One of the world’s foremost authorities on vitamin D metabolism and physiology said, “Worrying about vitamin D Overdose or toxicity of vitamin D is like worrying about drowning when you are dying of thirst.” He challenged anyone in the scientific community to present even a single case of vitamin D toxicity in adults from ingestion of up to 1,000 ug (40,000 IU) a day. Vieth’s challenge remains unanswered and his work remains unrefuted.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient with therapeutic use in some cases, but that does not mean it is devoid of potential toxicity. Ingestion of vitamins in quantities larger than recommended for the maintenance of good health leads to overdose of vitamin D. It causes toxicity and varies from individual to individual according to one’s metabolism. The symptoms of overdose of vitamin D may also vary.
Vitamin D is responsible for two important functions. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin, which promotes utilization of calcium and phosphorus in the body by enhancing absorption of these two minerals from the intestine. It is required for normal mineralisation of bone and it plays an essential role in the homeostatic regulation of plasma calcium concentration.
There are two sources of Vitamin D in humans. It is either obtained through ingestion of appropriate foods in the diet or photolysis of 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin. Once vitamin D is absorbed, it gets bound to a specific globulin and reaches the blood to the liver.
The vitamin D requirements do not vary just with age, pregnancy or lactation, it also varies with the quality of the diet one is taking. Any recommendation for vitamin D supplementation must be made only after careful scrutiny of the diet. The indiscriminate use of over-the-counter vitamin D preparations for irrational reasons can be dangerous. People must be made aware of the potential hazards of overdose.
Some symptoms of overdose of vitamin D are experiencing weakness in the muscles, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness, and weight loss. The overdose can also raise blood levels of calcium. It can give rise to mental confusion. High blood levels of calcium can cause abnormalities in heart rhythms. Cases have been reported of Calcinosis also. Calcinosis is the deposition of calcium and phosphate in the body’s soft tissues such as the kidney. They can be caused by vitamin D toxicity.
Vitamin D overdose symptoms should be checked by your doctor. If there is a feeling that you may be suffering from vitamin D overdose, its best to visit a doctor. As usual no depending on self-help, help from person who has undergone it himself or another round of `over-the-counter’ medicines. Your body’ working may be best observed by the doctor and medicines or treatments prescribed accordingly will bear results that are faster and more effective.
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I am amazed! First Purva Mewar quotes Dr Veith (whose challenge has never been taken up), then goes on to warn everybody of the toxicity of vitamin D.
If vitamin D is so toxic WHERE ARE THE BODIES.
Perhaps he/she is getting vitamin D2 mixed up with vitamin D3.
Is he/she a doctor by the way, if so who pays for the research. I take it the comments that are made in the article have come from research. In the article there is mention of reported cases of Calcinosis. Calcinosis is the deposition of calcium and phosphate in the body’s soft tissues such as the kidney. They can be caused by vitamin D toxicity. Again where is the evidence. You just cannot says a substance is dangerous without stating the source.
I am in my late 70s and take 5,000 IU vitamin D3 a day. I have been amazed how much more muscle definition I have and I feel so much stronger. If you have full body exposure in the sun in the middle of summer your body can make 20,000 IU of vitamin D in around 30 minutes. If he/she is correct then we should all be dead or at least suffering from all those ailments he/she is touting.
Heaven preserve us from experts
I realize that the above comment is very old, but for what it’s worth, I was diagnosed with a Vit D deficiency in the summer of 2009, and started taking D3 supplements. Within three weeks of taking moderate amounts of D3, I developed nausea. I also developed insomnia during the fall, which I finally related to vit D3 supplementation.
I struggled with insomnia for months and months, having no idea that it may be related to D3. I stopped taking D3 over the course of the summer, and I was finally able to sleep again. I thought that the cause of my ability to sleep was about our very stressful city and staying in the country for two months. I was still able to sleep when I got back. We have been back for six weeks now, and last week, I started supplementing again because the days are getting shorter, and boom, the insomnia returned.
I think that these blanket statements about toxicity of vitamins or whatever we are talking about are problematic. These statements may apply to the majority of people, but to some people they do not apply. Mine is a case in point. My quality of life has suffered greatly by a devastating insomnia that has lasted for over a year now.
If you have symptoms and you are supplementing, consider that the supplementation may be the cause.
Lisa
Hello Lisa,
After searching the internet for over 4 years your comment on not sleeping with vit. D supplements finally repeated what I have found. I too cannot sleep when taking just a tiny bit of vit. D supplement or getting too much sun. After ingesting the D the very next night I am fully awake like I have taken a stimulant. NUMEROUS doctors give me a strange look like I am crazy!!!! There must be something we are missing to not properly metabolize vit. D. If you hear of reasons for this strange sleeplessness let me know!!
Elizabeth
from Edmonton,Alberta,Canada
Hi,
I also experienced insomnia when taking vitamin d despite being diagnosed as deficient, and I couldn’t figure out why I felt so good when first taking it, and then rapidly developed insomnia. Finally, after a year of experimenting with it, I figured it out. The insomnia actually is a withdrawal effect, I think; because if I get up and take more D when I can’t sleep, then after a half hour, I am able to go back to sleep and sleep great. I use a sublingual D drop from Carlson labs that absorbs quickly, so I can usually tell within a half hour of when I take it that it is in my system. Now, I am sleep wonderfully and taking about 6,000 IU per day to try to bring my levels up.
I am so glad I read this. I was told to take 2000 iu of vitamin D3, I only took 1000Iu . I was having extreme anxiety. I stopped two meds and my D3. I started feeling better. The doctor told me to start my vitamin D again. This morning I woke up with anxiety. I cried and felt like I would never feel better, what is wrong with me I kept repeating to myself. I am not going to take the D3 tonight, I hope with all my heart you are right. Thanks for posting this.
Marie
I have been takinga
vitamin d3 and i got side effects of a rapid heartbeat. Made me feel so unwell that i am not going to take it again.
I started taking Vitamin D3 – in April of 2010 – 50,000 per week – I started feeling tight in chest, tired when climing up stepts – hurting under left shoulder blade & left arm, blood pressure started going up – swelling in legs –
I went into clinic in Colorado in July of 2010 – came back to home, still had the shoulder pain/arm pain/high blood pressure- ended up Oct 30,2010 in emergency room -transported to Cardiology at another hospital. Make a long story short -I have had heart cath – heart cath, but hurting went away in arm and shoulder. Done xray, 2-mri’s on neck and ultra sound on leg that was swelling – after all this, I went off the Vitamin D3 – has been 2-months now (Jan 2011) and my body back to normal – I was on 200,000 units per month?
I have recently started to experience health problems with my thyroid for which I have taken medication since I was 19 years old. I can only attribute this change to the fact that I started taking Vitamin D about six months ago (kind of hit and miss which may be good for me). In the last two months, my gynecologist suggested I stay on the Vitamin D(I picked up D3). Over this 2 month time period, I have progressively started having muscle achiness (similar to a flu virus), sore throat, cramping in my legs, joint pain in my lower back, hips, and shoulders, loss of appetite, tingling of my hands, trouble swallowing, headaches and neck pain. My thyroid levels are so messed up that I am now on another thyroid medication. In the last week I started to experiment to see if the problems could be attributed to the Vitamin D3. I am finding that on the days I take Vitamin D, I feel pretty ill with all of the above symptoms. I am going to stop taking it and in 6 weeks at my next blood test for thyroid, I am willing to bet that my thyroid will be back to normal.
I was going to be going to a clinic in Colorado for my fibro pain.. I’ve also had horrible symptoms after getting a vit d shot! Insomnia, loss of apetite, anxiety…etc.. I was just wondering if this clinic was in Groover Colorado? thanks!
Nikki,
Go to parathyroid.com and read the entire site. You do not say how many units of D you take but I am assuming it was prescribed and is a large dose. I was given this for over 5 years, 50 ,000 units and it is a wonder I am still alive. Vitamin D levels naturally drop when a person has parathyroid disease, a highly underdiagnosed condition and many doctors are clueless. Intentionally or ? ? ? ? I have read a great deal about it in the last 8 months and it is shocking.
