Taking Prescription Vitamin D? You Might Want to Think Twice…
When you think of ‘Prescription Strength’, most of us will think, somehow, that it is automatically better or stronger than a similar ‘Over the Counter’ variety. But with prescription vitamin D supplements, this is far from the case. In fact, these prescription vitamin D supplements are Completely inferior to the vitamin D3 supplements that you can buy in any health food store in many ways. They are less potent, have more potential for toxicity, don’t have the ‘active’ component that regular vitamin d does and they have a shorter shelf life. Do you STILL want prescription strength vitamin D?
Vitamin D has become somewhat famous lately, with tons of studies showing that millions of otherwise ‘healthy’ people are vitamin D deficient, in many cases SEVERELY so, and that the consequences are diseases like cancer, heart disease and multiple sclerosis. As clinicians become more aware of the problems associated with vitamin D deficiency, more are testing for and treating it. And while awareness of vitamin D is GREATl, it will also bring more prescription vitamin D supplements- which may NOT be so great.
The most common form of prescription vitamin D is in the form of Vitamin D2, also called Ergocalciferol. This is also the same type of vitamin D that is used for the ‘fortification’ of most milk and cereal products. But the ‘over the counter’ formulation of vitamin D in the form of Vitamin D3, also called Cholecalciferol, is far superior to the prescription formula that is routinely prescribed. First of all, prescription vitamin D is at least one-half as effective as vitamin D3 and possibly even up to one-tenth as effective. In ‘The case against ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) as a vitamin supplement’, the authors state, “50 000 IU vitamin D2 should be considered equivalent to 15000 IU vitamin D3, and likely closer to 5000 IU vitamin D3″. That’s One-Tenth as effective as vitamin d that you can buy in stores. When these differences were discovered in the 1950′s, Germany reformulated their prescription vitamin D to vitamin D3, but almost 60 years later, the United States is still using prescription vitamin D that doesn’t work.
And it really doesn’t work. One consequence of vitamin D deficiency is an increase in parathyroid hormone levels which alters calcium metabolism and preventing calcium from building bones. Studies measure the effectiveness of vitamin D treatment by measuring vitamin D levels increasing AND parathyroid hormone levels decreasing. In studies that compare the two different types of supplements, vitamin D3 supplements decreased parathyroid hormone while vitamin D2 didn’t. Another extremely important function of vitamin D, one that can’t be understated, is vitamin D’s ability to bind to ‘Vitamin D Receptors’ in the body. These receptors, also called VDR, are present in almost every tissue in the body and are one possible explanation for the extremely diverse health effects of the vitamin. When VDR’s are bound with an active form of vitamin D, it can help to prevent the expression of a mind boggling array of disease causing genes. Yet, vitamin D2 produces an active hormone that has 40% less binding ability to VDR’s than does the hormone produced from vitamin D3. This makes vitamin D2 much less ‘Biologically Active’ than a Vitamin D3 Supplement and leads to the possibility that prescription vitamin D doesn’t even prevent the diseases and problems that treatment of vitamin D deficiency is supposed to alleviate!
Another disadvantage of prescription vitamin D , is that it has a shorter half life in the body. Water soluble vitamins need to be replenished continually; for instance B vitamins and vitamin C are best metabolized in small doses throughout the day. But fat soluble vitamins like vitamin D do NOT need to be taken every day. In fact the half life of vitamin D3 supplements is 3 weeks. This means that 3 weeks after you take one dose, one half of that dose is still left in your body. This is true whether you get it from the sun, food or supplements. But prescription vitamin d has a much shorter half life, which means that you not only need more of the vitamin to prevent or treat deficiency, but you also need to take that higher dose more OFTEN.
exerts greater toxic effects at lower levels than do the vitamins D
of fish liver oil [vitamin D3].
‘ A Comparison of the Hypervitamoses Induced by
Irradiated Erogsterol and Fish Liver Oil Concentrates’
But these higher doses could cause more problems. Researchers since the 1930′s have found higher potential for toxicity, more impurities and less consistent formulations in vitamin D2 preparations than in Vitamin D3 Supplements . In fact, researchers interpreting studies on vitamin D find that the studies done using vitamin D2 have less consistent results and recommend that all vitamin d research be done using vitamin D3 supplements for its more consistent results, better method of action in the body, lower toxicity levels and its improved shelf stability.
