Canada) on 04/04/2013
Hmm, just thinking it could be something else you are eating or drinking, dairy or meat maybe? ACV is actually a very common cure for Acid Reflux. Also you could try mixing about 1/4tsp of baking soda in 6-8oz of filtered water and sipping that when your having discomfort :) Good luck
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Sharon (Coburg, Vic) on 02/03/2013
Can apple cider vinegar cause bloating of the stomach?
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Yoj (Lawrenceville, Ga, Usa) on 05/30/2012
Hi! I am new to the site but I am really enjoying it here! I have just started the ACV and so far have only taken it 2x in 24 hrs. I am taking 2 tsp in 8oz cranberry juice. I already have a canker sore on the back of my tongue. I know this is common but should I cut back on the ACV or maybe the cranberry is too much acid? Just wondering the cause and if anyone else has had the same issue and solved the problem.
Thank you!! Yoj
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Maggie (Lansing, Mi) on 05/02/2012
My husband has been taking apple cider vinegar for about 6 months, and olive leaf extract for two months. Suddenly his body is like a sebaceous cyst factory. They are popping up everywhere. He has had 3 removed, we got rid of the infected one with castor oil and manuka honey, and just today he showed me a new cyst on the back of his neck. These cysts have just appeared on stage and I wonder if the vinegar and OLE have created a detox or cleansing thing in his body and the toxins are coming out as cysts. What do you think?
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Laz (Bloomfield, New Jersey, Usa) on 02/27/2012
I am wondering if anyone out there can give me some feedback. Here is my story (I'll try to keep it brief): In June, 2011 I started losing my voice and have experienced various stages of hoarseness ever since. It is Feb. 27, 2012 as I write this. I went to an ENT physician, who examined my throat/vocal cords (not a pleasant experience) and he told me my vocal cords were "red and puffy, " and he believed the cause was that I was experiencing "Silent Acid Reflux" (i. e. , I don't have heartburn, but he said that stomach acid was traveling up my esophagus and burning my vocal cords). I also have noticed an off-and-on tangy taste in my mouth, plus often smell what I can only describe as "cigarette smoke" right after I eat -- but of course no one is smoking around me. Very weird. I thought that possibly I was smelling my own stomach acid churning around in my stomach.
So, I did my own research on the Internet and discovered all sorts of rave reviews about apple cider vinegar being a wonderful cure for acid reflux (even though, according to the ENT doc, mine was "silent. ") Since mid-January of 2012 I have religiously been drinking _____'s ACV (one tablespoon in a glass of filtered water) every day. So far I have not noticed any changes, but then again, I don't expect my hoarseness to go away immediately. The ENT doc said it takes several months for the "burned" vocal cords to get back to normal. (By the way, the ENT doc told me to start taking Prilosec -- but I was most reluctant to do this, as I experienced a side-effect of an irregular heartbeat about six years ago when I DID have heartburn -- so I stopped taking it and my heartbeat returned to normal). So, I did not do as he said, and did not start on the Prilosec. BUT... I found ACV, and was most hopeful this would work.
Today I went to a gastroenterologist to confirm (or not) what the ENT doc said he thought was my problem. I was "knocked out" and had an endoscopy of my stomach. The preliminary report (until the biopsy samples come back from the lab) is I have a hiatal hernia -- and this means that indeed stomach acid COULD get through my LES sphincter to travel up my esophagus and singe my vocal cords. However, the gastro doc said my esophagus had NO burns, and he was not sure yet that stomach acid was the culprit. BUT... He showed me photos of my stomach, and parts of my stomach were red/inflamed (many patches of red color). He asked me if I was taking lots of aspirin, and I told him "no" -- only one or two per week (neck pain), and he said the aspirin was probably not the cause for all the red patches in my stomach. So I started wondering: could apple cider vinegar POSSIBLY have a side-effect of causing inflammation in the stomach? I CANNOT for the life of me think of any other reason. I eat a healthy diet -- zero spicy foods, no red meat, no alcohol or coffee.
