What side effects happen at each dose of 50,000 units of vitamin D?
Question posted by Capitola on 24 Nov 2010
Last updated on 25 August 2023
I took my first dose of 50,000 units of vitamin (D2) this past Friday night. I was prescribed 50,000 units once a week for 12 weeks.
I experience adrenalin rush symptoms along with a little shakiness and insomnia. However once I fell asleep, I stayed asleep until I woke up abruptly feeling like I couldn't catch my breath and my heart pounding... I sat straight up in bed and violently coughed. It really scared me. After I calmed down all was fine and I was able to relax.
Now at 4 days later I just feel achy, a little nauseated, some stomach upset/cramps. I am finding myself a little scared to take the 2nd dose this friday night...
Has anyone had a similar experience? What can I expect after the 2nd dose? 3rd dose? etc.
Thanks so much for any advice you can give. ~ Capitola : )
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86 Answers Page 5
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Sunfun
22 June 2016
I have been taking 50,000 IU vitamin D weekly for 4 years ( I reduce to 30,000 IU in summer) and the only side effect was a very mild feeling in the stomach if I took it on an empty stomach. Hypercalcemia is possible if you take 50,000 IU DAILY for a few months, but would not be possible from one dose. Worrying or being anxious will cause insomnia, heart pounding, tight chest, and headaches etc. A few years ago I woke with a start at 2 or 3am feeling like my heart was going to burst out of my chest. My head felt tight and I was achy and nauseas. I checked my blood pressure which is usually normal or low and it was 197 / 146 !!! After using a stress management processs very relaxed and called EFT for about 20 minutes I felt relaxed and slept well. In the morning my blood pressure was 110 /72 which is normal for me. At the time I had a lot going on and now realise that I was stressed because of health worries, overwork and marriage problems. I hope this helps.
Votes: +3
GI
Gin38
7 May 2016
Hi you should try to take it earlier in the day as it can affect your sleep if you take it at night.I looked it up on internet and you should be taking D3 not D2 look it up on Internet it will tell you hope this helps just search for what vitamin D should I be taking for low vitamin D.
Votes: +1
EV
Eve0731
7 May 2016
I was prescribed 50,000 units of Vitamin D2 once a week for four weeks and I don't know if how I feel is correlated with me taking this vitamin but I took my first dose on Monday and I have not being feeling well..I've been feeling nauseous and burping up vomit from time to time and last night I had this burning sensation in my chest and right above my abdomen... I really am worried and I don't want to take this second dose because something is not right. Thanks in advance! :) Yvette xx
Votes: +2
SK
skykitchen
9 April 2016
I was prescribed 50,000 units also one each week for 12 weeks (my count was 7). I have taken four doses the first one was okay but after the second i wasn't feeling right, the third I felt really hyper and couldn't sleep and the fourth one was the one that set me off (last one I took was 7 days ago and i'm not taking it again until I see my doctor) and I feel absolutely horrible. Dry mouth tastes like metal, hyper like i've drunk 10 cups of coffee, constant warm achy feeling with a headache. My appetite has declined and at night, I have trouble sleeping because of feeling so hyper and anxiety kicking in doesn't help either. Been drinking a chamomile tea at night to calm me down. I feel better knowing that that others on this thread are experiencing the same symptoms as me.
Votes: +3
MO
mourningwarbler
11 March 2016
You might be allergic to lanolin sourced D3. For me there is about a week of delay, though. The safest way is to get five-ten minutes of sun several days weekly at a time when your shadow is shorter than you are. I took a smaller dose of vegetarian-sourced D3 and for a shorter time than my physician prescribed, and my D3 went too high. This will not happen with "sunshine-source" D3.
Votes: +0
PE
Peggy2712
22 Feb 2016
I just had my blood work done and my doctor as well as all doctors told me that my VD was low. Before I was told to take 5000 units a week, now this new doctor told me to take 50,000 week. That seems really high especially after reading the other side effects from other ppl. The funny thing is everyone that I know that visits their doctor comes back with the same report, low VD. I spend at least 20 min sitting in the sun and 30 min daily riding in the sun. Why is their such an epidemic with low VD? I do not feel comfortable putting that amount of vd in my body. Please give me your feed back.