Parathyroid disease is not rare like they will tell you . Post menopause and even younger it is prevalent. It is called hyperparathyroidism. The chief way to diagnose is Vitamin D blood level will be Low, under 30. Much less is common. Mine was 9. After all my D it’s still only 12 ! The body knows what it’s doing to lower the level with hyperparathyroid disease.
Calcium level may or may not be high. Normal has been lowered this last decade as to what is considered normal which is now up to 10.1. Anything above 10 is not good and compatible with hyperparathyroidism. Mine has been anywhere from 9.8-10-6. It fluctuates a lot. Now for the Parathyroid hormone level or PTH blood level, anything over 60 but there are exceptions. Mine was 153, so symptoms play a key roll in diagnosis, not just blood tests.
Rapid and irregular heart rate is common with hyperparathyroidism. GO IMMEDIATELY to parathyoid.com ! Endocrinologists are the worst at this, I don’t know why . . . other than few do research and this site is one of the few.
I don’t think it is actually the vitamin d causing the insomnia. Vitamin d needs works with your body’s magnesium and can deplete it. If you take vitamin d, add a magnesium supplement also and it should take care of your problem.
Vitamin D toxicity is not something to be taken lightly and I am proof of that. I got to this page because I was searching for information on recovery from Vitamin D toxicity.
My Doctor prescribed me 50,000 IU for a couple of weeks and then backed me down to 20,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day, telling me it was totally safe at that level and told me periodic blood tests were not needed. Unfortunately I trusted him.
Within 4 months at 20,000 IU of vitamin D a day, I became very sick. I started experiencing excessive and urgent urination. I began sweating profusely even when I was feeling cool and comfortable. I developed pain in my muscles, joints, jaws and teeth as well as severe headaches. My vision became blurry. I was starting to experience abnormal heart rhythms. I became extremely nauseated, couldn’t eat, and suddenly I began experiencing radical weight loss, losing 15 pounds in only 7 days. I stopped taking the D and went to see another doctor who would do the blood tests.
My vitamin D blood level after 4 months of 20,000 units a day was measured at well over 150ng/mL. That’s 3-4 TIMES the accepted healthy level.
I can tell you that what has followed is nothing short of a nightmare. I am currently sicker, weaker, and more underweight than at any time in my life. I can’t sleep. I can’t work. The joint/muscle pain is brutal. My current Doctor feels that I will recover fully, but it is expected to take months. I am extremely lucky that my calcium levels weren’t any higher. Fortunately my appetite has returned after a month and I have stopped losing weight. I have a way to go before getting back to my normal weight, though.
The reaction to Vitamin D supplementation is very different for every individual and if you decide to go down that road, you better make damn sure you are getting blood tests every few weeks. I PROMISE you, this is not something to mess around with.
Vitamin D3 supplements are not risk free, as some would have you believe. I only wish I had done my homework before taking the dosages that I did.
You either misunderstood or something , i have never heard of anyone taking that much per day , no wonder you had issues. In most cases people should never need more than 5000 IU’s a day , . Even if your levels are low I would start at the level and then see where you are after a month or 2 . Everybody wants to “shotgun” everything instead of starting at a reasonable level and working up if more is needed.
You should research this a little better. Our bodies can take the natural vitamin D from the sun as you mentioned but when it comes to vitamins there is a limit. As your Doctor to give you the limit with vitamins. Everybody’s body is different and maybe you can withsand more than the normal person and or maybe you don’t have the effects now. I would really look into that if I was you.
Sandra
i take 2000 iu s of vitamin d3 daily i have been very anxious lately and somewhat rapid heartbeat could this be caused by to much vitamind3????
Yes definately! I just finished throwing up for over 14 days straight after injesting just 1000IU of D3 daily. I am now seriously anemic from it. I am left with residual pain in my upper left quadrant. Not only did I violently throw up every morning but I also became seriously constipated. That is a key sign of hypercalcemia that was induced by the vitamin D3. If D3, (which is a chemical compound), is so safe, then why is it used as the main active ingredient in at least 3 rat poisons? Rat B Gone, Rampage, and Quintox. People do the research for yourself.
Some how I missed this post I too had anxiety from only 400mg daily. After reading about the constipation I recalled that too I am not sure what Hypercalcemia is but think it is too much calcium I will look it up. I am seeing nothing but good things about vit D till it cures cancer fixes depression ect ect ect… there seem to be a lot of people who think it is a cure all.
I have been searching about vit d for awhile now and stumbled upon a site called the Marshal protocol where they are think vit D is a hormone not a vitamin.
I do not have a good grasp of this protocol really but they do think it affects the immune system not in a good way. If my little understanding of it is correct the idea is too keep the vit D low to help improve the vitamin d receptor which is a huge part of the human immune system. They say that bacteria/viruses have shut down the vitamin D receptor and high vit D hinders its repair.
So they keep vit D low to improve the receptor and after it has healed some add antibiotics to kill the bacteria.
This protocol supposedly heals everything -lupus -diabetes- depression-arthritis – fibromyalgia chronic fatigue – MS- the list is long.
I know this is more than anyone wants to really know but who know maybe it does work and can help somebody. There is chat room where people are posting they are getting better I looked at some of the talks on utube from the doctor and he looks sensible but who knows.
ps it was the comment that Vit D was used in rat poison that reminded me of the Marshall protocol I figured if it kills rat maybe it does it by destroying their immune systems. So why all the hype about vit D curing everything lately? I cannot pick up a magazine without reading an article about upping Vit D for good health.
Thanks for all your comments, fellow travelers along this bumpy road known as Vit D and “why do I feel like this?” I am 68 years old. I had primary ovarian failure at age 31 from an incorrect use of a strong birth control pill (which I was put on while I was miscarrying and which flattened my ovarian function) and age 56 almost had a stroke when taking Fosomax and Evista together for osteoporosis. My blood pressure rose then to 180/100 and left me feeling lucky that I did not die and and after two such disasters left me wary of BiG Pharma.
In early October of 2009 my Vitamin D3 levels were “fine” according to my endocrinologist and I continued taking the 400 IU of Vitamin D in my Twinlabs Multi. When I returned for my visit in last November the doctor requested that I have my annual blood work done. My parathyroids at 53 were higher than they had been in 2009 (33) but still within the normal range and my D3 level was 28. She suggested that I add 200 IU to my 400 from the multi which I dutifully did for nine days and then when I began to feel strange with a slightly elevated blood pressure, rapid pulse and very low body temperature stopped taking. Since then I’ve lost the four pounds which I worked so hard to gain, had loss of appetite and dry heaves , excessive urination in Dec. and January, dry mouth and excessive thirst which are better but still there. ( The endocrinologist thought that the thirst could have been from a 106 fasting blood sugar but I had that re-checked by my primary care and she said that I was fine not to worry) The worst effects are the fears for my physical well-being and the waking up early. Before taking the extra 200 IU’s of D I most always slept 8 – 9 hours a night (with a few exceptions) but now I wake up after 6 hours and fear that I won’t go back to sleep. In January my primary care retested my Vitamin D and the D.125 level was 41 and the D3 was thirty. She said they were fine. My question remains the why of the extra Vitamin D which I knew would be wrong from the very beginning. Could the discrepancy in the D3 level last November 30 be the result of later in the fall testing. The endo said no that my levels had been higher at other times. I feel that the additional Vit D was not warrented. I still take the 400 in the multi but wonder if I should even have stopped that. My blood level of calcium was excellent ad 9.2 so excessive calcium in the blood is not a problem but I cannot help but wonder if there is an interrelationship between the Vit. D and the calcium.
Also I watch the D content of what I eat. Yesterday I had an egg substitute omelet which had 4 IU of Vitamin D. for breakfast and during the night the dry heaves and gagging returned when I awakened at 4:00 a.m. Sleep did not come after that. This is not fun.
Please share your thoughts.
