Overdosing on Vitamin D?

My Vit D was down to 24 (normal 32-100) even thought I was taking 1000 IU per day. I took 12 weeks of 50,000 units once per week that got me barely in range and then dropped to 3000 IU. My last test 3 months later had me at 40 and I have none of the side effects you list. I would note that the amount of Vit D a person needs probably correlates to body weight and a 100 lb person may need less than someone at 150 or 200. It appears though that other factors may be uncovered as further research goes on. I know you have mentioned delaying applying sunscreen for the first 15 minutes of sun exposure to increase the body's capability to make Vit D.

I began supplementing Vit D in order to maintain my calcium uptake and keep my bones strong, as I'm now perimenopausal. I have the most unexpected side effect, and I can't contribute the changes to anything else in my life. I have severe allergies and have been getting shots year round for almost 40 years or else I have uncontrollable itching in my ears and eyes.

Only other thing that stops it is nasal steroids and who needs them. And at this time of year (March through at least Sept) I need my shots every 7 to 12 days or I'm miserable. Well, this year for various reasons, I didn't get back to the allergist, yet since I've been supplementing Vit D, my ears and eyes have been pretty calm. Yeah, I still sneeze a lot, but no itching, asthma hasn't kicked in, and I'm feeling pretty good. I've even gotten some of my sense of smell back, although I don't think that's a great thing because I realize some trees and other plants smell really nasty (maybe just because of my allergies). Could this be another virtue of Vit D??

Sometimes with the vitamin D supplements, it is paired with calcium so that could be causing the constipation problem too. As far as allergies go, stinging nettles is a good remedy -- and also quercetin-bromelain. Foods like apples, pineapple and onions can help. You might also want to try a sweetener called xylitol.

It is available in a variety of forms, from toothpaste to nasal spray. Dr. James Howenstine highly recommends it and also uses it. I believe one branded product you can get is called Xlear. Anything we can do to reduce our dependence on pharmaceutical pills and shots is a positive step to a healthier life!

Hi, I have comments on 2 issues. 1. The Rx dose for vitamin D is 50000 IU weekly for 8 weeks to raise levels to 50ng/ml or greater. 50,000 IU's divided by 7 is 7,143 IU's per day & 10,000 IU's per day is clearly over that by 39.9% and is probably too much.

2. Cramps: Calcium is supposed to bond the muscle to it's receptor site and keep it in the relaxed state and should prevent cramping. Levels of parathroid, vit D, as well as calcium should be checked to determine if there is a deficiency. I have cramps and take a calcium, magnesium, and zinc tablet which always relieves the cramping within a few minutes. I think this is the main issue and the other remedies may work by alternate means so I'm not discounting them.

I think no one knows enough about the cramping mechanism to even adequately explain how quinine works. Maybe some one should separate the quinidine from quinine and see if it still works! Sounds like a potential new product and big bucks. :=)) Paul G.

I was on this site to find out something else and came across this discussion to my horror. I too am Vit D deficient, my level was 17. I am a 54 yr old female with an under-active thyroid and severe constipation. I take fiber 2 times a day, miralax , and probiotics to combat it. I am a WW member and eat (or try very hard) my 5 or more servings of fruits and veggies. I use high fiber bread (don't eat it often) and high fiber wraps and eat bulgar, quinoa, amaranth, lentils, barley and wheat berries.

I eat Fiber One cereal (original) and add flax and chia seeds to my food.
I am currently taking 50,000 units of vit D once a week. I am very fearful of constipation as I had hemorrhoid surgery 10 years ago. I never want to go through that again! I also exercise regularly. I think I am doing all I should, any one have more suggestions?

To avoid constipation, you need to eat well, exercise and drink fluids, such as water. You seem to be eating a whole lot of fiber and exercising. That's two out the three components required to stay regular. Add the fluid and you should be all set. Taking Metamucil helps as well as prunes if you do run into problems.

I am a 53 year old menopausal woman. I have been told for years to take calcium and more recently to take Vitamin D. When I take calcium I get severe constipation. (I've tried various brands and forms of calcium and vitamin D). When I take Vitamin D I get severe indigestion and cramping in my stomach. I do have a sensitive stomach and take Pepcid most days and avoid rich foods.

I had my gallbladder removed 14 years ago. I wonder if not having a gallbladder might make me more prone to the indigestion from the vitamin D, since vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin. Not sure what to do about protecting my bones when I can't take calcium or vitamin D. Any suggestions?

PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: WEIGHT-BEARING EXERCISE (WALKING OR RUNNING, FOR EXAMPLE, NOT SWIMMING) IS IMPORTANT. CALCIUM FORTIFIED FOODS SUCH AS ORANGE JUICE ARE USUALLY FORTIFIED WITH CALCIUM CITRATE MALATE. IT'S LESS LIKELY TO CAUSE CONSTIPATION THAN THE USUAL SUPPLEMENT, CALCIUM CARBONATE.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN THE BOOK, BUILDING BONE VITALITY. THE IDEA IS THAT EATING LESS MEAT AND SUGAR AND MORE VEGETABLES HELP STRENGTHEN BONES WITHOUT SUPPLEMENTS. HERE'S A LINK TO AN INTERVIEW:
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2010/09/04/752-bone-vitality/

I am now taking a chewable calcium supplement which I would highly recommend (Os Cal). The recommended dosage is 2 tablets a day @ 600IU of vitamin D3 per tablet and 500mg of calcium per tablet. I am a 53 year old woman and I now feel the need to also take a multivitamin. What type can I take so as not to overdose on these two items?

