Hikin' Mama Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 I'm going to start taking a d3 supplement. The one I was going to order has 5000 IU. What is recommended? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 What are your levels? Have you been tested? "Normal" recommendations now are for 1000 iu a day. I take 2000 iu a day. I used to take 10,000 iu a day (but I was very deficient and it was monitored). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 The Rx dose is 50,000 units 1x per week for 1-3 or so months. I've had several months of this dosing (in just the last year) and my Vit D level is still too low, but slowly rising. Since my level is so low, I take 5000 units per day (= 35,000 units per week) when I'm not on the Rx. Do you know what your level is? Start there and ask your doctor. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Do you have reason to believe you need that much? Have you been tested? Just for reference - I was taking 1000 units a day. Then my kidney doctor told me to cut back to 500 per day. (Or take every other day since I have 1000 unit caps.) My levels were too high for me due to my history of kidney stones. Of course that anecdote means nothing, except to say that everyone's needs are different, so it would be a good idea to get your level checked. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 ITA about getting your levels checked, and then checking again after a time on a certain dose to see how they change. I take 4000IU a day, but I need to take that dose to remain in the targeted range. "Normal" people take 1000IU. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 what is your current d3 level? (while 30 used to be considered a minimum, now it's around 50 minimum.) how well do you absorb d3? My dd was taking 10,000 IUs, but her (catastrophically low - her drs words) levels still barely budged. she had to switch to drops because they are more absorbant. I take 4,000IUs and my levels still only go up about 9 points a year. (and I'm *still* below 50, though I am now in the 40s) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
umsami Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 For me, no that would not be too much. I'm super pale, blue eyes, and have low D3. I usually need to take 100-150,000 D3 per week for about 6 weeks to raise my levels to normal (50). 5,000-10,000 IU D3 is my normal maintenance. Even with it, about every 12-18 months, I dip back down to the low 20s, and need to super supplement. I live in FL too. But, I've been tested. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orthodox6 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Safe if under doctor supervision. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 I would have your levels tested first, to be sure. And then tested again after three months to get an idea of how they increase on that dosage. I take 50,000iu once a week under doctor supervision. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hikin' Mama Posted May 23, 2015 Author Share Posted May 23, 2015 Thanks for the input. You all have made me realize I should go to my doctor. I had my level tested a couple years ago and it was in normal range at 54. But I have been stinkin' tired and unmotivated for the last couple years. I've had several other things tested more recently: thyroid (TSH, t3, t4), iron, b12, blood sugar. All normal. I didn't think to ask to be retested for D. I read somewhere that even pale people (me) in northern climates (I'm in northern US) need extra D even if they are in the normal range. So I was going to try D3. I've been on bioidentical progesterone for over 2 years and thought my fatigue was due to menopause. Well, I saw no change with the progesterone, and since I had given it plenty of time and changed up the dosing on the advice of the pharmacist, I decided to quit. Did that 2 months ago and have seen no difference. Funny thing is I run and feel okay most of the time when doing that, although I'm understandably tired after my long runs (currently 10-15 miles and building as I'm training for a marathon). I run at a decent pace for my age and still feel okay when doing it. And at one point I thought maybe running was tiring me out so I quit completely for a few months. No change. Because running helps me relieve stress and because I absolutely love it once I get past the first mile, I started up again a few months ago. Sorry this is so long. I've never been a high energy person, but what I'm feeling now isn't normal for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mommymonster Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 You may also want to consult loved ones... by chance do they *allege* that you snore? I sadly found out recently that I *allegedly* snore and that I have moderately severe sleep apnea. Sleep apnea means you're waking up a ton each night and getting poor sleep quality/quantity... You may want to check into it, as well as all of the other suggestions listed above. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Do consider a sleep study OP. I didn't actually snore, or at least rarely did. But I had moderate apnea in my sleep study. Correcting made a huge difference for me. There are other things that can go on in sleep and prevent quality rest in addition to apnea. My doctor said most people need 1000 IU per 25 pounds to maintain current levels. The vitamin D council said up to (just under) 10,000 IU of D3 per day has never been toxic to anyone. They have detailed information on their site about what it takes for toxicity. It's a lot. It's worth getting the 25 OH D tested. If you're low, 5000 is not enough. I have a good D level and take 5000 per day to maintain. So does hubby. All that to say, no. I don't think 5000 is going to be too much to start taking. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Everyone in my family except dh has low d levels. At 5000iu a day over several years we are all now in low normal ranges (in the low 30's). We still take the 5000iu daily. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 For me, there's a big difference in absorption between the prescription D2 and the OTC D3, so it helps to know for sure which version people are using when they talk dosages, especially if it's prescription. My levels were very low (in the teens) and even with 100,000 units a week prescription D2 for well over a year they weren't budging out of the low to mid-20s. I asked my doctor about trying D3 since I had read some studies that D3 may be more bioavailable, at least in some people. After about 4 months of 5000 units a day (so 35000 a week) of D3 I'm finally up to 30. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted May 23, 2015 Share Posted May 23, 2015 Yes, on the advice to use D3. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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