So while progress is being made in the awareness of the widespread problem of vitamin d deficiency, doctors who actually test for and treat vitamin D deficiency most often choose to ignore the advice of vitamin D researchers Dr’s Houghton and Vieth who state, “… vitamin D2, or ergocalciferol, should not be regarded as a nutrient suitable for supplementation…”. It seems that patients would be better served if their doctors, instead, recommend their patients go to the local health food store to treat their vitamin D deficiency.
Resources
- Vitamin D Supplements for Adults – Now in a clinically useful 5000 IU Supplement
- Vitamin D Spray- Infants and children need Vitamin D too. This spray is GREAT for kids. No pills to swallow.
Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Health Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Tags: cholecalciferol, ergocalciferol, prescription Vitamin d, Vitamin D, vitamin d 2, vitamin d 3, vitamin d2, vitamin d3
Patsy
Subsequent to breast feeding, how can a mother be assured her baby is getting adquent vitamin D3?
KerriKnoxRN
Hi Patsy,
I've written a page about Vitamin d and breastfeeding here:
” target=”_blank”>
Judy
I have suffered from Crohn's disease for 33 years, now after 5 bowel resections, I am in complete remission. I feel increasing my vit. D level is the reason. I have brought my level up from 3 to 50, over a 6 month period. I did not use RX Vit D, just over the counter brand.
I am thrilled with my results. It also helps with my menopause symptoms. I no longer have hot flashes!
Thanking God for Vit. D
Kerri Knox, RN
All that I can say, Sherl, is that it is not recommended. Your doctor just is simply not doing what is best for you by giving you a prescription for vitamin d.
Michelle
Hi I am a lung cancer survior and had low Calicum levels during chemo treatments and was given iv treatnment for that 5 yrs ago. I have taken 500mg Vitamin D supplements since. I have had alot of body pain as of late and find walking and doing most anything very painful. I have been fighting insomnia and losing weight ( without trying) eventhough I am obese. My question is I went to a Arthritis and Related Conditions Dr today after having several labs done for him and he told me that I have less than 20% calicum. He had never seen anyone with such a low level in his 40 yr career. He gave me an rx for Vitamin D 50000 Capsule and told me to take 3 a week to equal 150000units for 12 weeks,. Also an rx for Ultram. I am VERY concered about taking this much, but he says I HAVE to take it and after reading some information would like to know if you know if this is normal to do? Are there risk I need to watch for because of such a high dose? I am also a diabetic. He said he thinks this is what is causing all my pain spread through out my body but thinks i could have RA also. sorry this ended up being so long. Thank you for your time.
KerriKnoxRN
Hi Michelle,
With only 20% calcium in your body, you should be more worried about your low levels of vitamin d than taking too much. Did he do a vitamin d level? You should insist on having a level done, I'll bet that you'll be SHOCKED, SHOCKED at how low your vitamin d levels are. 500 IU's a day is ridiculous and is half the dose that a newborn infant should be taking.
But if you read my page on Prescription Vitamin D, it's not the AMOUNT that should worry you but the TYPE of vitamin D you are taking. Don't take that Prescription. Get over the counter vitamin d supplements and take the same dose. And make sure that you read my page on
<a href="
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/magnesium-and-v... and Vitamin D
to see why you MUST take magnesium with your vitamin d AND why low magnesium may have caused your bone loss in the first place!! I doubt that it was 'JUST' the chemo that did all of this but a combination of factors that set you up for lung cancer and bone loss in the first place.
Joni Goldman
How much vitamin D did you take from the beginning? I have been given a prescription for 50,000 iud's per week but I have read that over the counter vitamin D is better but I don't know how much to take.