Votes: +3
MO
mourningwarbler
23 Feb 2016
I think you are right. I generally followed my doctor's advice about the supplement, except I replaced his with a vegan formula since I am sensitive to lanolin; I tried it a couple times just to see, and indeed, the lanolin-sourced D3 caused discomfort and swelling along my throat and chest in a delayed reaction, 7-8 days later, of a duration in the range of 18 hours; I tried it twice to make sure. It was unpleasant enough that I wouldn't want to "make sure" a third time. When I went back for a check, my lab results indicated that even though I stuck to his program for a shorter period of time than prescribed and at a slightly lower dosage, my D3 levels were too high so as to increase the blood calcium levels; apparently this can result in kidney stones and other problems. So yikes! I don't want to do that again! I think your goal of sitting in the sun is the best idea.
In my latitude on Feb 18, the sunlight is able to penetrate the ozone; if your shadow is shorter than you, then the sun is at the correct angle; and that would be in the middle of the day. You cannot over dose on D3 from the sun; but don't stay out there too long either. The UVB are important in making D3 but are blocked by sunscreen, whereas UVA are not stopped may cause the skin damage. Dr. Joseph Mercola speaks about this in many articles at articles.mercola.com. Check there in case I got any of my facts mixed up. God speed!
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chuck1957
23 Feb 2016
Peggy; This is very common and partly do to as we age we don't metabolise like we did and low Vit D and Calcium can be a big problem and the only way to tell is a blood test. Most people do take the 50,000 iu weekly without much problem And you can't absorb that much D if you sat in the sun all day. it is a problem in our system and this is why they watch it so close as we get older and you must follow the directions of the doctor very close to making sure you get the Vit D up or you well suffer more as you get older
MO
mourningwarbler
25 Feb 2016
It is essential to sunbathe when your shadow is shorter than you. That is the time when the UVB can penetrate the ozone layer; it has to do with the angle of the lightwaves to the earth. This usually occurs in the middle of the day; at many latitudes there are seasons when this does not occur. In my latitude only on Feb 18, since last autumn, were conditions right for sunbathing. I was doing it all wrong, thinking I was avoiding the worst time of day. I thought I mentioned this before, but I don't see it now.
CH
chuck1957
26 Feb 2016
Stick to doing it one way until your next blood test, This way you know what is working. But one thing to keep in mind after 3 pm is when the harmful sun rays come through so be careful you don;t get burnt.
EA
earth boy
26 April 2016
You're just like me. I was prescribed 50,000 units of D2 weekly for the first time in my life. And, the first night, I read about all the 'you shouldn't go over 7,100 units per day' stuff and was worried/concerned. I called the pharmacist at an all night drugstore and he said that that was a perfectly normal prescription to bring up Vitamin D levels. Everybody's different, apparently, because I had no real side effects from it. I think the first time, I had a little gas the first hours taking it. Also, last week, I took it a few hours before hitting the sack and couldn't fall asleep til 10 in the morning! So, my first bit of insomnia last week. But, other than that, no real complaints.
In fact, my energy level is improved and same with my mental state! I'm pretty sure I was diagnosed with low Vitamin D a couple of times, and DEFINITELY felt it for at least the last 10 years in the winter here in Michigan, and I'm so glad I finally did something about it this winter. Like I said, I guess with this supplement, there might be some wildly differing experiences with it. But, it's been 2 months since you posted that, so you probably made a decision by now. Good luck.
Need to take that dose and do nothing else different and the answer you will find. Allergies or food sensitivities called food intolerance is what maybe happening to you.
Votes: +0
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shsrieG
11 Jan 2016
My vitamin D level Is 18. I took my first 50,000 mg on Saturday . Shortly after taking the vitamin I had several hot flashes lasting about an hour. A few hours later my energy level was very good. In fact, I haven't felt this good in a while. Sunday I am experiencing insomnia and very little appetite. Has anyone experience this. My second dose is next Saturday, hopefully all goes well.
Votes: +0
CA
camblet
26 Dec 2015
Hi.
This deficiency is sneaky, had my levels checked a lil while ago and prescribed an over the counter calcium tab, now jus since Dec this year my Vitamin D is severely low 6... so given to me is 50000 units... um hum, mind you the dr did not call say nothing about my tests, the pharmacy calling sayn pickup script. I know it was low not this low. My head aches all darn day, my heart flutters, stomach aches, teeth aches, jus bones aches. I don't know what to do. I'm on dose 2 so prayerfully this extra pain sunsides. It encourages me to read I'm not alone. Don't leave out the thirst, and anger anxiousness... hard to describe these weird feelings. Help Lord!
Votes: +2
MO
mourningwarbler
27 Dec 2015
I am allergic to lanolin. Are you using lanolin sourced D3? If so, try a vegetarian sourced D3.