And so, if ANYone out there has any feedback/ideas/experience if ACV ever caused inflammation in their stomach lining, please get back to me here. At this point I am going to stop drinking the ACV until I can figure this thing out. Many thanks.
God bless you all, "Laz"
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Mary (Kildare, Ireland) on 02/05/2012
I have osteoporisis and low blood pressure. Would apple cider vinegar be a suitable remedie for me to treat repeated urinary tract infections. It seems to work for so many people and I would love to try it but am worried about lowering my BP. Also cant get my head around the acid or alkaline issues of ACV.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Teresa (Worksop, Nottinghamshire Uk) on 02/06/2012
I have recently started taking 2-3 tablespoonsful of ACV daily as I bought it for my cat and as the recommended organic one is fairly expensive, thought I would give it a try. I do not have any health problems (apart from frequent heartburn which, surprisingly, the ACV has not made any worse) but I have noticed that I have had no hot flushes since starting this. Of course, this could be a coincidence but would be interested if anyone has had any experience of this.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by La Coneja (Paterson, New Jersey) on 01/28/2012
I don't mean to disgust anyone but I just recently started drinking ACV this month and my menses won't stop. I put 2 cap fulls in a 16oz bottle of water. Since drinking this I have been very heavy & only when I skip does it "slow down. " Is there something wrong with me?
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Jen (Bozeman, Mt, Us) on 01/30/2012
La Coneja, You should be taking a multi vitamin. ACV can deplete your body of such vitamins as potassium, zinc, calcium, and iron. All very important to balancing your blood and hormone levels. Make sure you are taking a multi vitamin while taking the ACV and try taking a little extra zinc for a few days during your period. You don't want to take too much though or it will knock other vitamins out of balance so just stick with about 15 mg added per day for a few days. I take about 25 mg twice a week and this keeps my period under control but I also take the opposing vitamins and minerals to make sure I am not causing an imbalance with the zinc. I also drink the ACV daily only I can't handle the diluted water all day so I take a shot twice a day with a little water added. Short and sweet, or rather sour but it gets it down:)
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Cmb (Decatur, Ill) on 08/03/2012
I am also considering starting ACV as I am tired of the side effects of amplodine (you know; makes gums swollen and the other meds made me quite constipated). My mother use to buy this juice called "Jogging in a Jar" feel free to look it up... I use to have some but its been years, but I believe it was apple juice, cranberry juice as well as ACV; was a little pricey but it was good/tangy. I believe this is a good result of the ACV. Best of Luck!!
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Special01 (Indianapolis, In, Usa) on 12/18/2011
Has anyone else experienced choking while taking ACV and eating red meat? I was taking ACV daily for all the benefits it offers. I developed a cough which seems to have developed into choking when eating certain foods. I can no longer eat any rice at all. I love rice but it gets caught in my throat and the only way I can get it out is to vomit it up. If anyone has a remedy please help!!!
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 01/08/2012
Hi Special01 from Indianapolis, Try putting magnesium under your tongue to be absorbed sub lingually when this happens or even if you suspect it is about to happen. Mag Oxide powder or Mag Citrate or Epsom Salts all work well and let it dissolve without swallowing. When you swallow the taste should be gone due to it being absorbed under the tongue. It may also pay to increase your daily magnesium. All the best.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by A (Florida) on 04/10/2018
I have the same exact problem. I have been taking ACV for a while now for the health benefits and everything I read on it, but now I have issues swallowing certain foods. Not red meat necessarily but I can relate with the rice part. I also have issues these days with meats or anything that is somewhat dry in substance. I went to the gastroenterologist and they requested I do a swallow rest, which of course came back incocnclusive. I'm waiting on the next steps but they are trying to tell me I have GERD. I still feel that the only correlation I can see is the ACV and now seeing someone else with a similar issue makes me wonder. Let me know if you have come to a resolution of some kind on this.
Thanks
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Kalki (Mumbai, India) on 11/24/2011
ACV has worked for me on separate occasions for a completely blocked nose and for sticky bowel movement. Both times, the welcome difference was felt by the 3rd day. I took 2 tbsps of ACV in 1 litre of water and drank it throughout the day.
