Should I reduce Calcium/Vit D tablets as I reduce Pred?

Posted , 14 users are following.

From my original dose of 20 mg of Pred two years ago, I'm down to 6 mg but still on 2 chewable tablets of 600mg calcium with 10 mcg Vit D3. I'm wondering whether this is too much as I don't want my arteries to get blocked with excess calcium so my question is ...do you need to take less less calcium/vit D3 as your pred dose decreases?

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  • Posted

    Hi Priscilla,

    As part of my blood work, my doctor had my vitamin D level checked. I was above normal and taking 500 IU. My doctor advised me to reduce my Vit D3 to 400 IU. I'd recommend getting your vitamin D level checked first before you reduce.

  • Posted

    Well....this opens up a whole different discussion on what is a "normal" Vitamin D level, how it works in regard to calcium and where it is deposited, and the addition of Vitamin K. It's a big topic that we have discussed here before with lots of different thoughts and ideas. My doctor, who is an internationally known cardiologist, does not prescribe supplemental calcium as we prefer to get it in the diet, but we do use high doses of Vitamin D along with Vitamin K (in the form of MK-7). He wants my Vitamin D level to run close to 100, so I am currently taking between 15,000 -20,000iu per day to accomplish this. I would personally be a bit concerned about where that supplemental calcium you are taking is going as you mentioned. The amount of Vitamin D you are taking is very small, but hopefully you are taking some Vit K with it as well.

    • Posted

      i eat a lot of cottage cheese 5% , and also low fat cheese

      My rhuematologist also didn't want me to take calcium tablets, and insisted that i should get calcium through a healthy diet ..So far its worked very well without supplements ..

      I'm now on 12mg reduced from 25 mg since end of march 2018. I'm 75 years young ...

      It's not an easy journey, but I believe in keeping a positive attitude and it certainly helps..

      like most of us i have had a few mini flare ups, but its only one step back and then two two steps forward again...

      TRY looking at this PMR as a set back, and not a defeat , it helps, believe me , it helps ..

    • Posted

      Hi Doni, yesI should have mentioned that I take vit k2 also. I have been considering dropping my Calcium intake to one 500 mg tablet daily, but that won't leave much in the way of D3. I was found to be very low in Vit D three years ago before I got diagnosed with PMR and at that time I took 500 micrograms twice a week.

    • Posted

      You likely need more D3, most people need that supplement, even me with my diagnosis of sarcoidosis, where the body tends to activate too much Vitamin D. Even I need about 1000 IU per day to maintain a high normal level, but I don't get useful sun for at least six months of the year. I also take K2-7 (200 mcg per day) but my calcium supplementation is fairly minimal.

    • Posted

      I take 1 25ug tablet vit d per day is this enough please. thanks mad mags

    • Posted

      I couldn't advise anyone on a specific dose. My capsules are 1000 IU or 25 mcg. I was told to double that when I started pred but that was too much for me, explained why above. Would not normally be too much for most people. This is why people should have their D level checked because one is more likely to be deficient than to have too much.

    • Posted

      thank you , when i was first tested the doc told me i had no Vit D, so was put on a high dose for eight weeks, then had another test was put on half dose for six weeks, then told to buy my own as it was then what she termed as stable.

      that was well over a year ago, out of interest how often should we be checked.

      Always look forward to seeing your replies on this forum, Eileen as well.

      thanks you best wishes

    • Posted

      sorry forgot to say she never said how much , and i was so surprised never asked!

    • Posted

      Once a year in spring should be OK - that is when it is at its lowest.

    • Posted

      Where I live I have no choice, really. I'm only allowed to have the test once a year. Doctors are even discouraged from ordering it. I think it's because for a time Vitamin D tests became kind of fashionable and people were asking for them even if there was no real reason to think they were deficient. When I first found out I had a very high level (not toxic, but getting up there) I actually had a test done privately at some expense to make sure what I'd been doing had brought my level down enough and not too much.

      I think being tested at different times of year could show a useful pattern. I'm actually eligible for my annual test about now, but I'm going to wait until the end of winter this time.

    • Posted

      I think you are right Anhaga doctors are none too keen to do vit D tests nowadays. There have been doctors on TV saying it is not necessary and people can take over the counter supplements. I have been able to get one once a year in the past. I will see if that is still true.

    • Posted

      thank you i might mention it to my doctor, she is back from maternity leave and when i saw her she wanted to know what had been done for me and what test. she was dissapointed that my tests had not been kept upto date, and no mention of my bp readings had been recorded, last one was 150/101

      it was her who found my vitD was nil.

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