After my doctor prescribed 50,000IU D3, I checked the source: lanolin. This was not on the label; I had to email the company and ask.
I found D3 product through a store; after taking a small dose of it, I found it was also lanolin sourced, though the labeling was all about vegetables and the person at the store was also mistaken.
Thought I didn't seem to have a reaction to the lanolin-sourced D3,I took a vegetable-sourced D3 for a week. Around day 7 or 8 I had a reaction which I think was from the first lanolin-based D3. A few weeks later I considered that I could have been wrong about the D3 and thought, maybe I'm not allergic to the lanolin-sourced D3. So I tried the lanolin-sourced D3 again, then went back to the vegan D3.
I forgot about it when a week later I had some rather frightening symptoms. Since I lost my sense of smell last summer after an overdose prescription of Azithromycin, I was afraid I had perhaps inhaled too much solvent when stripping and painting in the garage; though it was well ventilated. Got myself quite worried about the tightness in my chest and throat; then I was relieved to remember that after the stripping and painting, I had gone swimming and covered at least a mile. So I couldn't have injured my chest from painting, as it had been a good swim. I am pretty certain that the chest and throat tightness and pressure were from the lanolin-sourced D3. Symptoms subsided within 18 hours.
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Diannaj36
11 March 2016
I just took my first dose of 50,000 units & experienced severe cramping to the point I could not stand up straight or sit up straight and when trying to go to the bathroom I could hardly do that. It's reassuring to see other people experiencing the same thing I just hope the second dose doesn't do the same thing, this is horrible. I was told my levels were down to 8 when the normal is 50 so I hope this works
AL
Almay707
13 March 2017
I've been reading all this experience from patience taking 50.000 unit o vitamin d it seems so scary because I'm going to take my vitamin d anytime for my first day now I don't want to take it maybe I will ask my dr to change it to regular one I don't want to take my chance thanks for all your side effect experience
JU
Judy5
17 June 2017
I had all of these symptoms, plus more from taking 3,000 U a day for a couple of years. I had to figure it out myself. I couldn't get up or down because of the severe pain. I couldn't urinate in the morning. Bone pain; joint pain. Awful! One size does not fit all! This Vitamin D thing is the latest bandwagon! Be careful! Where did your ancestors originate? Mine have been in the northern latitudes of Europe for thousands of years. They adjusted to lower levels of D or they wouldn't have survived. What may be low for some may be fine for you. They developed sensitive D receptors and alternate, more effective metabolic pathways. The animals in the northern latitudes are not dying for lack of D either! If you need vitamin D get it from the sun, and during the winter if you live in the north, take cod liver oil. I will no longer take any D3 supplements. They are dangerous because nobody knows what your number should be. If you are not having symptoms other than a "low" number, you are probably just fine. Toxicity will give you more health problems.
Yes as far as side effects with the regular Vitamin D, It does seem to get better with continued use. Make sure it is taken just as directed and try and take it on the same day each month or however the doctor has prescribed it.
Votes: +1
CH
chuck1957
28 Nov 2015
Here is the most common side effects of vitamin D, However most people should not have side effects with vitamin D some of the side effects are from our powerfull mind just looking for something. And you really don't need Vitamin D unless it shows in the blood that you are low. Just being outside most people adsorb enough D even on a cloudy day.Chuck1957 here is the paste from drugs.com of the most common side effects.(((( vague aches, stiffness, weakness, nausea, anorexia, constipation, mild acidosis, anemia, weight loss.)))
Votes: +1
MO
mourningwarbler
29 Nov 2015
Do you think the side-effects may be diminished if a person allergic to or irritated by lanolin uses D3 from another source?
RE
Red_Rooster
27 Nov 2015
Was prescribed 50k IUs of vitamin d2, once a week for four weeks. 1st dose I felt fine. 12 hours after my second dose, I was dry heaving and going to the bathroom for eight hours. Ridiculous stomach pains, blurry vision, zero appetite, complete confusion. I spent 10 hours in the bathroom that night because laying down to sleep immediately made me sick.
I would suggest vitamin d3! Yes there is a difference.
Votes: +1
ME
metalgoddess92
12 Oct 2017
I have taken my first pill (vitamin d2 1.25 mg/50,000 Unit) on Monday and a few hours after taking it I kept feeling dizzy on and off. When I was trying to go to sleep for work, every time I turned over I continued to feel dizzy. It eventually wore off later and I was able to go to work. It really scared me so I'm going to call my doctor and tell her about that because I don't think that is normal :S And I am also hesitant with taking my Flintstone chewable vitamins with it as well, so I will clarify this as well with her. To be honest, I am afraid to take my next dose on Monday...
