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Side effects of high dose Vitamin D

Posted , 2 users are following.

rhodri21244
rhodri21244

I have established from research on the internet that taking 40,000 IU vitamin D pills per week for ten weeks has various possible side effects such a poor digestion tiredness  and aching limbs. . I am now in my forth week and wonder when these side effects will wear off.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • jane6
    jane6 rhodri21244

    Posted

    Hi; I've been put on vitamin d 40,000 units per week. Assured about there being no side effects and yet I feel awful; poor appetite, sluggishness etc. Have your symptoms abated? How long are you taking them?

    • rhodri21244
      rhodri21244 jane6

      Posted

      I am in the sixth week of ten week course and still have muscle aches as well as bad digestion. I went for a blood test this morning as the platelet level was slightly under at the last time and was hoping to get a blood test for vitamin D but the nurse refused saying that The effects of the course would not show up until the end of the ten week course. She was not aware of any side effects but they always say that so I will have to plough on for another 5 weeks. Let me know how you get on. Rhodri.
  • jane6
    jane6 rhodri21244

    Posted

    I've only just started - last Saturday - and was told there would be no side-effects. I was rather looking forward to feeling more upbeat and positive as afterall, this is called the sunshine pill. Nothing of the sort however, just bad digestion and feeling quite unwell. I have concluded my gp always says there will be no side effects to any of the drugs I'm taking, but there always is. I'm not so sure I can plough on because I feel so rough. I think I will call a gp this afternoon and discuss. I have to have a blood test in 3 weeks to check levels (four weeks after starting) so I don't believe your nurse. Sounds like they're all fibbing!! Will keep you posted. Have you noticed any improvements at all?

  • rhodri21244
    rhodri21244

    Posted

    No improvements yet but did read one sufferer from the effects of high dose vitamin D that he got back to feeling normal after two months so will try to make it to that.. He went back to his GP twice during his treatment so must have been pretty unwell. As well as having digestive problems I have had severe nasal congestion an had a nose bleed for two hours this afternoon . I will keep in touch to let you know how it goes. I think you are right about the nurse. It would have been useful to know if my vit D had increased. Rhodri.
    • jane6
      jane6 rhodri21244

      Posted

      Sorry to hear about your nose bleed and nasal congestion. I hope its a one off. Yes keep going, you must be more than half way through the 10 week trial. Let me know if you suddenly develop in to Superman. Can I ask where on this website you read about the guy who was on them having to visit the gp twice during treatment. 

      I didn't phone the gp as they're busy enough and also my symptoms improved while the day wore on. I think its mainly mornings I notice them. Keep me posted.

    • rhodri21244
      rhodri21244 jane6

      Posted

      I got the message from the guy who phoned his gp twice and who said that he felt back to normal after two months  from googling side effects of high dose course of vitamin D so I am not sure where it came from. I find the mornings worse and get a lot of aches in leg muscles so it is difficult getting in and out of the car. Getting down stairs is also painful. I will go back for blood test after the ten week period . Hopefully the vitamin D level will have improved. I will keep in touch and hope you have got through your problems . Rhodri
    • rhodri21244
      rhodri21244

      Posted

      I went to the cinema last night and could not get out of my seat as leg muscles were so weak. Fortunately the friends I was with pulled me upright and I had a walking stick . The same thing happened in the Indian restaurant where I could not stand up . So rather than becoming Superman I seem to have turned into Jellyman. Fortunately I have one of my sons crutches from when he hurt himself BMXing so I am using them. I will speak to the surgery on Monday but my friends and wife have said that I should stop the high dose Vitamin D treatment and perhaps go onto just normal dose after a week or two when feeling better. Rhodri. 
    • jane6
      jane6 rhodri21244

      Posted

      O'h no thats awful! How are you feeling now? Can it possibly be a side effect of taking vit d? I was assured these pills had no side effects...rubbish advice! I'd be inclined to agree with your wife and friends and opt for a homeopathic gentler approach, such as the spray. Then at least you can choose your own dose. A doctor I spoke to a while back said she thought everyone living in the northern hemisphere should be on a minimum of 3,000 units/day, that's still half the dose we are on. Perhaps the doc might write you a prescription for 20,000 per week.

      I have to say I noticed no symptoms today. Digestive problems seemed to have resolved, no aches or pains. Then again, I only took my second 40,000 unit pill this morning so will let you know if I start to feel odd or ill. Meanwhile take care of yourself Rhodri!

    • rhodri21244
      rhodri21244 jane6

      Posted

      I will try to get appointment with doctor on Monday. I do not know whether it is a side effect from the high dose vitamin D or the symptoms of still having vitamin D deficiency as never had the second blood test .Feeling better today and can walk without crutches. I will let you know how I get on. Thanks for your help. Rhodri.
    • rhodri21244
      rhodri21244

      Posted

      I saw the doctor this afternoon who said that I could stop the high level vitamin D pills as after six weeks I should have made up for the deficiency which was not severe but marginal. I said that i was better in that I could now walk without assistance. She did some tests. She is sending me to a neurologist to see if he knows what is causing the aching legs. I seem to remember being passed around the consultants before each one doing test to eliminate the possible cause. The moral of the tale is that it is easy to follow a result which is not the fundamental cause. Rhodri.
  • jane6
    jane6 rhodri21244

    Posted

    Thanks Rhodri, did the gp mention why she was referring you to a neurologist? Btw, they do that gp's, pass you around hospital specialists - what a palava! Now you've ceased with your high dose of vit d, do you not need a maintenance dose still? I was advised by my friend today, a trained naturopath/nutritionist, I should take vitamin k2 supplement as well, as this helps vit d in its action for strengthening bones. I am going to take her advice!!

    • rhodri21244
      rhodri21244 jane6

      Posted

      hl My doctor did say that I should go back to daily multivitamin pills which I have just bought from Tesco. She did a number of physical tests on me including tapping joints for reaction and from this decided that I should see the neurologist.. It may be some time before I discover whether it was the side effects of the high level vitamin D or the other issue with the nerves controlling the legs which have caused me such problems . When this is established I will let you know. In the meanwhile I hope that you do not get any such side effects. There do not seem to be any easy answers in medical problems and the consultants largely seem to reach their conclusions by elimination. All the best for the rest of you course. Rhodri.
  • jane6
    jane6 rhodri21244

    Posted

    The gp and pharmacist insist that it's not high levels of vitamin d (40,000 unit/week) that's causing my exhaustion and odd gastro probs, although its best to take after a meal. I've had another week feeling rough so had another blood test on Wednesday, and my results came back as normal vit d levels and kidney function - after only two weeks of taking the pills!! Thank goodness I no longer need to take them, but will stick on a low dose of 800 ui/day.

    I hope they get to the bottom of your symptoms Rhodri. All the best!!

    • rhodri21244
      rhodri21244 jane6

      Posted

      I now have an appointment with a neurologist on 14 November. If he says there is nothing wrong with me it looks that it was the high level vit D pills.. I will let you know how I get on. Glad to hear the your vit D level is back to normal. Rhodri.
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