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Vitamin D (Calciferol)

    Brands

    DEA Class; Rx, OTC

    Common Brand Names; Drisdol, Calciferol, cholecalciferol, 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol, ergocalciferol

    • Vitamins D
    • Vitamins, Fat-Soluble

    Stimulates calcium and phosphate absorption from small intestine; stimulates phosphate resorption at renal tubule; stimulates secretion of calcium into blood from bone

    Like calcium, it keeps your bones strong and helps your nerves carry messages. It also plays a role in fighting germs. Careful time in the sun — 10 to 15 minutes on a clear day, without sunscreen — is the best source. Or you could eat fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel. There’s a little in egg yolks, too. You can also get milk and sometimes orange juice with added vitamin D.

    Nutrition

    Sources: Fish, beef, cod liver oil, egg yolk, liver, chicken breast and cereals.

    Vitamin D is also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” since it is made by the body after being in the sun. Ten to 15 minutes of sunshine 3 times a week is enough to produce the body’s requirement of vitamin D for most people at most latitudes. People who do not live in sunny places may not make enough vitamin D. It is very hard to get enough vitamin D from food sources alone. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. You need calcium for the normal development and maintenance of healthy teeth and bones. It also helps maintain proper blood levels of calcium and phosphorus.

    Also Indicated For

    • Osteoporosis
    • Hypoparathyroidism
    • Vitamin D-Resistant Rickets
    • Familial Hypophosphatemia
    • Nutritional Supplementation

    Hypercalcemia

    Hypervitaminosis D

    Ergocalciferol (oral): Gastrointestinal (GI), liver, or biliary disease associated with malabsorption of vitamin D analogues

    Documented hypersensitivity with drugs that could have allergenic crossreactivity with ergocalceferol

    • Arrhythmias
    • Confusion
    • Constipation
    • Dry mouth
    • Headache
    • Hypercalcemia
    • Lethargy
    • Metallic taste
    • Muscle or bone pain
    • Nausea
    • Sluggishness
    • Vomiting

    Ergocalciferol: Use with caution in renal impairment (strong caution), heart disease, kidney stones, arteriosclerosis

    Obtain serum calcium twice weekly during titration

    Discontinue if patient becomes hypercalcemic

    Presence of tartrazine in some products may cause allergic reactions

    Vitamin D toxicity may last ≥2 months after therapy is discontinued

    Restrict intake in infants with idiopathic hypercalcemia

    Concurrent use of cardiac glycosides

    Adequate clinical response to vitamin D therapy is dependent on adequate dietary calcium

    Maintain normal serum phosphorous concentrations in patients treated for hyperphosphatemia to prevent metastatic calcification

    When treating hypoparathyroidism, concomitant treatment with intravenous calcium, parathyroid hormone, and/or dihydrotachysterol may also be required

    Adults with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m² are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency due to storage of vitamin D in adipose tissue; doses higher than recommended daily allowance may be required, but must be carefully monitored to avoid toxicity

    Metabolism of vitamin D may be altered in patients with chronic kidney disease

    In renal impairment, supplementation with ergocalciferol may be necessary; monitor closely

    Pregnancy category: C (ergocalciferol)

    Lactation: Drug is distributed into breast milk; use with caution

    Nutritional Supplementation

    Recommended daily allowance (RDA)

    19-70 years: 600 IU (15 mcg)/day

    Pregnant or lactating women: 600 IU (15 mcg)/day

    Osteoporosis

    Prophylaxis and treatment

    >50 years: 800-1000 IU (20-25 mcg) PO once daily with calcium supplements

    Hypoparathyroidism

    50,000-200,000 IU (0.625-5 mg) PO once daily with calcium supplements

    Vitamin D-Resistant Rickets

    12,000-500,000 IU (0.3-12.5 mg) PO once daily

    Familial Hypophosphatemia

    10,000-60,000 IU (0.25-1.5 mg) PO once daily with phosphate supplements

    Vitamin D (Calciferol)

    1 mcg = 40 international units (IU)

    oral solution

    • 8000IU/mL (200mcg/mL)

    capsule

    • 50,000IU (1.25mg)

    tablet

    • 400IU (10mcg)
    • 2000IU (50mcg)