Margaret
I believe I have been od’ing on Vitamin d for months. I tried telling my doctor but they don’t believe me. I stopped completely taking any d and can’t do any calcium, yet I still have symptoms – vomiting, heart pain, trouble breathing, etc. How can I clear this from my body I’m especially worried considering summer is coming up. What did you do to heal your body from overdose???
I’m glad I saw this page – I’ve had a vit D deficiency for a few years. But the suplementation gives me overdose symptoms at times – in summer months. I am given 50,000IU to take once a month. I have just been drinking lots of water and some salt water as my blood pressure just felt so low as one of the symptoms – i guess. But when telling a doctor – they say it’s hard to OD on vit d and it’s likely just a virus. I get extreme dizziness – vertigo – nausea. It conveniently comes at this time of year a few days after I take the 50,000IU dose.
Didn’t explain well – but the water is to attempt to flush the vit d out of my system.
It may have been an adverse reaction but no one is going to OD on 1000 IU”s a day.
That is too much vitamin D, 2000 is too much.
Reduce it so that it does not cause you any health problems
I am suffering from D3 toxicity. I suddenly became gripped with depression, joint pain, anorexia (lost 14 pounds), brain fog extraordinaire, extreme fatigue. For 155 days, I’d taken 60kIUs/day. The instruction on the label was wrong; s/h/said ‘1 drop twice/day’; actually said ‘1 dropper twice/day’. D levels were within toxic levels, although calcium, while elevated was not outside norman range; kidneys tested okay as did thyroid. Main concern now is later T1 impact. I have done my homework. I know my body. Joint pain went away within 48 hours (previously non-existent-Dr. Barry Sears Omega 3); appetite increased right away also after ceasing all D. It pays to pay attention!
I, too, have D3 toxicity – because I’m an idiot! I failed to read the label when I bought my last bottle and was actually taking 5000IU 2/day instead of 1000IU 2/day as intended. Luckily, I have just discovered the error and have been to the doc and have stopped all D. I have symptoms of dehydration and brain fog extraordinaire and joint pain, too. I am gripped with fear of what I’ve done to myself. He said it would take a year to get it out of my system because it is fat soluble. Doc has drawn blood and is testing but we already know my calcium levels are high along with several other things. Any words of comfort or caution? I’m just beginning my own research. Thanks!
I have to say that I think that many of the symptoms that you all are reporting may be related to candida infections. Vitamin D deficiencies can lead to a depressed immune system and when the D level is raised, the body will begin to rid itself of the candida and that will cause the dreaded Herxheimer’s effect, or die-off. Fungal infections are becoming more common all the time and many of the symptoms mentioned here can be attributed to it.
Also, I have found that when levels of D are raised, it will point out any magnesium deficiency that exists. So, perhaps some of you need to add magnesium to your supplementation. A great percentage of folks are deficient in Vitamin D and magnesium these days. I don’t know whether it is the lifestyle or diet that we “enjoy” in the West or if it is both.
God bless!
I was taking Vit. D3 for a couple months and about a month ago I had a heart attack. I first thought it was anxiety like severe anxiety and as a precaution went to the ER. They found an abnormal EKG reading but my blood pressure was130/80. They rushed in to catherization and angioplasted and stented my circumflex artery which according to them was completely blocked.
Is there a chance that they misdiagnosed the heart attack, I consider myself healthy except for smoking, I ate right, exercised , took care of emotions. I have stress too with taking care of my mom with alzeheimers
I was taking Biotec Emulsion Vitamin D. Very dangerous stuff. I have experienced vitamin D toxicity. Although my calcium levels are within range. It also caused tinnitus. Once one builds up vitamin D levels, maintenance should be no more than 400IU a day. Also, the sun doesn’t create 10,000IU of vitamin D daily. It only creates what is needed.
Vitamin D antagonizes iron stores in the body and tinnitus can be a symptom of low iron levels. Please get them checked and supplement as nessasary.
I’m trying to look up anything I can on this toxicity of vitamin D. Went to the Doctor and was tested for vitamin D deficiency. Turns out I tested at 16! The doctor said he was going to put me on a high level to boost me up. When I went to get the prescription I saw that he gave me 50,000IU to take every week for the next 8 weeks. Ever since I have taken it 3 days ago I simply cannot keep anything inside of me. Others say that they have constipation but I have the opposite and this happens within 1/2 hour of eating anything.
I cannot find a single thing on this type of reaction to a large dose of vitamin D.
Any suggestions?
I forgot to mention that I have also been diagnosed with Lupus that complicates everthing even more- especially my kidneys.
I also take 50,000 a week for 8 weeks. I have the same thing going on. I’v been going to the bathroom alot more. My problem is that I’m really fatigued. I’ll fall asleep sitting up on the couch.
I am an 80 year old female. I only take Estrace and Fosamax prescription drugs. I take calcium w/D and a multi-vitamin. About six months ago I added 2000 iu of Vitamin D. I was already getting 1500 iu with the calcium and multi-vitamin. About 2 months ago I started being extremely dizzy, broke out in a rash and blood pressure went up tremendously. From average of 120/70 to 170/98 with extreme dizziness. Vitamin D was the only thing I was taking different. I stopped taking the D about 10 days ago. The dizziness has stopped and so has the high blood pressure. I was also very fatigued and that seems to be improving.
Could this be a Vitamin D overdose?
My mum is also nearly 80. She has been receiving injections from a doctor for Vitamin D. She has been feeling very dizzy, has feelings of nausea & weakness. I took her to my Doctor for a second opinion – he ran some blood tests on her and she is massively over the normal levels in the blood and she has high blood pressure he has put her on some tablets for that now and ordered a heart test. I am quite concerned about the overdose!
I am sorry to hear about your mother I am not a doctor but do wonder if she has too much vit D in her system now maybe taking something to remove the Vit D would be a sensible suggestion? I am not sure what that would be but would have thought the doctor would think to do that first rather then just treating the symptom treat the cause. I know my blood pressure went thru the roof when I took 1000mg of vit D just one time.
Hi,
I was researching my strange symptoms which occurred two weeks ago since starting Vitamin D3 recommended by my doctor. I have brain fog extreme fatigue and joint pain. My whole body feels awful so I started researching what in the world was wrong with me all of a sudden. I was good till I started the Vitamin D3.
I had so many symptoms that I saw on this forum I couldn’t believe it. Tomorrow
I am not going to take it and see if I can get myself back to feeling well again.
I really feel awful- for the life of me I wondered what the heck happened.
My doctor put me on Vitamin D since I fractured my fibula on the right leg. That was not as bad as the way I feel now. I hope you are better-I know I am looking forward to feeling like my old self, which was better than the way I feel now
Good luck to you-Holly Rose ( I too have been dizzy) April 19, 2011
I would avoid calcium supplements. Vitamin D3 and MK-7 good enough. Get calcium/magnesium from grains, seeds, legumes and veggies.
At my last checkup I was told that I’m deficient in D, so I got a bottle of 1,000 IU D3 tablets. A few days later I got a really bad sore throat that wouldn’t go away and I’ve been having far more frequent bowel movements. I’ve tried doing my own research, but keep getting stymied when the articles I find keep throwing around Big Words without explanation (and researching those topics only leads to more Big Words…), so I have no idea if the D3 is causing the sore throat or not.
The sore throat started on the left side and actually felt much like a canker sore, only about halfway down my throat. That cleared up after about 2 1/2 weeks, but now the right side is doing the same thing. Usually when I get a sore throat, it’s on both sides and most often is followed by other cold/flu symptoms after a few days (nausea, fever, cough, etc.) This has been going for over half a month and no other symptoms that I’ve noticed besides the slight upswing in bowel movements. I haven’t found anything connecting D toxicity to sore throats, but I did note something regarding thyroid troubles, and my lifestyle and body type do put me at risk for hyperthyroidism. Could the D3 be irritating my thyroid, and that’s why I have a persistent sore throat? I’d normally ask my doctor, but am concerned that my limited health insurance wouldn’t cover it, and I can’t really afford the $20 copay right now, let alone a full medical bill…
I broke my foot too in Jan this year a few months late a bone density test which showed I have osteopenia ( this word is coming up in misspelled so I will explain it as it was explained to me not osteoporosis but the stage before it) I was told to take 1500 mg of calcium and 1000 mg of Vit D3 daily. I was concerned about the calcium as I previously had kidney stones and was told at emg not to take calcium supplements as that was the only preventative they knew.
