My take. And this is just my opinion and garnered from my reading and experience.

The symptom of toxicity is made on the diagnosis of 25[OH]D levels >150 ng/mL (>375 nmol/L) AND hypercalcemia. All the dire symptoms are caused by the hypercalcemia.

Now this is my theory. I believe that hypercalcemia from high or prolonged intake of vitamin D is actually caused by too little calcium and/or calcium and D taken without sufficient magnesium. IMHO, taking vitamin D without sufficient calcium, however little is required, disrupts calcium homostatis. Vitamin D and magnesium regulate calcium uptake but calcium needs to be part of the equation. If calcium is not there, calcium is pulled from the body/bones and causes hypercalcemia.


IMO, Vitamin D/magnesium taken with sufficient calcium does not cause hypercalcemia at even higher than optimal 25[OH]D levels.

My experience: As you know I have been taking high dose vitamin D for months at a time for years.

I have had 1 bout of hypercalcemia. At the time I hadn't been taking calcium with it.

When my alarmed doctor called me to give me the news, he ordered another test of both my 25[OH]D and my calcium.

At that point I realized I hadn't been taking the calcium and so started taking it consistently along with the vitamin D. I went in for the followup tests two weeks later. The vitamin D levels were about the same >200 ng/mL but the hypercalcemia was now gone. My calcium was at normal level.

My 25[OH] levels are now usually >100 ng/ML, and often >200 ng/mLmy latest test was 332.0 ng/mL with no hypercalcemia.

It find it interesting that the guage for toxicity has been dropped from >200 ng/mL to >150 ng/mL.

Hmm, no info on exactly what kind it was apart from "prescription" - which I think is usually something called Calcitrol, from my reading on pubmed, and "megavitamin". I know of somebody in the UK who got prescribed vitamin D2 when she was diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency, so who knows???

There is nothing on this page about Vitamin D3 being the baddie, that's for sure!

Oh, and by the way, thanks for posting the link!

amanda

Hey Zule!

Thanks for posting your experiences! I must say I tend to agree with you about the need for taking magnesium with your vitamin D3, although I am not so sure about calcium supplements...

amanda

Excellent experience. This is the only way to find answers, is through tru experience. Zuleika, even a doctor would have to admit that you have shared some vital information here. Thanks

What are symptoms of hypercalcemia if any?

...Symptoms and Diagnosis

The main symptoms result from hypercalcemia. Anorexia, nausea, and vomiting can develop, often followed by polyuria, polydipsia, weakness, nervousness, pruritus, and eventually renal failure. Proteinuria, urinary casts, azotemia, and metastatic calcifications (particularly in the kidneys) can develop.

A history of excessive vitamin D intake may be the only clue differentiating vitamin D toxicity from other causes of hypercalcemia. Elevated serum Ca levels of 12 to 16 mg/dL (3 to 4 mmol/L) are a constant finding when toxic symptoms occur. Serum 25(OH)D levels are usually elevated >150 ng/mL (>375 nmol/L). Levels of 1,25(OH)2D, which need not be measured to confirm the diagnosis, may be normal.

Serum Ca should be measured often (weekly at first, then monthly) in all patients receiving large doses of vitamin D, particularly the potent 1,25(OH)2D...

http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec01/ch004/ch004k.html

Thanks Zuleikaa. I think I am OK.

The only words that I am clueless about the meaning of are these 'P' words: polyuria, polydipsia, pruritus, and Proteinuria,

I guess they mean it causes alliteration!

Polyuria Pees a lot
Polydipsia Excessive thirst, drinks a lot
Pruritus Itchy
Proteinuria Protein in the urine

I kept hoping 40 years of being a medical transcriptionist would pay off some day!

I don't know why you take so much? This level is not physiologic. We are not meant to handle such an amount over a long time. Even in sunny countriy, we can't get such levels.

And there's no vitamin D researcher who has ever advocated to go this high.
Even if there's no hypercalcemia, you can't know what's happening inside you. There's (at least) a high risk of vascular calcification, which can happen without any symptomatic hypercalcemia...

From Science Daily Online:

I don't really want to be >300 or even >200. I tend to go overboard during winter trying to alleviate SAD symptoms and depression.

I can relate, Z. Although I don't do so with higher levels of D, as it can throw off my A, as I have A handling, storage, and utilization issues since being on Accutane (as you're well aware). Are you still using bright/blue light therapy? For me, blue light produces big results that D3 alone is not capable of producing. I truly believe that D3 & bright/full-spectrum/blue light therapy are synergistic to the hypothalamus (the conductor to the orchestra).

I have a Sunbox junior light that is for SAD. I use it every morning until 10-11 am.

I'll have to look into the blue light.

I am now on a CPAP machine as well and that helps me sleep.

If it is full-spectrum, it should contain some degree of the blue light in the range of the blue light therapy ones. The blue lights (like the one I have from Phillips, formerly Apollo Health) are just 100% isolated to the nm range that has been found to be the sweet spot in impacting the hypothalamus and influencing circadian rhythm, SAD, depression, etc. But I believe that the other bands in the spectrum also have influences beyond that of just the blue light bands. For example, all of the chakras are color sensitive to different colors in the spectrum of the rainbow - from brain to reproductive organs... No wonder the full spectrum light of sunlight is so healing and revitalizing to the body!

I should note that the light is very effective for me. I notice striking differences in things like nail growth & strength, energy, etc. (it is stimulant like for me). It almost works too well... I think I'm going to have to cut back a little as it is keeping me up too much (but not making me sleepy the next day - it's like its normalizing things). I'd compare it to consuming caffeine, but without the negative side effects and anything that doesn't feel right with caffeine and stimulant substances. It's like nature's coffee, the way it is really meant to be. Coffee/caffeine is really just a cheap substitute for obtaining sufficient quality light exposure.