KerriKnoxRN
Hi Joni,
You can just take the same amount of Vitamin D3 as your prescription. But I'm curious what your level was because 50,000 IU's a week may not be enough if your level is low. Also, you should make sure that you take a look at my page on Magnesium and Vitamin D to see why you should ALSO take magnesium as well as vitamin d. Some people experience side effects when taking high dose vitamin d and it's mainly because they are also magnesium depleted and it causes a LOT of problems. It would be ideal for you to read that page and take magnesium so you don't experience any problems with your vitamin d therapy.
sarah
hi…my mother have been givin a prescription of vitamin d 50,000 iu per week…her vitamin d level was 24 ng/ml…
after that she measured her vitamin d levels and it was 32 ng/ml…the doctor prescribed again vitamin d of 50,000 iu per week plus alphacalcidole 0.5 mcg…. is the resent prescription safe for her?
Kerri Knox, RN
So, I have no idea why your doctor would prescribe alpha calcidiol- and he doesn’t either. Unless she is on kidney dialysis, she should be on Vitamin D3 and get off of the prescription.
As your doctor is finding out, the Vitamin D2 is ineffecient- so why is he giving MORE of it when she would do better on Vitamin D3?
Patricia
Hi,
I am aged 63 and my test result for Vitamin D was 32.
My doctor has given me a prescription for 300,000 iu Ergocalciferol by injection.
I have not been able to fill the prescription because "it has been withdrawn".
After a little research I think that Vitamin D3 will be much better for me.
I thought about buying Bio D Mulsion Forte as this is stronger and might raise my levels quicker?
Is that correct and how much should I take please?
Kerri Knox, RN
easy-immune-health.comHi Patricia,
I answered nearly exactly the same question just a few minutes ago to another woman in the UK. Maybe you have the same doctor that is giving these 300,000 IU injections unnecessarily.
Here’s the thread that will answer your question too:
Vitamin D Injections or Tablets
ruthlovin
I have lupus and was on the d-2 prescript for low vit d blood levels for 12 weeks and then was told to go back to over the counter d vitamins. The positive effects of the prescript d ( helped my fatigue tremendously).. did not occur when I went back to the over the counter v d-3.
When I told my Rheum dr this (who, by the way, is the head of a large research center for autoimmune disease here where I live) he told me that they hear this from all their autoimmune disease patients, and are also seeing this to be true in their studies. So , if the prescription vit d is so ineffective per your information, then why is this happening among Rheumatology/ autoimmune disease patients?
Kerri Knox, RN
Also Ruth,
Can you ask your doctor about what studies he is referring to? I’ve not seen any of these studies saying this and I would be interested in knowing what studies he’s talking about and if they are comparing D2 and D3 at the same blood levels or not.
ruthlovin
I took 10,000 of the d-3 / day when getting off the prescript. I was on 50,000 once a week on the d-2. I will have to check on what my level was.. dont remember. Just know it was low. They just rechecked it again also since I have been off the d-2 prescript for a while and on the other.. I haven't gotten my results back yet as it was just a few days ago.
Dee
In addition to my comment on Vit D. I also experience allergies. Not seasonal; all the time, but more in my home than any other place. No pets, but I do have carpet. Since I may have an immune system issue (RA, for instance) is the allergies in any way connected to this, and the Vit. D deficiency?
Kerri Knox, RN
easy-immune-health.comeasy-immune-health.comeasy-immune-health.comHi Dee,
I mostly just answered this question a few minutes ago at this link:
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/vitamin-d-level-of-121.html
Then about your ‘Chronic Fatigue’, you can read my pages on Fibromyalgia and follow those instructions here:
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/fibromyalgia-cause.html
I do understand that they are different, but the causes usually are NOT different.
I would also recommend that you get off of gluten ASAP:
http://www.easy-immune-health.com/Gluten-Sensitivity.html
Let me know if you have any questions.
Dee
Like everyone else, I've been subscribed 50,000 units once a week, for 8 weeks becasue my vitamin D levels are low (26.5). I also had a SED level of 56. Dr. suspects that i have RA or some sort of inflammatory disease. Lupus ruled out.
Ok, so, how much D3 should I take to suppliment in lieu of the D2 prescribed for me? I am experiencing chronic fatigue and really need relief until I can get a better dx of what is going on with me.