The first day I took both vit D and Calcium I fell asleep shortly after taking them and could not get up the entire day. The second day I thought I would just take the vit D as I knew calcium could be used as a sleep aid ( warm milk) So I just took the vit D3 1000 mg. Shortly after within the hour likely less I had balls of blinding light around both eyes. I checked my blood pressure as my heart was going nuts I don’t recall what it was but it was way up there. I had a horrible head ache ended up in bed for the second day.
I stopped taking both returned to the doc who sent me to an endo speciaist. She redid the blood work and did a 24hr urine collection. Had me take vit D3 400mg once a day. This dose I was better but seemed to build up in a couple of days causing anxiety and eventually insomnia. I was to do this for a month and could not tolerate it. I tried to call the doc but found her never in her office. So I limped along doing a few days on and then off so I could get some sleep. I was not a very nice person while doing this test mood was bad and my personality changed to nasty. The last wk of the test I took the vit D3 every day at the end of the test the result were that my vit D was even lower then before I took the 400mg for most of the month.
I tried to get this specialist to explain this to me but she did not seem to know what could be the issue I swear I did take the vit D3 most of the month. She said it was not a huge amount of so maybe it was not enough to make a difference it sure made a difference in how I felt.
I also lost 10 pound while taking the Vit D I have not idea why but assume it was water as it soon came back. I did feel I had more energy while on the Vit D but that may have been due to the anxiety I could not sit still.
I have no idea what to do next she has washed her hands of me and I think the entire test while maybe not a complete waste of money and time has sure left more questions than answers.
I am going to take this up with another doctor eventually but was wondering if any other person here has had the same experience?
Google “C the Blog: Overdosing on Vitamin D” and read the readers’ comments. It is definitely possible for some people to overdose on very small amounts of vitamin D!
I should also add that C: the Blog” talks about people overdosing on the 50,000 iu prescription doses that so many doctors prescribe.
I was diagnosed with severe Vit. D deficiency. along with a underactive thyroid (not a serious underactive). I was given 50,000 units of Vit D once a week for a month… and then 50,000 a month for 5 months. I have started have SEVERE headaches…. when I take the vit. the first few times I took the Vit I had no main problem except DRY mouth and tiredness. Then just befrore I started the once a month vit… I had a BLINDING white onset of a headache. It lasted a couple days… then faded off. I didn;t make connection until the fourth month. But the pharmamacist said she could find nothing that said anything about a severe headache… one paper just said “headaches” nothing more. I am due now for my next dose of 50,000 units and am a little concerned …. should I take it. Is it really related ???
Melody,
If you Google vitamin d overdose symptoms you’ll find that a headache is one of them.
I was also prescribed the 50,000 IU vitamin D treatment, but I was leery of such high doses since I am sensitive to drugs and get nauseated easily. Instead, I’m supplementing myself with 1,800 IU/day. I have been doing it for three months and haven’t had any side effects yet. But who knows? I could in the future since some of the side effects don’t show up until you’ve been taking the vitamin for months or years.
Good luck,
Leslie
If you read my post Melody it is above yours you will see I had a severe head ache from only 1000 mg of vit D3. I think it would be called a migraine maybe because of the ball of fire around my eyes when it first started. I still don’t know why my D is low or why I cannot tolerate a Vit D3 BUT I do KNOW my body does not want higher vit D 3 as the more I put in the more my body spits out…. the lower my blood vit D is. Our bodies are not stupid and neither are we. If vit D3 is causing this kind of effect then stop taking it no matter what doctors say they cannot make you take anything it is your right to refuse and protect yourself. I know mine does not like being told no but if he can’t do better than to tell me Vit D does not cause that while I know it does he loses my respect….. I don’t like being called a liar much either. Doctors just don’t know what is going on but will not admit it they think they know everything. I for one think they should show some respect and listen to us so they could learn what is causing this. This many people cannot be all wrong all having the same symptoms.
headache anxiety weight loss runs and insomnia all on my list when I take vitD3 I forgot bitchy and some times wanted to chew my own arm off I was so jittery… .
Doctors need to do some more study on t
Thank God for all of your posts!!!!!!
I also took Rx 50,000 iu for 8 weeks. I felt fine for the first couple of doses
but started to have extreme fatigue, became so irratable constipated. I am so
weak and had such muscle and joint pain.
I will add that I moved and have Fibromyalgia so I thought it
was a bad flare up. But somewhere along the line I knew this was
different then what I experience with my fibro. I also recovered quite well from the move
untill I took the vitamin D. I haven’t taken it for about three weeks now but I am still so sick.
Yes I had the nausea but thought I was having terrible menopause symptoms.
when I spoke to one pharmacist, he told me that the vit.D could not be causing this so I continued to take it. Then I spoke to another pharmacist and she was like stop taking it and tell your Dr. right away!!!!! told my Dr. and not much was said but the fact that I am so sensitive to meds. (which is true) So I just thought this would go away. Does anyone know how long it takes to feel better? I also live in Fl. and used to get sun from my many laps that I was able to swim before I
started to feel like going to sleep as soon as I got up. Stopped going out, Fibro never completley
stopped me like this did. Any help would be appreciated
Hi Lori,
From what I read in “C: the Blog Overdosing on Vitamin D” the half-life of vitamin d is 30 days, so the effects will go away gradually. I’m assuming you stopped taking it since it made you so sick.
You also have to avoid calcium and foods enriched with vitamin d (like milk) and sunshine to help the side effects go away faster.
The author of C: the Blog recommends that everyone get their vitamin D from the sun because it won’t cause any side effects like the supplements do. But maybe you would do okay with lower doses of D. I’m taking 1,800 IU a day and haven’t had any side effects for three months.
You also need to get your D levels re-tested by your doctor. Who knows? After taking the 50,000 IU treatment, your levels might be in the normal range by now and you can take a smaller maintenance dose.
Good luck,
Leslie
I also have fibromyalgia. A few months ago my doctor had me start taking 5000 a day for 3 months. Almost from the first dose I was in complete agony. I have had FMS for 10 years and had finally reached a level of discomfort that I regarded as “normal”. Background pain I suppose. But I read about the bad things that could happen with low vitamin D so I kept taking it. A few times I would stop for a week or so and gradually recover but would feel guilty and start again. After the time was up I told her how I felt but this was dismissed as “it will be okay”. Now I have to take a maintenance dose of 2000m each day. Still I feel bad. The worst thing is that I have told people lately that I can feel individual internal organs, like my kidneys, liver, lungs etc. Today I have just read that toxicity causes damage to these organs. I am too frightened to take the tablets any more and will be making an appointment to see my doctor when the clinic opens.
I have firbro too but found the vit D made me have head aches lose weight have the runs vomiting terrible anxiety and insomnia it is very odd to me that your reaction is almost completely opposite of mine??? I sure can’t explain it but it is interesting.
have severe headaches,and very bad throat every time i take vit d3
I was found to have a vit d difficency. I was prescribed 10,000 Ius of D3 at night with a Cal/Mag suppliment. I have been on this for 3 weeks now. Last night after feeling horrible and vomitting – I said no more. I have felt horribly weak and exhausted – not really getting true sleep. I get home on some nights and go to bed. Then I have had several nights where I wake up with horrible heart palps that I thought were from nightmares (but don’t recall the dream). I’ve been drinking a ton of water… long story short. I then checked my multi-vit, which had 400 IU and my cal/mag had 200 IU. And I read on other sites that overdose can occur at 10,000 IUs. Double check all your suppliments! I’m done for a while and will revisit my suppliments with someone else… Good luck all. Glad to hear, I’m not the only one. Sounds like more studies need to be done regarding tolerances/sensitivities.
