I took a high dose of vitamin D3.

[User202320]

Any pharmacist or medical specialist here?
I took high dose of vitamin D3 which was 200000IU yesterday.
It was prescribed by a doctor for winter months when I was back home.
Now my only concern is that I am a nursing mum of 20 month old. Because it's a really high dose I'm concerned that if its safe for baby or not. And what to do now.
I called nhs 111 the nurse wasn't sure and told me to ask a pharmacist. I tried the nearest pharmacy but its closed.
If anyone can help me find it'll be so helpful. At the moment I'm anxious.

200k is one go though is massive. The loading doses are around 40-50k usually and that's for someone severely deficient, which it's not clear if OP is? I've been deficient in vitamin D and prescribed 20,000 iui but 200,0000 is very high and if that amount has been prescribed, I would have expected them to discuss it properly with OP. How often were you told to take it, OP?

Don't worry, you'll pee any excess out

Extra 0 in the last 200,000 there, sorry.

I wonder if some people are misreading it as 20,000, 20k, which is a pretty standard dose for those a bit deficient. OP has said 200,000, 200k, which is not standard afaik, and she has confirmed it's not a mistake or an extra 0.

Is it just meant to be a one-off dose to see you through the winter months, OP? You aren't expected to take any more tablets after this one?

You will be fine, retired medic.

@DoAWheelie I'm the opposite, vit D puts me to sleep. It takes me over 12 hours to get rid of it from my system which is why I never take it the day before going to work. I'm frequently on 25,000iu every couple of months to treat my deficiency. The human body is unreal.

not true, its a fat soluble vitamin and will not be excreted

I was prescribed 150,000 as a loading dose to bring my levels up. Weekly.

Have you looked on the internet re breastfeeding?

I just googled and nearly all supermarket pharmacies near me are open today until 4pm. Maybe try and get to one of them/ring? Also googling any Sunday pharmacy and ringing even if it’s out of the area is worth a try if they can just give you phone advice.

As you were prescribed abroad, I’d also get in touch with a UK dr this week and confirm too as medical advice can vary drastically from country to country.

20 month old? Is that a typo for 2 month old?

Why would it be? You can BF a 20 month old...

DecayingRelic · Today 13:35
Fair enough, excreted through bile and faeces then. You'd have to take about 60000 iu over several months to cause hypercalcaemia though.

Yes. I'm at ease now. Will def call G.p tomorrow to make sure.
Thank you 🤗

He's 20 months old. Nearly 2 years of age.

Thanks alot. I tried call 2 of the supermarkets ones bht not responding may be too busy. But I'll call G. P first thing tomorrow.

The NHS website lists pharmacies which are open after hours if you want to call one today. This one is open until 8pm tonight and I have often called with questions: 01494436444
Find a pharmacy - NHS

I sometimes give 300 000 units as a single injection for loading dose in patients who are profoundly vitamin D deficient.

The only case of vitamin D toxicity I have seen is in someone who was taking over 50 000 units daily over months, and this fits with advice from Toxbase (the website for the National Poisons Information Unit), who say:

"Vitamin D is virtually non-toxic in a single acute overdose. Chronic overdose can cause hypercalcaemia. At the time of writing, the toxicity of short-term daily ingestion of a prescribed weekly dose is unclear.
A 20-month-old girl presented with anorexia, weakness and lethargy and was found to have severe hypercalcemia (20.7 mg/dL; 5.17 mmol/L) and vitamin D hypervitaminosis secondary to ingestion of "L'il Critters" calcium and vitamin D3 gummy vitamins over a period of weeks (Doyle et al, 2021)."

I don’t understand these crazy distances? I take 2000 and it’s seen as a high dosage- the 3000 is for people very deficient (in Ireland)

@buffyspikefaithangel I know, because I did! But obviously they can go without breast milk for a few days at that age if needs be so it's a bit different than a 2 month old who won't take a bottle. If I was worried I'd just give milk in a cup for a few days.

@stayathomer I'm in Ireland and was prescribed 25000 weekly for 6 weeks and either 2500 over a couple of months. I was very deficient.

That’s weekly though is it?

Oh yes, 25k weekly. The 50k knocked me out badly, I'll be in bed for two days if I take anything over 50k.

If you're worried just pump and dump until you've got medical reassurance irl. Your 20month old will get by on the rest of their diet without bf just fine till then.