Side effects from large Vit D doses?

[JackieCalifornia]

My doctor prescribed 50,000 IU of Vitamin D every week for four months due to a Vit D deficiency.  I am often very sensitive to medications, even plain things like Tylenol, and feel awful after taking them.  I have avoided taking the Vit D pills, but know I should.  

My question is:  has any of you had a bad reaction to large doses of Vit D, or is it not a big deal, since as my doctor explains it, it's just "filling up the empty reservoir" and should not result in a bad reaction.  I've heard THAT before from doctors, so just wondering what you all have experienced.

Thanks very much.

[stacey555]

I have heard you can take to much vitamin d but I dont know what would happen.  Like you I react to everything even natural stuff.  I just started taking D what symptoms were you having that the doctor checked you for that??

[JackieCalifornia]

I had had severe fatigue for a long time, and the endocrinologist (my 3rd one) checked me for everything she could think of, and tests came back showing very low Vitamin D.  I guess it made sense -- I seldom spend time outside, and we live in a cold and rainy climate, so where would I get the sunshine needed to make Vitamin D myself?  The dr. said my 'reservoir' of D was empty, and taking just a regular daily dose would never let me catch up to where I should be, so she prescribed the big dose.  I see others here have had the same prescription, but no one comments if it had side effects.

Aside from this, I also had (have) ringing in my ears, aches, pains, feeling miserable all the time, poor memory, mentally dull, lethargic.  I never started taking the big-dose Vitamin D, and in the meantime another doctor diagnosed a tick-bite disease and I'm on antibiotics for that, feeling better enough to think about taking the Vit D tabs.  I am recently taking about 1000 to 2000 IU of Vit D3 each day, sneaking up on bigger amounts, and so far no problems -- I actually feel better.  

I've read that the usual recommended daily allowance of Vit D is likely insufficient for people who don't get sun, and the supposed level of toxicity is about 2000 IU, but if my tank is empty, then I'm not concerned about overdose, just about a bad physical reaction to a big whopping dose.  Since I posted a few days ago, I've been taking the smaller 1000 - 2000 doses of Vit D, so it's giving me courage to take the huge doses like the dr prescribed.  Just a nervous Nelly here.

Thanks for your response, it's appreciated.  Are your Vit D levels low too?

[mschvusangel]

I too was prescribed 50,000 IU a week...... for 12 weeks.  I seem to be in the same boat as you as far as the symptoms and the sensitivity to medications.  I was very reluctant to take the large dose and waited until I saw my regular doctor (which didn't give me much reassurance).

What happened is I went to for my regular female checkup (which was 3 years overdue) and told my gyno some of the problems I had been having.  She seemed concerned and did some pretty extensive bloodwork, and because of the joint and muscle aches, referred me to a Rheumatologist.  In the meantime some of my blood work came back abnormal such as the CRP and SED rate levels (which are indicators of inflammation somewhere in your body).  I saw the Rheumatologist and he suspected fibromyalgia, but still wanted to do a few extra tests to rule out other things.  One of the tests was my vitamin D level which was 16 and dangerously low.
He just called me in a prescription and had his nurse call me and tell me to follow up with my regular doctor!!!  I was ok with that until I got to the pharmacy and found out the prescription was for 50,000IU's!!  

I was very reluctant to start taking such a large dose without being under doctors supervision, so I made an appointment with a regular doctor.  I went to him and he didn't know anything about vitamin D deficiency and told me to just take it like the other doctor told me to.  I have been searching for a doctor who is educated in this issue, but haven't had much luck finding one.

I started taking it and as of Friday have been on it for 6 weeks.  I seem to feel a little better, but not what I expected to be feeling.  I have been so tired and achy for so long with no answers as to why, that I thought this would be my answer.  I have read many things on vitamin D deficiency since then and most everything says that it is usually an underlying problem that causes the deficiency.  You don't just become deficient.  I myself, drink plenty of fortified milk and dairy products, and take a daily multi vitamin and have been for quite a while.  That was the last thing I would have ever thought would be low with me!!!

I have also been taking caltrate with vitamin D and cod liver oil.  I have had extreme problems with memory lately and have read that cod liver oil is good for the brain.  I don't mind taking something that is natural like vitamins and minerals, but I just absolutely despise taking prescription medication.

I know this has been a long post, but I have been on this site for several months and have not come across anybody that has had the same problems as me, and it feels good to be able to discuss things with someone who understands.

Thanks for posting, and thanks for reading this!!!

[stacey555]

Yes my level was 19 I believe but Ive been having really scary symptoms that I think are not related.  Weird vascular type headaches, dizziness red eyes nausea.

[stacey555]

Oh by the way did they test you to see if you have lymes disease before treating you.  That is very serious if you have it dont take it lightly and make sure you doc has experience in it.  what state are you in?  I am in michigan it is very common here I know alot about  it and you have the symptoms.

[mschvusangel]

My neurologist did a Lyme Titer on me and of course it was negative, but I have heard from many people that it is very hard to detect Lyme Disease.  I too have had strange symptoms such as dizziness, pressure in my head, extreme fatigue, night sweats, facial numbness, heart palpitations, ect....  Have either of you had any of these symptoms?  My neurologist did MRI's on my head and neck, but said all looked clear, and don't really know where to go from here.  

I do know I have elevated CRP and SED rate levels which indicate some sort of inflammation, and Low Vitamin D, but not sure what else.  I can't seem to find a doctor who knows what is going on.  If it wasn't for feeling so extremely tired all the time I would just give up.

Also, when you take the weekly vitamin D dose do your arms and legs cramp for a few days after you take it?

[JackieCalifornia]

Yes, interesting you should mention Lyme ... I wrote you a long answer, but the internet chewed it up somewhere.  I finally found, after a couple dozen highly educated doctors, a doctor* who tested me for Lyme and other similar diseases -- I have one that is like malaria, carried by the same tick that carries Lyme.  I'm on the antibiotics now for both diseases, and so far, so good.  I'm feeling a little better.  Some days my memory is actually almost normal.  Other days...not so much, but I'm better than I was.

*We are in California, and there is Lyme etc. out here too, but not a lot of doctors take it seriously, as you know.  I am lucky and there is a Lyme specialist not far away who seems to know his stuff and uses good labs to run the more accurate tests.  I didn't know you have it in Michigan too.  

Here's a trick I discovered:  I was having trouble sleeping because I hurt so bad all over, and out of desperation, I took some Benedryl to help me sleep.  After all, it makes everybody a little drowsy, and since I'm such a lightweight, I figured, what the heck, it would probably knock me out.  And it did!  I started getting a full night's sleep again, and that truly helped ... and when I was foggy and unable to focus during the day, sometimes a tiny bit of Benedryl helped then too.  I don't think it's just the 'sleepiness' effect, instead I think it reduces some of the swelling in my joints and my neck and my head, and I can think straight again.  It's really amazing.  My neck and joints stop 'clicking', and suddenly the house work starts looking interesting again!  I'm going back to the dr soon and will let him know about my little discovery.  

I think I got a Vit D deficiency because we moved from a sunny place to a cold and cloudy place, so I don't spend time outside like I used to, and then when I got Lyme etc., I never went out unless I HAD to.  Doesn't surprise me that I'm deficient in Vit D, so I don't know that I have any underlying condition.  I'll have to find my blood tests and see how low I am/was .....

Thanks again ... it's good to know we're not alone ... well, sort of good to know!  Keep trying, keep trying to get well everyone.