My Anatomy and Phyisiology instructor asked what source of Vitamin D when “consumed” has lethal amounts of the Vit D and could cause symptoms such as diarea and death. I think it is a certain bacteria found in stagnant water. Is this correct?
Hey Everybody,
I am not sure what is going on. I have never been in the sun in my life. I live in New England, and out summers are somewhat rainy. I usually stayed inside as a kid, and I do not eat meat. I thought that possibly I had a Vitamin D problem. Well, I started taking a supplement. I was taking 5,000 IUs….I have been on it I believe for almost a month. Not quite sure exactly. Well, as of yesterday I feel wobbly, and I can barely walk or balance. I feel tired, exhausted, and dizzy. I am surely not myself at all. I have no appetite and a funny taste in my mouth. I feel horrendous. I am thinking it is the vitamin D. I cannot think of any other possible explanation, but when I go online and read about Vitamin D overdoses the author claims it is extremely rare, but of course, you can have a hypersensitivity. I am somewhat on edge since I hope this is nothing serious and it will go away. Does anyone have an suggestions? Should I go to the ER? I pray I do not have any kidney damage/organ damage and what not, so what do you guys think?
Thank you!
Hello everyone,
For the body to metabolize vitamin D properly and avoid its side effects, ALWAYS take it in the morning and have a 30-minute or longer leisure walk in the sun right afterward. Please take it with plenty of water as the daily intakes of vitamin D cause constipation. Hope this help!
My Dr. put me on 50.000 iu for 6 weeks. Shortly after I developed rheumitoid arthritis. Can there be a connection?
All I know it this type of arthritis is caused by the immune system attacking the joints and I know that vit D affects the immune system.
Odd that you should say that as tho I have not taken any Vit D in a year that I know of…. I recently told my cousin I felt lately like I had been taking vit D as I felt really bitchy and could not sleep and had anxiety really bad. Within the last couple of wks I have had my thumb on my left hand seize up it will not move they say it is arthritis and if it does not fix itself in six months I will get a shot if that does not fix it then I will have surgery.
It is very interesting what you say the odd thing is I have not taken any vit D that I was aware of. I guess there is a chance I could be getting vit d from food that is too much and overloading my system.
One question I have for you is this have they checked you immune levels as my IGg levels are low. I don’t know what that has to do with any of this either just looking for a link.
please reply thanks Susan
I took prescription vitamin D2, 50,000 IU’s for one month, one pill every Saturday. I have developed kidney pain, heart palpitations, dry mouth, have to push to expel urine and high blood pressure. I had an ultrasound last Friday and the dr. called to tell me that I have mild hydronephrosis (backing of fluid) in my left kidney. I am frightened and think I may have not tolerated the D2. I now have to see a nephrologist and can’t see him for another 2 weeks.
I wish I’d never taken the vitamin d2. I was prescribed 50,00 i.u. of ergocalciferol (vitamin d2) once a week. I took it, and my ears have been ringing ever since. I had tightness in the chest, my head felt like it was full of rocks. I wish I’d known about all this before listening to my doctor.
I went to the doctor and I came up deficient in vitamin D a reading of 15. The doctor had me taking D3 5000 IU. I had a stomach after about an hour and a half after taking the first pill in my appendix. I have been very careful about what I have been eating to the point of only eating all natural foods and no sugar. But since I started taking these pills I have been very sensitive to foods. I have been getting pimple like sores and rashes. My flora has been really out of wrack like my body is being poisoned. I have been having pain on my upper left side in my back. It has been 10 days and last night I got a really bad pain in my appendix. This really scared me since I have never ever had pain there. I stopped taking the pills today. I have also been very constipated despite drinking eight to ten classes of water a day and taking a fiber supplement. I also got sick on April 1st. I ended up sleeping almost all day because I unable to sleep the night before. I don’t usaully get sick. My eyes have been burning as well. I feel poisoned.
I wonder if that much vitamin D3 is really good for you?
All of you may be experiencing symptoms of hypercalcemia, increased vit. d leads to increased calcium absorption. If your calcium to magnesium ratio is not what it should be 2:1, you will have symptoms of hypercalcemia and hypomagnesemia i.e. anxiety, bone and muscle pain etc.
Forgot to add, we eat far more calcium rich foods than we do magnesium rich food i.e. almonds. So hypercalcemia and subsequent hypomagnesemeia may be the problem
Do doctors not check for this when people complain about the vit d3 causing reactions how is it that you know this and the doctors don’t?
Because of low calcium, caused by taking Nexium, An Endoctrinolagist prescribed Calcitriol (vitD 3), as well as 4 -600mg calcium with 500 Vit D. I eat a diet high in calcium. She never mentioned my diet, nor did she ever check my Vit D levels. After 6 months of taking these doses of Vit D and calcium, I had chest pain, difficulty in doing anything strenuous. I couldn’t do the treadmill at all, after doing it 15 minutes, at 3mi., for quite some time. I was just dragging.
She told me, that my tests were fine , see you in 6 months.When I went to see my MD, he set up an appointment for a cardioligist. That same night, I realized how much my head and eyes itched. I called her the next day and she stopped the Calcitriol. When I went to the cardioligist, everything was fine. Two weeks after I stopped the Calcitriol the Chest pain suddenly stopped and the next day, I felt great.
The cardioligist wanted me to continue the 4 Cal & vit D., which I did. Within 6 weeks, I started to have the same symptons. It was then I started to check. I was taking 3000 mg of Calcium and 2600 Mg of Vit D. then checked the web for the amount of D needed (800 to1000 mg) I also learned that my Vitamin D levels should have been checked while on the Calcitriol, as well as my calcium consumption in food. Never done. It was then, I discovered that calcium builds up in your body beyond what it needs, when taking too much Vit D. The Vitamin D is absorbed in your body and accumulates, allowing too much calcium to be absorbed. I was always told your body eliminates the extra calcium in your urine. But this isn’t so, if you are taking too much D.
My only problem is I am left with the itching head, eyes, eye brows. I feel that I am alergic of the Vit D, which I need.
I take the calcium and Vit D, for my own well being. I guess I am stuck with an itchy head and eyes. I also have small lumps around my face, sometimes in my scalp. These all started when I had trouble with the D and stopped it. The itchiing eased up when I stopped the Calcitriol, and then started up again. Now I can’t get rid of it.
Anyone who is having problems with vitamin D, it is likely you have multiple nutrient deficiencies. Taking vitamin D can exacerbate these deficiences.
Magnesium and folic acid are particularily important for things like anxiety, muscle aches etc. Other important nutrients for vitamin D metabolism are zinc, boron and vitamin K2. Best way to get these is a diet high in wholegrains (porridge oats are very good), seeds & nuts (sunflower, pumpkin etc), legumes (peas, chickpeas, beans, lentils etc.) and leafy greens (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage etc.).
I.e. taking large amounts of vitamin D is probably a bad idea if you do not have a healthy, nutrient rich diet.
I have been taking vitamin D3 for a few months now. I went in for my yearly check-up & my blood tests came back showing low in vitamin D. Per my doctor, I’ve been taking 2000 UI a day. I have not noticed any symptoms in my body because of this. I also usually take one of those “One a day” vitamin pills as well.
Hi Everyone,
I had a post from last year and felt awful after taking 50,000 iu of vitamin D3 for 8 weeks.
I have talked to Drs. that refuse to say that Vit. D3 could have made me so sick. I have yet to be retested as the Drs. do not believe me! Here I am almost a year later and while the extreme pain and burning in my joints and muscles have diminished I have never bounced back from the 3 months that I could hardly get out of bed!
