Call 112 immediately for breathing difficulty, unconsciousness, seizures or circulatory collapse. For suspected overdose without those severe symptoms, a poison center is the appropriate source of a specific assessment. Do not wait for a complete symptom checklist. [1]
Describe the situation instead of searching for a threshold dose yourself
Assessment depends on ingredients, amount, time of ingestion, age and weight, among other factors. An extra tablet is not assessed identically for every product. Keep the packaging and ingredient list and record the amount believed to have been taken. [1]
Seek professional advice early after uncertain intake by a child. Iron-containing preparations can be especially dangerous in accidental overdose. [2] A friendly product name or gummy-vitamin format is not an appropriate basis for reassurance.
| Situation | Next step | Do not |
|---|---|---|
| Severe acute symptoms | Call 112 and follow instructions | Delay help with independent research |
| Unclear or accidentally large intake | Contact a poison center with the packaging | Infer safety from absence of symptoms |
| Several preparations combined over time | Have total amounts and symptoms medically assessed | Consider only the most recently purchased package |
| Further intake is unclear | No additional supplement serving until clarified | Compensate for a suspected wrong amount with antidotes |
No home remedies for supposed detoxification
Do not induce vomiting. Milk, salt water and self-administered activated charcoal are not generally suitable countermeasures; use charcoal only on professional instructions. [1] Give nothing by mouth to an unconscious person. Follow telephone first-aid instructions.
Distinguish an acute mix-up from excessive long-term intake
An accidentally swallowed amount differs from combining several preparations for months. Advice therefore requires frequency and duration, not only tablet count. An online list cannot decide whether your symptoms actually result from an overdose.
As a preparation aid, copy each product's daily serving and individual nutrient amounts. Pay attention to milligrams and micrograms: one milligram equals 1,000 micrograms. This conversion helps describe the situation, but provides no safe poisoning threshold.
Prevent confusion after the situation is clarified
Keep supplements in identifiable packaging and store them safely away from children. Record changes in a shared intake plan. For prescribed medicines, ask specifically how to proceed rather than discontinuing every treatment indiscriminately.
Frequently asked questions
Does having no symptoms after intake reliably establish safety?
No. Have an unclear amount assessed using the particular product.
Should I induce vomiting?
No. This can cause additional complications.
When is 112 appropriate rather than ordinary advice?
For severe acute symptoms such as breathing difficulty, unconsciousness or seizures.
Which details does a poison center need?
Among other details: product and ingredients, suspected amount, timing, age, weight and current symptoms.
Further reading
Magnesium and overdose and comparing daily servings of different preparations.
Sources
Editorially updated: September 29, 2026. Emergency guidance for Germany and the EU; not a replacement for individual poison advice.