Last month, I took 2 tbsps of ACV in 8 oz of water, 3 times a day as recommended as I felt a severe cold building up. The cold was stopped in its tracks but mild, more or less dormant facial dermatitis (on neck too) flared up like anything. The rashes started first. After 3 days, my face started swelling and kept it up.
And the itching.... Horrible is too mild a word for it! Only aloe vera juice directly from the leaf helped with the itching. Stopped it within 5 minutes [after a few days of experimenting with a lot of remedies including ACV (with water 1:1) topically]. Till then it was difficult to even sleep.
After a few days of putting up with the rashes and swelling (I had reduced all my allergies previously by diet control), I went on a sprouts and fruits only diet (only one item at a time and only 4 items a day. Yes! ) to help my body recover. I stopped ACV at that time. I do not apply anything but natural stuff on my skin due to previous allergies.
It's 2 weeks later now on my diet, and my skin is limping back to normal. I still look like I have a medium case of sunburn, with dry flaky, bumpy skin. Thankfully not itching from the inside. Some discomfort remains due to the dryness. The skin on my face and neck in the affected parts is noticeably very much darker. It looks like a line drawn all around the base of my neck and one side's dark brown and the other light brown.
Can ACV do this?Was it a healing crisis? Was it the concentrated dose? Even if so, does it take 2 weeks , and continuing, for it to leave the body? Will this change or remain like this? My family and I have had many good experiences with ACV. I want to continue but am scared of a worsening of all this. Confused... Any help will be appreciated.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Baldev (Mumbai, Maharashtra, India) on 11/24/2011 180 posts
Hi Kalki, Apple Cider Vinegar cannot be the reason for your skin problem. However you can use coconut oil , it should help you in this situation. Drink more water.
Baldev
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Tammi (Sutherland, Ne Usa) on 10/27/2011
I was using ACV to detox @ 2tsp per 24oz of water per day also was oil pulling each morning with different kinds of oil. Coconut, sesame, castor oil.... I use the ACV about 2 wks before noticing I was getting a raging vaginal yeast infection. Used acidophilus both internally and externally and got relief. Started ACV again and notice the yeast infection symptoms again. Could this be from die off or what is your opinion? Has anyone else experienced this reaction? Should I use ACV again after I get it under control?
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Captnjackhammer (Kallangur, Queensland , Australia) on 10/13/2011
I have just tried 2 teaspoons of ACV in 8 ounces of water. I sipped the mixture and I got a very bad reaction. It went thru me like a colonic and I had feelings of nausea. Is this a normal reaction?
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Denise (Qld) on 07/22/2017
Too acidic, I found I could take it for a week, a teaspoon in water and after that it didn't agree with me.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Becky (Santa Rosa, Ca) on 09/23/2011
Hi there! I recently tried your revised recipe for daily drinking of ACV. I'm not sure if it was supposed to happen or not. Possibly just detoxing, but oh how annoying, My face started breaking out. Nothing I couldn't handle. They actually cleared up quite quickly. What scared me a bit, though, was that my tongue started breaking out, too!! It really hurt when I brushed my teeth and tongue as I usually do. I drank this for approx. 2 weeks, throughout the day, until I could no longer tolerate the pain in my mouth. Did I stop too soon? Did I go too long? When I first started, it was within hours that I felt my mouth drying out and imagined my body was doing the same. it surprised me, later, when I started breaking out.
Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks! And thanks for all you're doing here!
Becky
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Lily (Brisbane, Queensland, Australia) on 09/16/2011
Hi Allen, it may the sodium bicarb that is making you sick. If you have too much you will get diarrhea.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Jewelrygirl (Houston, Texas, Usa) on 09/19/2011
You may be going through Herxheimer Reaction (Die Off Reaction). I would suggest researching Herxheimer Reaction for more details.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Matchoo (Johnson City, Tn) on 02/28/2012
The reason for your light headedness and dizziness with ACV is that some individual's bodies, such a yours, cannot properly process the vinegar in larger quantities (being more than would be used in food). This causes a reaction similar to that of alcohol.