My fibromyalgia symptoms are ten times worse and I have less mobility then I did before. I also never regained my energy levels or my strength. I swim daily but the laps are slow. I used to have muscle definition and now I am just plain weak. None of these symptoms were there before I took the vitamin D3. So I guess I am wondering if anyone else had any long term effects from taking too much or if I could have damaged any organs.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
If you live in the USA and have been taking NOW brand cal-mag supplement they have recently had a recall due to the extremely high levels of vitamin D3 of 10000 -13000 IU per pill for a total of 30000 to 50000 per day. My healthfood store had the lot numbers and I was using them. If I had not gone into the store I would have had a major overdose.
I, too, took this supplement for the last 1 1/2 years. I had stopped taking it a couple of weeks before the recall came out. Had my D level tested (two weeks after stopping the supplement) and it was 101. Also saw the ophthalmologist, who said I had calcium deposits around my corneas. (In my case this will not cause vision problems because it was just around the edges) Also had the strange skin rash on my ankles. Trying to decide whether to have the cardiac CT scan my doctor offered me (I don’t have insurance that would cover this). I am told excessive Vitamin D “grabs” calcium and deposits it in soft tissue (heart, kidneys, lungs, eyes). I have not found much info about the long term consequences, or treatment if you do have calcium deposits.
I also took this supplement for two years and began feeling bad in Oct 2010 with fatigue, weight loss, muscle and joint pain, gagging and dry heaves, facial and foot numbness, terrible headaches and insomnia. In March I had an unexplained detached retina and surgery. After 9 months of doctors and thousands in tests I went to Mayo where they diagnosed vitamin D toxicity – my level was 188 and calcium 10.8. They say it would be 5-6 months for my levels to get back to normal. I stopped supplements 3 weeks ago and still have most of my symptoms. Hopefully they will all subside with time but the lesson is that since vitamin companies are not regulated you never know what you are getting. I think I will stick with the sun for my D.
I go back next week to get my D level retested. I spoke at length to the nutritionist at NOW. I do realize it is in their interest to cover themselves, but he did seem knowledgeable. He told me to stay out of the sun until blood levels are normal, as feedback mechanisms in our bodies do try to block vitamin D from the sun, but may not be able to completely stop it. He recommended I increase my magnesium to 800/d, and take vit K 200mcg/d to help prevent and/or reverse calcium deposits. I had been taking both supplements during the time I was taking their calcium. I did some research on line, and found other sources that also recommended Magnesium and Vit k. I also asked him when the manufacturing defect started occurring…He said it started in July 2010. I will take Vitamin D again when my blood levels are normal. A couple of years ago my vitamin D blood level was down to 8.9…I had very low energy and depression with it that low. Just hoping there will not be long term consequences to this manufacturing error. Hope you are recovering well.
hmm I have read that taking antidepressants lowers the vitamin K in out bodies as on these for a long time and now off them thank God… while I was on antidepressants I had several bouts of kidney infections and stones….I am curious you are saying taking Vit K stops the calcium deposits?
So the it stands to reason if this is true that the protective vit K was lowered by the drugs may have helped the stones form.
I have low vit d now too and have very bad reactions to taking D3 supplements.
Does anyone have any insight into this…
I wonder what the interaction between vit K and D is if any?
I looked it up but don’t understand it will post it here for somebody smarter than I to read.
Vitamin K – Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University
lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminK/ – Cached There are two naturally occurring forms of vitamin K. Plants synthesize … or highly variable quantities of vitamin K in their diets (see Drug interactions). … by osteoblasts is regulated by the active form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3 or calcitriol. …
MK-7 (K2 from natto) will help with heart calcification and keep calcium in the bones.
Wow…this is scarey…so glad you all posted.
I’ve been taking calcium (600mg) with D3 (400IU) for pre-osteoporosis, but because I’m supposed to take 1200mg of calcium, I was told to just take 2 per day….weird since 400IU of D3 is 100% of the requirement. I’ve noticed very slight dizziness occasionally and thought it was an ear/balance thing.
Yesterday I go into GNC for a multivitamin and I even asked the guy about the 1600IU of D3 (400% of requirement!) that it said on the label combined with what I was already taking – and he pointed out the bottles on the shelf of 5000IU D3 to make the point that I wouldn’t even be taking that much.
I think you all saved me from some serious issues!! I may ask for a refund, but the point is I/we need to read the labels, do the math, and not listen to doctors or vitamin salesmen! Thanks!
Glad to see these comments! I feel sooooooo terrible and could not pinpoint it until now. I had tried the 50,000 units 1x/week for 3 mos and had no problems, but it did not raise my low calcium level. Have only been on d3 – 5000 iu daily for 2.5 weeks and have never felt worse. Headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, severe anxiety…Have finally stopped and had my levels checked today. I don’t care if the levels come back as normal, I am never going to take such a high daily dosage – this has really caused me to feel absolutely horrible…
explains why i love summer…
My gastro prescribed 50,0000 IUs of Vit D for 8 weeks. After 2 weeks, I suffered from rapid heartbeat, left arm stiffness (2 visits to the ER) and severe weakness. After 4 weeks, I started to think the Vit D was the reason so I stopped taking it. It has been almost 6 weeks that I’ve been off the Vit D and despite my Vit D levels testing normal, I truly feel the Vit D has wreaked havoc on my system. My heartbeat has slowed a bit and I have gotten some strength back, but overall the heart rate is still too fast, I can feel the artery pulsating in my stomach all the time and there is pain in my heart. I’ve been on a heart monitor for months, had an echo that showed nothing abnormal. I just developed a bump on my back…….and am thinking it could be a calcium deposit. Irregularities in the heart are soooooo scary, I wish this on no one. I think the worst part is NOT KNOWING why my body has changed. Never ever had a heart problem before this. Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories. It’s so comforting to know you’re not alone.
I stepped up my dose of 2X 50,000 vit D3 per month which my doctor prescribed, to 30,000 daily. No negative side effects. Took it in the evening with food and had no trouble sleeping. Fibro was way better, I was alert and I had energy for the first time in years.
Visited my doctor (rheumatologist) and he told me it would take more than 3 months for it to clear my body and I was in danger of my heart exploding which is what happens if you have an irregular heartbeat. (He really said this.) In spite of this, he didn’t check my heart for irregularities.
Frightened to death, I stopped taking my Vit D. It’s been a week and I feel absolutely awful. Insomnia is really bad and so is my fibro. During the day I’m foggy and can hardly stay awake. My blood pressure has dropped from 130 to 100.
Any ideas?
eight mounts ago i visited a doctor and after blood test she told me your vit d level is low and she gave me d3 drop and she told me outside the secreter will tell you how to use and i asked insted of one drop that is 1000 iu i take 25000 iu per day half a dropper i fill very seek i got hypertention very bad headackes eyes blurred vision chest pain tinngling and stiil its 3 weeks i find out and i didn’t use it it is still hearting me i went to emergency room they told follow with your md doctors but i cant trust any more doctor and i just want to tell every one be carefull of these doctores they make people seek to make money how come last year we didn’t had vit d test in our routin blood test.
I suffer from seasonal depression and therefore need to take some Vitamin D in the winter, especially here in Canada. Last year, I was taking 2,000iu/day on top of using a sunlamp daily. It was helping a bit, but not very much. Around mid-winter, I upped the dose to 5,000iu for the remainder of the winter and felt significantly better. Therefore, this year, I decided to start off by taking 2,000iu in the fall and then increase it to 5,000 when the clocks changed last week (my body always has a negative reaction to this) to try and prevent the depression from starting altogether. What a mistake that was!! After only 3 days on the 5,000iu dosage, I started having insomnia, panic attacks, zero appetite, etc. I have now been COMPLETELY off the Vit.D for 4 days and counting and am still unable to sleep at night and literally have to force-feed myself. How long does this stuff stay in your system?? Also, how is it possible to have such a positive experience with the 5,000iu one year and such an awful one the next? Perhaps because I started the large dose too soon?
Upon doing some research online, I discovered the importance of balancing Vit.D intake with Magnesium intake and am now taking liquid magnesium to try and counteract the Vit.D overdose. They should be REQUIRED to CLEARLY state on all bottles of Vit.D supplements that a proportional amount of magnesium should be taken alongside the Vit.D to counterbalance the negative effects.
