Vitamin D2 or D3?

I have a vitamin D deficiency (total score .16; D2 was <.4 and D3 was .16). My Doc prescribed 50,000 Drisdol (D2) once a week but I had three days of upset stomach, cramps, and fatigue.

Better now.

So, I don't want to continue on the Drisdol. I'd prefer to take D3 daily, which I have at home, 1000 unit geltabs from lanolin. How much should I take? My Doc isn't returning my calls and she just wants me to stay on the Drisdol.

Any suggestions? Maybe take 1000 D3 in the a.m. and 1000 D3 in the p.m.? Would that be enough without risking toxic effects?

Also, is the blood test result on the D2 (<.4) very significant?

Thanks.

Comments for Vitamin D2 or D3?

Click here to add your own comments

Did you accidentally put a decimal in there?
by: Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune Queen!

So, I think that you put decimals in there where they should not be. Usually Vitamin D levels are reported in whole numbers and so they should probably read:

Vitamin D2 =<4

Vitamin D3 =16

I'm going to go with the assumption that your levels are what are reported above. No, don't worry about your d2 level. Humans do not HAVE d2 naturally, so the normal level is <4. The only reason that they check a d2 level is in case you are taking vitamin d2 which, as you suspected, you should NOT be taking anyway.

Yes, you should be taking vitamin d, but the amount that you suggested, 1000 IU's is WAY WAY too low. You should take the same amount of D3 that your doctor recommended- 50,000 IU's per week- as a MINIMUM!! 2000 IU's is half of a maintenance dose and you will never get your levels up with that dose.

Next, the likely reason that you are experiencing cramps and fatigue after taking the prescription your doctor gave you is from two reasons:

First, the quality of the oils- even in Prescription Vitamin D - can be poor and the oils could have gone rancid causing you to have stomach upset and fatigue.

The cramps are VERY likely to be an induced magnesium deficiency, which I talk about on the Magnesium and Vitamin D page. Please make sure that when you begin taking vitamin d again, take magnesium EVERY DAY while you are taking vitamin d- even if you are taking vitamin d only once a week.

Vitamin D 'uses up' magnesium and it is 'long-acting' so it's working and using magnesium even on the days that you are not taking it. I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

Kerri Knox RN Immune Health Queen

Kerri Knox, RN- The Immune System Queen
Functional Medicine Practitioner
Immune System

PS: If you found this website helpful, please consider using the
Easy Immune Health Product Store the next time you purchase your supplements online. Your support allows me to keep this site running and educating as many people as possible. Thank you!

Click here to add your own comments

Return to Question About Vitamin D3 vs Vitamin D2?.

Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

Click on the HTML link code below.
Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Search this Site

Custom Search

Free Vitamin D Fact Sheet by Getting
My Newsletter