If you get this reaction with ACV, it is best that you look for a different natural solution. Or drink it when you've got nowhere to go :)
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Nhyira (Elizabeth, Nj, Usa) on 09/12/2011
Greetings! After reading about Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic and Raw Honey, I made the solution and began to take it just in the mornings (1 tbsp in 1 cup of water). I took it to reduce my blood pressure. Instead, my blood pressure shot up to 160/110 in a couple of days. It was already at 140/100. Has this happened to anyone before? This is the 2nd time I did this. The first was with ACV, baking soda and mollasses. At that time I assumed the baking soda was the source, but now I am really surprised this happened with the ACV. Any suggestions??
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Gary (Reno, Nv, United States) on 12/08/2011
Hello Nhyira, I have had similiar results with ACV. It seems that my BP has increased also after a few days.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Willow (New York) on 08/31/2011
Has anyone else experienced a increase in appetite while taking the ACV. I have been taking the unfiltered on for about 3 weeks and I am experiencing an increase in appetite and sugar cravings. I have always had sugar cravings. But, I thought the ACV would slow it down.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Sue Ellen (Los Angeles, Ca) on 09/01/2011
Acetic acid (active component in ACV) has been proven to reduce blood sugar levels in several studies. If you have not consumed much carbohydrates prior to taking ACV, you will give yourself hypoglycemia and will crave sugar.
The best times to take ACV alone is at least 30 minutes after a meal. Or you could try ACV with molasses, which has enough sugar to keep you from being hypoglycemic.
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Cronelesbo (Vale, Co) on 10/27/2012
RE: Stopping acid indigestion.
Here's what helped me.
Avoid trigger foods, chocolate, coffee, most teas, caffeine, sugar, dairy, wheat...?
Take Reacted Calcium by Orthomolecular (or other equivalent) 1 cap before meal. I like to open the caps and put the powder in my mouth than wash down with lots of water. It depends on your digestion, etc.
Sodium Bicarbonate without aluminum, approx 1 tsp in bubbly or plain water. Tastes awful but often motivates belching and cuts down on acid.
In the morning, do heel lifts/drops, raise up on heels, then drop down. If you have hiatial hernia, common and causes acid too, this will help seal the hernia for the day. Chiropractors can give adjustments for hiatial hernias too.
Do NOT take RX or OTC acid blockers, esp regularly. They may provide initial relief but can lead to serious digestive disorders and make everything worse, trust me!
Balance your PH by taking a PH supplement.
If you find you are having issues and are not trying to sleep, I find that walking around and doing things is preferable to sitting or lying down and helps to keep digestion moving.
Seek out a great naturopathic doc for asssitance and evaluate your nutrition and everything you put in your mouth! Reduce stress of course.
Best!
Apple Cider Vinegar Side Effects
Posted by Lola2008 (Miami, Fl, Usa) on 08/16/2011
Hi I just started taking acv, 3 times a day with water and nothing else -I also apply topically to my face - sometimes have mild acne with a random not so mild deep cyst on my face now and then normally after menstrual cycle.
my face looks so much better in a short period of time but my sinuses are so much worse, I have had sinuses problems for many years have tried just about everything- I also do not eat sugar and dairy very rarely -
i wake up feeling sick every day with flu like symptoms and I have a "river" of mucus dripping on the back of my throat-the back of my eyes hurts -even my ears feel full, they dont hurt it just seems like I am far - the wonderful rosy glow I had the first few days is now gone too!
my lower back hurts a little don't know if related and suddenly I also seem to have discharge clear and odorless nothing worrisome - but it is out of the ordinary
i am wondering if this is because I am de-toxin somehow or I might be allergic to Apple Cider Vinegar ?
i should also mention that I am hypothiroid under control with armour
i have been taking primrose oil for a few years now
just in case I will tell you that I started putting castor oil drops in my eyes before I go to bed I have pteglyum in both eyes and had a pimple like growth on my tear duct that has disappeared in 2 days ( have had it for a few years too)this is sooo wondeful!
my eyes are completely blood shot where pteglyum is all veins seem to have gotten irritated at the same time so I am wondering if it is all connected somehow
thanks so much I love this site!!!!