Vitamin D…..damned if you do, damned if you don’t!!!
I am experiencing the same problem with my daughter who I’ve been supplementing with vitamin D to help strengthen her immune system. She takes a long time to fall asleep at night on the days I’ve given her vitamin D in the morning, but when I don’t give her any she falls asleep just fine. She’s also having nightmares on the days she’s had the supplement. I am now looking into the possibility that it’s a magnesium deficiency. If you read about vitamin D overdose on the Vitamin D council website, there is info. there stating that magnesium is needed along with the vitamin D, and that magnesium deficiency can decrease the amount of D you absorb.
If anyone has more info. on this please post it here. Thanks!
If you notice, the internet has been around for years, the vitamin D hype started around 2009, complaints about vitamin D has been increasing over the internet the same time the hype started, this thread plus C blog Vitamin D overdose has been most helpful.
I am not an expert but people seem to be better off without the vitamin D hype which could mean that doctors haven’t mastered this field and are LOST with this information.
I hope those who posted long ago would report and update their status. If they beat it or are they still experiencing some symptoms after months. It would really help guide those who just got overdosed know how long they have to wait or what they have to do. Updates would REALLY help.
I have RA and have also been told I have a D3 deficiency. Eversince I have been taking the 50,000 IU’s per week prescribed by the doctor, I have been experiencing dizziness. The reason why I could not attribute it directly with the D3 is because of a sinus infection I had at the same time the doctor diagnosed me with the deficiency. Now that the sinus infection is gone, I took my last 2 month weekly dose of the 50,000 IU’s of vitamin D3. I plan to get my blood tested and that is it for me. I took it this morning and have been feeling dizzy eversince. This time I cannot say it is the sinus infection that is the cause. I went to the doctor without feeling dizzy and came out of the office diagnosed with D3 deficiency, osteoporosis of the spine and possible MS. The diagnoses of the osteoporosis of the spine was false because my primary doctor followed it up with a bone density test and found out that my bone density was at 98%. An MRI that was also taken was normal. I am now walking around with this unexplained dizziness and the doctors are baffled about this and giving me test after test. My hemoglobin and urine must have been tested 10 times.
These doctors I believe are experimenting with people. If anybody should have a fatality because of this nonsense, they will just deny that the D3 caused it or if it did, oh well you’re just another statistic. This is why most of the time I keep away from doctors. Everytime I get sick and I go to them it is because I have to. Usually it is due to an infection or something. Most times I wind up getting sicker because of the medicines they prescribe. When I complain about my new symptoms, they look at you like you have 3 heads and tell you it is pyschological. Why can’t they just admit that one remedy does not fit all. Some people benefit and some do not. They remind me of a bunch of licensed bakers in a kitchen following a standard recipe completely oblivioius to the fact that everyone is different and the same recipe don’t apply. It is sickening…literally.
thank you very much for this reply, are you 100% back to normal already? how long did it take?
I have been taking 5,000 IU of Vit D3 for about a year and have developed tinnitus. No other symptoms, but I take many supplements and am trying to figure out if one of them has caused the tinnitus. Has your tinnitus improved since you stopped supplementing with Vit D3?
Hi Lynn,
I hope your tinnitus goes away. What seems to be bothering me for a long time is fatigue. I know its not normal since I usually work all day without any problem then all of a sudden, I have to rest 3 times during the day. And that very weird feeling. It actually improved after 6 months of stopping supplementing vitamin D but I think I have a long way to go until I reach 100%. I’d love to hear someone get through fatigue symptoms.
Like everyone else I was diagnosed with low vitamin D level. I took the prescribed dose. Then was told my level was “normal” so I just needed to continue to take an over the counter supplement. However I didn’t know how much when I got to the store. Considering I had taken 40000IU I thought the 10000IU would be great. However I have felt like crap for a long time now & just thought it was my migraines getting worse. However last week I woke up very early in the morning with a horrible pain in my back. I have never experienced that before, and it was a pain unlike any I have ever experienced. After a couple hours, my husband took me to the ER. Turns out to be kidney stones. I had an emergency operation and am now hoping that I have not caused myself any permanent issues. I am sure vitamin D is my problem after my research. It is another case of too much of a good thing & I should have known better.
Early last year I had a DEXA scan – I had a total hysterectomy several years ago and only took HRT for a few weeks. As anticipated, the DEXA scan revealed low bone density (to be managed with diet). A few weeks ago I saw my GP to get my blood pressure checked and to discuss the possibility of gallstones as I was presenting with typical symptoms. Following a scan, the sonographer informed me that my gall bladder is ‘choc-a-block full of stones’. My GP wasn’t in the least bit concerned about this but was concerned about my blood pressure advising weight loss and monitoring and a blood test for vitamin D levels. A previous blood test revealed low cholesterol levels so I’m assuming the stones are the calcium variety and that perhaps calcium isn’t being synthesized appropriately? The vitamin D test revealed extremely low levels and a different GP prescribed 50,000 iu of cholecalciferol (D3) a day for two weeks. This seems excessive and I do feel a little strange (brain fog, upset stomach – after just six doses). The GP took my BP before prescribing but it had fallen; however, I’d had severe urticaria that week and blood pressure is known to fall with this. He also said that it wouldn’t be necessary to take my BP for another year (I don’t think so!). I’m a young, but tired, 61 year old vegetarian and I’m losing faith in GPs as they each seem to contradict one another. Reading this thread, I am very worried about vitamin D intoxication.
Great to hear that you too suffered insomnia. I am uasually a fantastic sleeper as i do lead a very hectic life going without sleep three to four nights has been terrible for me. I can only attribute it to taking D3 as its the only change in my lifestyle i have had. It was suggested that maybe i was defficient so i should go on it. Looking foward to getting more sleep and doing more research on side effects before i go on any other supplements!
I overdosed on vitamin D3. I was 32 ng/ml and I wanted to be 44-48 ng/ml so I took 5,000 IU a day for 10 days and then for 3 days I took 10,000 IU (softgels). I then got heart problems – perhaps atrial fibrillation – twitching and spasms I guess. I am stopping today and hopefully I’ll get better. I am taking fish oil to help my heart issues. I have been taking D3 softgels for 4 years, but usually I take 1000-2000. If my heart gets better, and I think it will, then I’ll never exceed 2000-3000 daily. Vitamin D3 has helped me with depression somewhat since I’ve been deficient much of my life. I would say if you have to bring levels up, avoid high daily doses – consider 3000-5000 IU max. I am 114 lbs.
I forgot to add, if my heart gets better, I plan on trying to take a daily average of about 1700 IU, which I think will keep me above 40 ng/ml (probably 45-47 ng/ml). I might have to go lower. I was on 1200 IU during the summer and fall and I felt fine, but I was only 32 ng/ml. I definitely recommend testing.
It’s been about 8 days since poisoning myself with vitamin D3. I still have heart problems (atrial fibrillation I think) and insomnia, not to mention nausea. I no longer think it’s necessary (or safe) to take high doses to bring levels up. I just believe in taking low daily doses and testing accordingly, bringing levels up slowly over weeks or months. I must take D3 again eventually or I’ll be totally deficient since I can’t really get any sun. I am going to never exceed 1400-1600 IU daily and I’ll probably stick with 1400 IU and stay around 38 ng/ml. I just don’t have the ability to constantly test, so by staying on the low side I should only have to test one more time. Supposedly vitamin D3 can only build up in fat once levels reach 40-50 ng/ml. Some say D3 stays in the body for 30 days and some say 2 months. I can’t believe some claim 10,000 IU vitamin D3 a day is safe. Once you take too much D3 it’s too late, you can’t get vitamin D out of your system for many weeks. I don’t even know if I’ll survive with this heart issue. I also have brain pains – I am at greater risk for stroke apparently. I assume I am currently 100-200 ng/ml, but that’s only a guess. Apparenly, insomnia starts at 80 ng/ml.
By the way, I am the same anonymous person who wrote the previous comments about atrial fibrillation from taking 5,000-10,000 IU, posted 2012 – 02 – 02.
