Vitamin D

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Take the tablet, capsule, or liquid form of this medication by mouth with or without food as directed on the product package. If you are uncertain about any of the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If your doctor has prescribed this medication to you, take as directed. Measure the liquid medication with the dropper provided, or use a medication-measuring spoon/device to make sure you have the correct dose. If you are taking the chewable tablet, chew the medication thoroughly before swallowing. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, the dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. If your doctor has recommended that you follow a special diet, it is very important to follow the diet to get the most benefit from this medication and to prevent serious side effects. Do not take other supplements/vitamins unless ordered by your doctor. If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.

If you are taking this medication under your doctor's direction, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. This drug should not be used with the following medications because a very serious interaction may occur: other vitamin D products (e.g., calcitriol). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially of: digoxin, phosphate binders, thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide). Certain medications can decrease the absorption of vitamin D (bile acid sequestrants such as cholestyramine/colestipol, mineral oil, orlistat). Therefore, separate your doses of these medications as far as possible from your doses of vitamin D (at least 2 hours apart, longer if possible). It may be easiest to take vitamin D at bedtime if you are also taking these other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about how long you should wait between doses and for help finding a dosing schedule that will work with all your medications. Check the labels on all your prescription and nonprescription/herbal products (e.g., antacids, laxatives, vitamins) because they may contain calcium, phosphate, or vitamin D. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. This medication may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including cholesterol test), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use this drug. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Keep all regular medical and laboratory appointments. If your doctor has prescribed this medication, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., calcium/ phosphorus levels) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Foods rich in vitamin D include: fortified dairy products, eggs, sardines, cod liver oil, chicken livers, and fatty fish. Vitamin D is also made by the body as a result of exposure to the sun.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents should call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents should call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: weakness, headache, loss of appetite, nausea/vomiting, increased urination, increased thirst.

Before taking vitamin D, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: high calcium/vitamin D levels (hypercalcemia/hypervitaminosis D), difficulty absorbing nutrition from food (malabsorption syndrome). Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: kidney disease, kidney stones, liver disease, certain bowel diseases (Crohn's disease, Whipple's disease), low levels of bile, untreated phosphate imbalance, heart/blood vessel disease, certain immune system disorder (sarcoidosis), limited or no ability to walk (immobility). During pregnancy, doses of vitamin D greater than the recommended dietary allowance should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor. This medication may pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture. If you have any questions about storage, ask your pharmacist. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

If your doctor has prescribed this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, unusual weight loss, constipation, increased thirst, increased urination, change in the amount of urine, bone/muscle pain, headache, mental/mood changes, weakness, tiredness, fast/pounding heartbeat. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

This section contains uses of this drug that are not listed in the approved professional labeling for the drug but that may be prescribed by your health care professional. Use this drug for a condition that is listed in this section only if it has been so prescribed by your health care professional. Vitamin D may also be used with calcium to treat or prevent bone loss (osteoporosis). It is also used in patients with kidney disease to keep calcium levels normal and allow normal bone growth.