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Suggest Treatment For Vitamin D Toxicity
Posted on
Fri, 21 Oct 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 21 Oct 2016
Answered on
Wed, 9 Nov 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : My Internal Medicine Primary Care Dr. prescribed 50,000 iu ergocalciferol Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week for approx. 15 months then changed it to 5000 iu Vitamin D3 over the counter 1 capsule daily. My Vitamin D 25-hydroxy was 50 ng/mL when the prescription was first given. No lab tests for Vitamin D levelwere done until last week when my rheumatologist ordered them. The Vitamin D, 25 Hydroxy value was 106 ng/mL. I was instructed to immediately stop the Vitamin D and to have the lab test repeated every 3 months until it is normal. I have many of the vitamin D overdose symptoms. What should I be doing? How long will it take for the conditions to improve if they are in fact being caused by the Vitamin D/
Brief Answer:
Levels of 100 ng/ml are just treated by stopping the treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your concern.
Taking more than 10 000 UI of Vit D daily for more than 3 months can cause Vit D toxicity.
If your level is greater than 150 ng/ml, this is considered too high and potentially toxic.
As you reported, your level is not greater than 150 ng/ml, then you are not potentially toxic in vitamin D.
Although these levels aren’t toxic and aren’t usually harmful, they are thought to be too high. There are no known benefits to having a vitamin D level over 100 ng/ml. Levels over 100 ng/ml are linked to a slight increased risk of developing an irregular heart beat called atrial fibrillation (the most serious side effect of hypercalcemia).
To lower your levels, stop taking supplements. After three months, test your vitamin D levels and adjust the amount of supplement you take once your test results show your level has dropped back down to the normal range.
Hope I have been helpful. Feel free to ask further.
Wish you good health.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Levels of 100 ng/ml are just treated by stopping the treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I can understand your concern.
Taking more than 10 000 UI of Vit D daily for more than 3 months can cause Vit D toxicity.
If your level is greater than 150 ng/ml, this is considered too high and potentially toxic.
As you reported, your level is not greater than 150 ng/ml, then you are not potentially toxic in vitamin D.
Although these levels aren’t toxic and aren’t usually harmful, they are thought to be too high. There are no known benefits to having a vitamin D level over 100 ng/ml. Levels over 100 ng/ml are linked to a slight increased risk of developing an irregular heart beat called atrial fibrillation (the most serious side effect of hypercalcemia).
To lower your levels, stop taking supplements. After three months, test your vitamin D levels and adjust the amount of supplement you take once your test results show your level has dropped back down to the normal range.
Hope I have been helpful. Feel free to ask further.
Wish you good health.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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