RA
RaesofLight
7 Nov 2017
Prescribed 50000ius.1xaweek, for six weeks. My Vitamin D was a 19. I self diagnosed myself after reading stuff online for allergies and links of allergies to sleeping too much. I finally put it all together reading other people's testimonials on sympoyomologies of low Vitamin D. First does I felt fine until 5 days in O woke with extreme dizziness. I have had more mental alertness with ongoing fatigue, it comes n goes... have had some muscle spasms in my back and continual tingling sensations in my hands and feet. And yesterday I had a weird bout of feeling super cold and could not warm up for nothing! Lots of water, prayer and eating healthy. Continual brain fog and anxiety. Hoping all will go away... if the Vitamin d2 is making me have side effects, it must be doing something! I will courageously take the second dose this Friday. Funny Inwas super excited to take the first dose..now I am a bit worried to take the second...
NA
nabt
6 April 2018
How are you doing with your vitamins.. Sometimes if you don't take the vitamin D it can cause your body harm to be without it.. some complaints with low vitamin D are.. individuals With Symptoms of Vitamin D Deficiency. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can be rather nonspecific and include fatigue, altered mood and depression, insomnia, nonradicular back pain, arthralgias (particularly of the wrists, ankles, shoulders, and shins), proximal muscle weakness, headache, and hair loss also at times people with low vitamin D have a chance of getting heart disease.. so be sure to keep taking your meds and have your levels checked.. I'm doing fine since I've been on my vitamin D.. Anxiety can also cause all those symptoms because you worry about taking the meds.. talk to your doctor ...
I took my first dose of 50K VD on Thursday. My stomach was aching but ok. Friday, I had severe stomach pains and went to the restroom probably 9 times that day, no exaggeration. My low back was killing me. Today my pain is still there but the bathroom visit is down to two.
I've had some nausea, but I've also been put on some anti-inflammatory med and muscle relaxer. I had a different anti before called Mobic then I got on Celebrex. The stomach didn't hurt too bad on the Mobic but on Celebrex I assumed it was. Now I feel the VD med is the cause. I switched back to the Mobic yet the stomach issue is still present.
I was taking normal VD supplements for around a week before my blood work was done then another 2 weeks leading up to my appointment. My VD was low, but it wasn't life threatening. So I'm not sure I need 50K once a week. Once a day seems like enough.
Anyone else experience similar issues not knowing which med it could be? I'm being treated by a pain specialist btw
Votes: +2
MO
Morrowynd
9 March 2016
My money is on the anti-inflammatories causing the stomach problems. Eat a full meal before taking those. Ask your doctor about possible antacids that may help with any lingering side effects.
DO
Doyahweh
27 April 2016
Vitamin D is not a medication it is a vitamin.
I'm all about natural! but you know within yourself if it is too much for you.
"I" do not place my health, entirely in another human beings hands... I need to trust myself to some extent also., along with educating myself!
CH
cherie712
19 May 2016
Celebrex was found to not be a great drug for people, You shouldn't take any of those anit pills, The reason I say this is, I had nods on my fingers and bad arthritis and go syatica a lot.I have a small farm on a hill so I would come in from working on that and be able to walk the next day, I started taking 2000 iu of vitamin D 3 a day and it took the bumps/nods away arthritis was gone, n more achey bones or muscles, However when I went to dr my vd level was 35 after taking vd3 for six months , She said I was real defiancy of v d 3 I was surprised, So she put me on VD 50 k time release a week, Now I am feeling out of control, screaming at people I never would of, telling them horrible things about themself, crying a lot athough I take Paxil for my moods and never get emotional before, and I feel like im going crazy which is bringing my panic attacks on as well as uncontrolled doom of mentally ill.
