High dose Vitamin D continuation with normal levels

I use D3 and supplement about 3000 IU daily. I spread it out between breakfast and lunch. I also take magnesium supplements for migraines which can have a laxative effect. My Vit D levels from bloodwork are in the 60's.

Many years ago my PCP neglected to order a vitamin D level. When requested, the D was low and he prescribed 50,000 units but for a limited period of time, perhaps a month or so. My D increased to a normal range at completion and I continued with OTC supplements which included D with calcium (osteopenia at the time).

Just experiment. Try taking 3000 IU D3 for six months, and then test your level. Is it around the same? Higher? Lower? You can manage this without a prescription.

Totally get why you’re questioning this staying on high-dose vitamin D2 long-term after your levels are normal isn’t always standard. Usually 50,000 IU weekly is for fixing a deficiency (like your 23), and once levels are in a good range (30–50ish), people are switched to a maintenance dose, often daily vitamin D3. Some docs do keep people on it longer, but there’s usually a specific reason. Your level (~50) is already solid, so it’s a fair question to ask why you’re still on weekly high dose instead of maintenance.

Hello @jozer, You took the correct approach in reaching out to your provider for some insight. It is unfortunate you were unable to get a response you felt that addressed your concerns. It is not recommended to alter your prescriptions or make changes to dosages without the guidance of your provider.

Are you able to contact your provider again with your specific concerns and the symptoms you are experiencing? At the very least, could you inform them you are considering making changes and confirm those changes are OK to try?

Part of the problem with D2 is that it doesn’t always maintain a stable level of Vitamin D in the blood. D3 is much better at that! It’s really your choice which on you take or you can take none at all! I had a prescription for D2 and never filled it. Just kept taking my D3!

I take vitamin D3, 4000 ICU daily. In one year my vitamin D level when from 50 to 67.3. I also take magnesium at night for sleep and as a laxative. It works great.

I am not a medical provider, but I have read that with D levels, it’s not true that the higher the better. I do take Consumer Labs seriously and they say on their pages about vitamin D, that levels over 35-40 are not desirable as that has been shown to be associated with “increased risk of falls, fractures, and poor sleep”. They recommend cutting back on Vit D if your levels are over 35.

@JustinMcClanahan Thank you for your reply; I am reaching out to see if I can change to D3; and ask the reasoning behind the never ending mega dosing of D2, and if any of the symptoms I am experiencing are related to this. I always follow protocol from providers; it is usually after I leave appointment questions and concerns arise!

Currently, I have mild OP, so am treating it with a very good bone supplement (NewChapter), dietary adjustments, focused exercises and walking…am wondering if I really need the extra calcium- and maybe will instead just take D3 and K2 separately- docs seem to prefer that over blended supplements….will see my primary, get testing and see what the best next steps will be… pharma companies tend to go for certain types of meds , test them a lot—but don’t seem interested in other smaller solutions, not part of the business model..this leaves us scrambling to find our own best solutions…on this site, we get info that enhances our research, and helps form better questions to doctors.