To ask about vitamin D

[fluffysocks89]

I was just wondering if you need to get a prescription off the doctor for it in order to get an effective strength. Or would an over counter one be ok. I really think I need it but I’m unsure about the dosage etc. I’d be grateful for any help. I’ve posted here for traffic sorry.

Go to your GP. Super strength can only be given after a verified blood test demonstrating a deficiency.

I would try an over the counter one first as if that works then bingo, but if after a while you are seeing no improvement I would go to the GP.

I bought mine from Holland and Barrett. Not sure what strength you need but mine are 2000iu

Actually I think I bought them from nature's best but pretty sure h&b do them too

I'm in the super low category and my GP just said max strength over the counter ones but to take all year round.

Have you had a blood test to see what your levels are to start with?
Either ask your GP for a test, or you can pay for one here (£29)
www.vitamindtest.org.uk/

I paid for the test thinking I'd then just buy some over the counter tablets but my level came back as 15 which is really very low. So I called GP for advice and he gave a prescription for 40,000IU daily for a week, then 4000IU daily with a retest in 3 months.

The 40,000IU are not available without prescription and I don't think a regular over the counter 2000 or 4000 daily would have been enough for me.

The ones I got are 12.5 ug whatever that means. I’m just wondering if they’re going to have any affect at all. Sorry but I know nothing about them at all.

They may have an effect on you, they may not. Really dependa what your levels are.
I second pps, get blood tests done

I buy them in boots 3 for 2. I get max strength, one a day.

Do you know that your vitamin d levels are low?

I've taken that strength vitamin d nearly daily for years now. When my vitamin d levels were checked the doctor was surprised at how good mine were. He said the majority of his patients were deficient but I'm not. I assume that's because I take the supplement so unless you have very low levels to start with I don't think it's too low to be effective.

I have taken 2 tablets instead of 1 sometimes but I don't think it's necessary.

12.5ug is equivalent to 500IU. But the dosage you should be taking really depends on how deficient you are in the 1st place.

Yes I will try and get my doctor to do the test. Last time I asked he said I wouldn’t need it, goodness knows why at my age.

DD is coeliac and had low levels at diagnosis (actually all of us have when we’ve had bloods!). She’s never been offered Vit D on prescription though, although part of her ‘treatment’ plan is to take it. We buy a high strength oral spray and it lasts for ages.

@fluffysocks89 do you have specific symptoms? My brother had a serious deficiency.

I take 10000 every day, plus all the cofactors you need to make sure it's safe.

There's some good groups on Facebook with information on - vitamin d & Co factors is a good one

I was prescribed 25iU by my doctor (I was told I was at the low end of normal, but they wanted me to be at the high end of normal due to health issues) and just take 2 x 12.5iU Tesco tablets.

www.medino.com/product/huxd3-20-000-iu-30-vegetarian-capsules?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2vmk4Yqt7wIVcWHmCh3jGAwJEAQYAiABEgIEwPD_BwE

This. Very high dose.

My levels were very low (21) so I was prescribed a loading dose for a few weeks. Now I take 3000iu / 75micrograms which I buy from Amazon or waitrose in the form of a spray from BetterYou.

I take 4000iu a day and just get them from Amazon.

Doctor told me there’s no need for a prescription if you’ve been diagnosed.

Basically, everyone in UK should take some, especially in winter, but you shouldn't take really high doses unless you are confirmed to be deficient. My gp was keeping an eye on my calcium levels while topping my super low vit D.

I still know when it drops because I end up anxious and panicky🙄 Dye to check up soon

[quote WhereverIlaymyhat2021]@fluffysocks89 do you have specific symptoms? My brother had a serious deficiency.[/quote]
What were his symptoms if you don’t mind me asking?

@fruitpastille

My levels were very low (21) so I was prescribed a loading dose for a few weeks. Now I take 3000iu / 75micrograms which I buy from Amazon or waitrose in the form of a spray from BetterYou.

Same, I was given one dose of 50,000IU per week for something like 8 weeks then recommended betteryou 3000 spray daily.

You need a blood test really OP to get properly treated if there is a deficiency. Having said that, it's estimated that the majority of the population does have low vitamin D levels so it won't do any harm to get started on any dose no matter how small.

I use Vitamin D and K2 drops.

@fluffysocks89

Yes I will try and get my doctor to do the test. Last time I asked he said I wouldn’t need it, goodness knows why at my age.

Thats’s terrible.

We have new GPs now, much younger than me and much more willing to run tests. I had a full set of bloods done after complaining about tiredness and was prescribed Vitamin D, a high monthly dose. I do wonder how many women are being denied proper diagnoses.

We were told at work (i.e. reputable source) not to go above 4000 iu as it’s unsafe above that. D3 is more absorbable than D2 (but D3 is animal based so depends if that’s an issue). And to take with a dietary source of fat to help absorption.