The Antidepressant I take stopped working which is the paxil and I have made enemies of people I would never want to hurt, I felt at a loss until I figured out the only I changed was vd 2000 ius a day to 50k ius a week, I also have had heart erythema or my heart is jumping and fluttering. and I already have heart disease, so Now that I listen to all you , after this week since I already took my 50k last night and lost my mind today, starting next week im going back to vd3 200 ius, it was perfect for me in everyway. people take the vd3 2000 ius a day no more and mo less its perfect and I guaranty your acheyness will be gome on about the fifth day or start and no more insane thoughts or any other side effects, also I went to dr , as I take blood pressure meds and my blood pressure was up for the first time in years, 50 k made me anxious, high blood pressure, mean to people, cry a lot, feel of doom ness of not knowing why my brain is malfunctioning, feeling like I was loosing my mind, You are not imagining things get off this high dose,
I was put on the same dosage because I had no vitamin D in my body.. I was so scared at first taking them.. and my anxiety level triggered those kind of symptoms.. Just go ahead and take it and make sure you tell yourself that you need this because the doctor wouldn't have put you on these if you didn't need it.. I know sometimes anxiety could mimic this and make you think the pills is doing this.. calm down and take it.. just tell yourself you need this and it will help you.. if you couldn't breathe believe me your throat would swell and other allergic reaction would occur.. this is anxiety I think you're worried about the allergic reactions.. don't be.. this will be my second dose of this medication Wednesday.. and I had overcome my fear of thinking something can happen..
Votes: +2
SU
susanne donahoe
10 Nov 2015
I started this on Sunday at around Noon and at around 5:30 thought my insides were turning inside/out with unbelievable pain, such as food poisoning to the extreme. This lasted through the night and most of the next day; today, I just have some pain in one side and the pain from going through what I did Sunday night and i'm feeling lightheaded. I don't think I can do this again.
AM
AmySabbato
26 Feb 2016
In my case, I ALMOST start having symptoms BEFORE I take the vitamin d. The FIRST time I took the 50000 iu, I felt bad, mostly dizziness and just "off". I was EXPECTING to feel something, that could be why. I instead will be taking 2,000 units every day or 4,000 every day and see how it goes. I will take it with food, regardless of whether they say you can take it with or without. Best of luck to all, it's not easy. You have to be in this boat, to know what it is like.
SO
sosasi
12 July 2016
i suffer from anxiety and depression trust and believe me when i tell you your mind can make you think you are dying. i myself was put on 50,000 iu weekly i just took it, i am taking klonopin, paxil and gabapentin for 20 years. I wanna get better im new to this blog, readers do not give up be strong we can all get better
AU
Audreymichelle
28 Feb 2017
I was just coming to that conclusion when I read your comment. I took it and I feel great. Now, that has more to do with the fact that today is one of the very rare "well" days. I was curious about side effects but I feel none. After reading a few comments I started to get scared. However, soon realized that every symptom that people are having are symptoms of just that, anxiety.
Guys, if we were prescribed this it is because we need it. I am at a level 4. This is the Chemo for a SEVERE disorder.
If it has to poison to cure, let it. Perception is stronger than any side effect. It is not as if we do not know what it is like to truly suffer for a long time with crazy, scary random side effects. Now that is scary.
If there is a 1% chance of surviving this hell, isn't it worth everything to find it? If I die from whatever underlying disease is causing such a deficit in Vitamin D, I'd rather die knowing that recovering my health was impossible, not wondering.
I am new to a physical incarceration but I am a far and beyond survivor of a mental one. So my mind is strong and educated in this.
People get stuck in the mode of survival. After having to survive an endless and hopeless ordeal, our minds get stuck in a natural cycle of one's survival mode.
Read about it and you will understand why you are having anxiety symptoms... Not to say there are no side effects but they exist in only a denth of 1% of people that take them, the same as Tylenol.
Choose to weather the storm and find relaxation in the fact that this is one tiny battle in what we have already overcome and this one actually WILL help us.
I hope I am making sense. I am new to chronic illness. My life is gone and has been devoured by it. I am scared. I feel self sympathy but as rarely as possible as to do so means to offer mental control over to something else.
Nothing and no one can dominate a mind that does not surrender its control.
I spent 10 years recovering from a life of abuse and Codependency. I went through hell to survive but I did.
My mind is healthy. The disease may take my strength, my ability to do outside, to have any friends much less a relationship.
Do not give your mind to it. This is physical and there are neurological side effects. I'm not speaking of those. Keep your mind strong and just be happy you are truly on a path towards life again.
Love to all of you.
KI
Kislingbury
15 Sep 2017
I have severe panic attacks and I do this I was prescribed 50,000 units n now I'm scared to take it I'm on fb Jessica kislingbury
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norahartman
6 April 2018
Thank you for posting this ... I don't take peels at all and Dr. Wants me to take the same and the anxiety of what it will do it's just anxiety and yes my blood work showed I need it so I must. Thank you