At anonymous, do you experience weakness and fatigue?
pm, yes I have weakness and fatigue. I also can’t seem to gain weight. I took some more vitamin D3 because I couldn’t stand the insomnia (around day 10 of poisoning), and it was like I took an antidepressant – I got dry mouth at night and felt sick and sleepy. I slept better but I just got more toxic. I then had more serious heart problems. My heart was having chest pains much of the day and night along with twitching and spasms and irregular heartbeat. One night the heart pains lasted 4 hours. I took about 100 ginger capsules and it seemed to help. I thought I was going to die, but I no longer trust hospitals so I never called 911. This is similar to alcohol withdrawal. It’s been almost 30 days and I’m sleeping a bit better and my atrial fibrillation is 80% better and my chest pains are 60% better, but I still feel like I’m going through drug withdrawal. I am feeling depressed big time as my blood vitamin D levels fall. In 2 weeks I’m going to try 400 IU (100% RDA only) to avoid total deficiency, which I’m afraid of that also. I was on vitamin D for many years and high dose for about 6 years. If I get sick on 400 IU, then I’ll be vitamin D deficient and still in a bad or worse place. I can’t get any sun here in the north and I actually have a back injury also, so I am mostly bedfast.
pm, yes weakness, fatigue, and weight loss (now stabilized but not able to gain weight). I now also have very bad heart pains, not just irregular heartbeat. It feels like I’m going through drug withdrawal.
@anonymous i know deficiency can cause problems but right now, i believe that some supplements are simply not compatible with the bio chemistry of some people, some docs say it can take several months for the side effects to subside, try taking a blood test for hypercalcemia , elevated calcium levels may cause the same symptoms, and vitamin d supplementation is a common cause for hypercalcemia
I am updating this for the last time. I am sick and depressed and suicidal. I wanted to add that I also got an ulcer from vitamin D poisoning. I thought it was from the stress, but I now realize peptic ulcer disease is symptom of hypercalcemia or parathyroidism. I am suffering from one or both. When I take kelp (iodine), my heart problems get much worse, so I no longer take kelp. I also still have plenty of heart problems, but I’ve been praying more then ever, and my heart pain has been reduced, but my heart still seems damaged with some pain on/off. I also had bone pain in my upper back rib cage area, which must be hypercalcemia. No info is available on if someone can be healed or how long it takes. The medical establishment has no clue. They started this lie, by promoting D2 at 50,000 doses. This made people think they needed high doses to bring thier levels up. D2 should be banned. D2 doesn’t work well, so they prescribe high dangerous doses. Then people on D3 think high doses are safe short term, so they take high dose D3 and then get severely damaged. No one on D3 needs to bring their levels up – this is dangerous thinking. People should start low, monitor side effects and then go up to 1000-2000 max and even 2000 is risky long term. long term doses might be safe at 1000-1600 or higher, but who really knows? I am damaged so I am screwed if I take any vitamin D and I’m screwed if I don’t take any vitamin D. All vitamin D over 400 IU should have black box warnings. Vitamins A and B6 should also have warning labels, since they are the other potentially problematic vitamins. I was informed about vitamin D, but not cautious enough – I believed the lie and now my heart won’t even beat right. I miss the days when my heart beat normally and there’s no one shred of hope online that I’ll get better. I can’t believe some claim 50-80 ng/ml is ok. I think 30-40 ng/ml is safe range, and even 40 might be a bit too high, who really knows? The vitamin D council is partly to blame for all these lies. Many people get the flu, then overdose on vitamin d and get more sick on vitamin d. If you get the flu, don’t take extra vitamin d, unless you’re willing to accept all the hypercalcemia risks. I am considering hanging myself. As a christian I have certainly prepared myself for death after all these heart problems – I could die any second from a-fib. I can’t stand waiting for death, I’d rather just die and get it over with. In fact every night ask God to just take me in my sleep, but sadly that hasn’t happened yet. Hopefully I’ll get better or die soon so I can get out of this nightmare. I will trust God until I decide I can’t take it anymore. Good luck to all the future victims of the vitamin D.
So sorry about your heart problems. Have you considered stopping artificial sweeteners and MSG (in all of it’s guises)? There is data suggesting that they can affect heart rhythm.
I started taking d3, because I someone told me they were good for me so I choose to take the highest dose available which is 10,000 in one pill.
After adding it I notice now as we speak I can’t sleep now…
-I can’t keep anything inside of me
-I have no appetite
-I’m losing weight(not the worst side effect)
-I sweat a lot. I mean I’m sweating a lot and it’s only 75 Degrees still……Today was 67 and I was sweating in the hallway going to class like I ran a marathon!
-I’m getting cold sores! One is healing and now I’m feeling another after I took my dose. I ended up searching cold sores, then I looked at what I was taking, then I noticed i wasn’t sleeping, I added 2 new sups, biotin and d3. I’m a supp moron but now I’m positive I’m pretty overdosed. And I feel so self conscious right now because people will think I’m some man whore or something.
I honestly could deal with all of that besides my sleep and my face. I’m gone to either go on a really low dose or just drop it. It seriously isn’t worth it. I’m starting to feel a bit exhausted finally now after not sleeping for a couple days.
I guess the moral is vitamins in excess isn’t a good idea….
My daily dose was 1,500% of daily recommended value+ jeez… I feel like an idiot. I hope this will help anyone who has the same probs as me
Thank you for posting your experience!! it is really helpful to other people who experienced the same thing or even worse, I hope you continue to post your status specially when you heal.
My personal experience is that insomnia lasted for 2 monthes!! but i took 4000 IU only but DAILY!!! Also had extreme fatigue and weakness which lasted for more months!!
Anonymous, please dont give up. We all need to keep the dialogue going to help each other and figure out how to cure ourselves!!! God and mother nature do not make mistakes. There are logical explanations for our intolerances to vitamin d. We just have to be smart enough to listen to our own bodies (instead of trusting these idiot doctors,) and work together through our experiences.
Im 31 yrs old and have been healthy up until 2 yrs ago when i started feeling dizzy and having brain fog. I was diagnosed with vitamin d deficiency. I was only put on 2,000 ius but discovered i could not take it after the first day i tried it. I thought i was having a stroke or was going to die. Anxiety, heart beating out of my chest. Extremely off balance!!! I’m on heart medication now because my resting pulse is comparable to an active exerciser!! And it’s not just supplements containing vitamin d. Foods containing vitamin d and calcium give me major issues. I am deficient in vit d (19) and have high normal calcium (10.3). My parathyroid hormone is 48, so the doctors tell me I don’t have hyperparathyroid disease. I’m so confused! Did magnesium help anyone absorb the vitamin d or offset any side effects?
Im willing to bet that most of you that have issues with Vit D are in fact lacking Magnesium. Especially seeing how at least one person here ’seems’ to think they have Hypercalcemia.. ! Magnesium regulates calcium, and Vit D uses up Magnesium in the process of converting to a usable hormone in the body. Usually people who are Vit D deficient are lacking in Magnesium as they cannot convert a lot of Vit D… GET SOME MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE (skin spray/bath flakes/oral tablets) and report back.
The muscule twitching, anxiety and insomnia is a giveaway for the lack of Magnesium.
When you consider millions taking vit d and thousands have side effects,that to the providers would be considered rare. My mom is currently very ill,has been on the d for two weeks. I showed her pages and pages of people becoming ill on the d. I also showed pages that show that yes, uou can get sick from it. Now if only the doc will admit there is a reaction in some people. I am concerned it will take long for her to get over this. At 70 the body is tired.
Mary, i hope she recovers from it, im 26 and i believe vitamin d did something really wrong to my body, it has been more than a year since i stopped, i got better but not yet 100% it really takes time but i hope i reach it and more. Side effects drowsiness, weakness, twitchy muscles, eye pain and pressure, headaches, .. Most are gone after a year exept drowsiness weakness twitching and some eye pain all relatively milder than the first few months
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