What do doctors want regarding vitamin D levels for Osteoporosis?

Maybe your next step would be to schedule an appt with the prescribing doctor to see if you could switch to OTC vitamin D. For what it's worth, I went through that process 20 years ago and was able to transition to OTC Vitamin D without a problem.

It seems to me that the prescription vitamin D is simply maintaining your level. My guess is that OTC would not be strong enough to do that.

@tillymack I read that Magnesium Citratehelp helps your body absorb vitamin D

@dannyandebbie just make sure your body can handle magnesium…try small amounts at first…it is in many combo meds, in differing types/amounts…i have read that magnesium glycinate is especially good…check ConsumerLabs if you are researching supplements—they give details on many bone supplements.

Thanks for all the insight; so thankful for this group! I thought about perhaps my body (we are all so different) just doesn't absorb Vitamin D as well; and I have looked at magnesium supplements (even have one in my cupboard) but I eat a lot of magnesium rich food; and also have IBS which magnesium can exacerbate so not sure what to think about that. Doctors (sorry!) have zero information to give other than what test results mean, and in my case it was do some weight bearing exercises (have been doing aerobics with weights for 30 years), eat more calcium and here are the plans for pharmaceutical treatment for life. Would love to see a registered dietitian; would require more research and I believe Medicare does not cover.

My vitamin D level was 27 last year. I started taking 4000 UI D3, and three months later, my level was over 50. I then cut back to 2000/day, and my level dropped into the 40s. I now take 3000/day, which I think will stabilize me in the 50s.

You don't need to go crazy. If you're at 48, that is well into the normal range. You can try taking a D3 supplement, and then test again in three months. It's trial-and-error to find out what dose you need to stay in the same range.

D3, not D, is what you want to take.

I now take OTC vitamin D3 with K2. D3 is recommended over D2. I have never taken a prescription dose. My vitamin D3 is 125 mcg which supplies 5000 IU of vitamin D. Before I began taking vitamin D on a daily basis, my labs always showed readings of only high 20s even though I spent lots of time outdoors in the Florida sun. At age 76, our bodies no longer absorb as well from the sun. My most recent vitamin D blood labs showed reading of 54. Amazing and a first for me. I also have gastric issues such as you, although mine is chronic pancreatitis with a lot of absorption issues, which no doubt contributed to my osteoporosis. But with my current vitamin D3, the numbers have gone well into the normal desirable range and my doctor has instructed me now to take my D3 every other day to maintain . If the numbers go too high, there can be a toxic effect. I always take D3 with food along with my enzyme that helps me to absorb my nutrients; without that enzyme. I would absorb very little of benefit. You might also benefit from monitoring the IBS and the foods that trigger symptoms. No doubt it is affecting your absorption. Another poster recommended magnesium, which I also take and I use magnesium citrate, which has maximum absorption benefits. This is quite a balancing act for all of us. I also take calcium citrate, and your body can only utilize just so much calcium at a time. I am careful to spread that over the day and not interact with my prescription meds. What a “nuisance”! With your IBS, the citrates Might trigger diarrhea so on the magnesium glycinate could be a better choice. Each of us has to try our own vitamin or prescription regime and see what works best. There are general guidelines, of course but as individuals we have to work it out.

@willowmena Yes! quite a balance..IBS doesn't help the mix for sure. I have a bottle of magnesium citrate but with IBS one should be very careful about magnesium - don't need more diarrhea! I know D3 is more commonly recommended for bone health; my doc isn't interested. I take 1200 per day of calcium citrate. Even though my level is at 48 I am still on 50,000 of D per week and perhaps I am one of those that need to be mega dosed with D forever? Although toxicity is rare it becomes yet another real concern along with the side effects of bone meds (which are real and potentially severe). All of this (supplements, meds, had Reclast last July, diet, exercise been doing aerobics with weights for 30 years) is quite the balancing act; gastro says avoid dairy, endo says eat lots of dairy! Endo only tests once a year for everything (D levels, calcium, CMP) and doesn't do bone markers (at least not yet; I requested a year ago CTX and P1NP; got CTX and NTX but I know some doctors don't see benefit of bone markers. So. Most information I get on this disease and how to fight it comes not from the medical pros but from patients like you and others on this site! Thanks for the insight!