How to change from 50,000 units 2 times weekly to Vitamin D3?

First of all, thank you for having the BEST website possible. I have spent many hours researching vitamin D information on hundreds of sites and yours is the most organized, user-friendly, and truly informative one that covers all bases. I am a 49 year old female. I was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency.

Six weeks ago my level was 16.2 and the doctor put me on the prescription Vitamin D 50,000 IU 2 times weekly. After four weeks she checked my level and it was up to 47.3. She told me to stay on this same dosage of 50,000 units 2 times weekly and to come back in one year.

I feel that this is a very high dose to be on and to not have my level checked for a whole year. I know this is not the right game plan, at least not for me. After spending many hours researching this, I do not want to stay on the prescription vitamin D at all, and wish to convert to a Vitamin D3 supplement.

I was also just diagnosed with osteoporosis. My doctor prescribed fosamax but I refuse to take this drug because of the research I have done. I am choosing to reverse this disease through diet, walking, sunshine, and other natural sources. I need help in figuring out how much Vitamin D3 I should take daily, as well as a woman's multivitamin that has correct doses of calcium, biotin, magnesium, manganese, boron and vitamin K, which are necessary to help me reverse my osteoporosis. Of course, I want the multivitamin to include all the other necessary vitamins and minerals as well.

Any advice that you can offer me will be greatly appreciated. Thank you again for sharing your wealth of knowledge and expertise that you provide on your website.
Sincerely,
Kay

Toxic issues with D2 and switching to D3

by Marcia
(Greenville, S.C., U.S.A.)

On Nov. l0, my doctor gave me Prescription D2 50,000 I.U. and I had a very toxic reaction to it. I lost 7 lbs. in 2 and a half days. How soon would it be safe to take a multivitamin containing 500 I.U. D3, and how soon would it be safe to resume treatment with D3, and how much D3 should I take since my level was 44 to begin with?

Marcia

How can I stop taking the 50,000IU of D2 and switch to D3?

by Amanda
(Kentucky)

After a blood test on 5/5/10, I found out on 5/7/10 that my Vitamin D level was 10. I was prescribed Vitamin D 50,000 IU to take twice a week for a month, then once a week for 3 mos thereafter. I just took my 4th dose yesterday on 5/17/10.

I think I actually started feeling worse after starting the prescription, maybe b/c it's not working, or if it is, it's taking forever. I am getting desperate and want to switch to Vitamin D3 Supplements after reading about The Case Against Ergocalciferol. How can I safely switch to D3 and what should my dose be and for how long?

I am also trying to get more sunlight, which has been hard recently due to cloudy/rainy conditions in KY. I am a 27 year old female with a healthy weight. I have no other known health problems. I haven't been out in the sun much though and last summer I probably overused sunscreen. I have been on birth control pills for 10 years, which could play a part in my severe deficiency. I feel bad like I'm sick, but with no fever. I also have weakness and feel depressed because I feel so bad. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I also had a Magnesium Level, Normal Potassium Level, Folate, B vitamins, thyroid and blood count checked and those were all good.