I have an unusual side effect while taking vitamin D. My daughter is in the medical field and has never heard of this one.

I know Vitamin D can cause skin changes, but cannot find out what all it entails. I was diagnosed many years ago with herpes and as I have aged, outbreaks are very seldom and maybe once a year it slightly flare-ups and is gone quickly, just to let me know its there, I figure.

Several years ago, I started taking Calcium with vitamin D added to it.
Within three days, I had a vaginal herpes outbreak.

I stopped taking it and the outbreak healed. The following week I started taking it again and another outbreak occurred.

I am now taking calcium supplements without the Vitamin D added with no problems.
My new doctor tested me for Vitamin D levels and I was very low, 9, and he started me out with weekly doses of 50,000 units and now I take a monthly dose of 50,000 units.

I had mentioned to him I was concerned about taking it because I tend to get an infection, without going into what it was. He disagreed and said I wouldn't get an infection from taking it.

While taking this dosage for the past couple of months, I always took it on a very full stomach after my supper.

Last month I was a day late on taking it, (I tried to take it the same date each month) and so I took it after eating a light bedtime snack and believe this or not within a few days I had a genital herpes outbreak. Which was a doozy, too!

Well, this month I took it on a very full stomach and hopefully this will take care of that problem. Why I don't know unless its the absorption from the food?
I feel my daughter thinks I am nuts, but this is happening to me.
She also feels I should take it earlier in the day to get the full benefits from it.
Only problem with that is, a heavy lunch would make me sluggish and I don't want that.

Also, several years ago when taking hormone supplements was recommended for menopausal women, I kept having daily herpes outbreaks, 1 and 2, mostly 1, though.
I was so used to having them that I didn't connect it to the hormone.
After the doctor quit prescribing it for me, about a month later I quit having the outbreaks!!!!!!
I kid you not........

I feel I may have a weird system. lol

Thank you. M.L.

I just started taking Vitamin D, but wanted to look into it further and found this site. Now I'm a little scared. I did take it not too long ago, but became horribly constipated so I stopped taking it. I just read in a magazine that one could lose 6 pounds a week by taking Vitamin D. Of course that was very appealing to me, thus why I started on it again.

I've never had my D levels checked, but living in Washington State I imagine they're very low. I do drink a ton of milk, but have no idea if it really helps. I believe starting off with small amounts and working your way up to higher dosages is better in order to gauge how you're feeling, and whether or not you're taking too much. Better that than starting off with extremely high dosages and being sorry you did. I'm not sure all doctors really know what they're doing, so I think it's best to do as much research yourself beforehand and take responsibility for your own health. Doctor or not, you can't rely on one person for your health and well being.

Good luck to everyone!

I just got blood work back today. My vitamin D levels are low. I was prescribed 50,000 IU Vit. D. I have to take it once a week for 8 weeks, and then 2000 IU daily forever. I live in NE Ohio, we get 38 days of sunlight/year here. I was recently found to have brain lesions, white matter. I have had issues with pain and my vision is choppy when I see fast or slow moving objects (mainly when watching TV and the camera moves or words go across the screen).

I went to two eye specialists, they both said my eyes are 100% healthy. The lab guy who worked up my MRI thought it may be MS, and I've seen two neurologists since then, one being an MS specialist and they both said it doesn't seem like MS, as the lesions are atypical for it and there are no other positive signs. I had a spinal tap done and it was negative and my C-spine MRI showed no lesions. I am hoping the vitamin D helps with some of my issues, I am not counting on it, but it will be nice if it does.

Same thing happened to me.

I am researching this right now. Apparently I've had herpes since high school. I didn't' find out until I was 36. I am now 40. I never knew I had them because I never had outbreaks. Maybe one bump here or there but blamed it on a wax job, ingrown hair, chiggers, etc. My boyfriend broke out, I accused him of cheating. I was pretty ignorant to STDs and after researching herpes and having blood work done I realized this is what I'd had all along.

Imagine that I was married for 10 years in there too and never anything. Even after I realized what I had I felt fortunate that out breaks never occurred. Well In January I hit an all time low in my personal life. Very depressed and crazy. My doc recommended 10K IUs a day until further notice. Since I've started the D3, my outbreaks have ran continuously and severe. Even the area around my anus is swollen and itching. No outbreaks there but hemorrhoids bleeding and simply unbearable.

It's has been 4 months, I haven't had sex, have been soaking in Epsom salt baths and nothing helps. Just started looking at the D3. I think that's it. It is the only thing I changed. I would love to hear more stories of the same.

I was just diagnosed with hsv 2 in December. I have had constant outbreaks so they tested my vitamin D level, it was 20. I am currently taking 2000 units a day of D3. I am hopeful that this will decrease the outbreaks or at least the severity of them.