Vitamin D oral capsule dosage: A detailed guide

This article describes vitamin D oral capsule’s dosages and strength and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for vitamin D. If you want to know more about vitamin D oral capsule, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Vitamin D oral capsule is a generic version of the brand-name drug Drisdol. This type of vitamin D is also known as ergocalciferol. Another type of vitamin D is cholecalciferol. Cholecalciferol comes in other forms that you swallow, but those forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about those forms, talk with your doctor.

Form and strength of vitamin D

Vitamin D oral capsule comes as follows:

• Form: capsule that you swallow
• Strength: 1.25 milligrams (mg), which is equivalent to 50,000 international units (IU)

Dosage of vitamin D

This article describes the recommended dosages for vitamin D oral capsule. The drugmaker provides these dosages.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of vitamin D oral capsule without your doctor’s recommendation.

Usual recommended dosages of vitamin D in adults

Vitamin D oral capsule is approved to treat the following conditions in adults:

• a condition affecting the parathyroid glands, which is called hypoparathyroidism
• a bone condition that can’t be treated with vitamin D supplements, which is called refractory rickets
• unusually low level of phosphate in the blood, which is called familial hypophosphatemia (familial means the condition runs in the family)

The following table presents the recommended dosages of vitamin D oral capsule. The dosages are in international units (IU).

* For this condition, doctors supplement vitamin D oral capsule with calcium. You might take 4 grams of calcium six times per day.

Slight changes in vitamin D dosage can lead to harmful side effects. Because of this, it’s important to take vitamin D oral capsule exactly as prescribed. Do not take more than the maximum dosage recommended by your doctor. If you have questions about this, talk with your doctor.

Dosages of vitamin D in children

Vitamin D oral capsule is approved to treat the following conditions in children of all ages:

• a condition affecting the parathyroid glands, which is called hypoparathyroidism
• a bone condition that can’t be treated with vitamin D supplements, which is called refractory rickets
• unusually low level of phosphate in the blood, which is called familial hypophosphatemia (familial means the condition runs in the family)

Your child’s doctor will prescribe a dosage of vitamin D oral capsule that’s individualized for your child.

Dosage adjustments for vitamin D

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of vitamin D oral capsule based on several factors. These include:

• the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
• your age
• other health conditions you may have
• other medications you take

Missed dose of vitamin D

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of vitamin D oral capsule. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of vitamin D oral capsule and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

• downloading a reminder app on your phone
• setting an alarm
• putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about vitamin D oral capsule and its dosage.

Are the recommended dosages of vitamin D different for women and men?

No, they’re not different. For example, the recommended dosage of vitamin D oral capsule for hypoparathyroidism is the same for males and females.* It’s 50,000–200,000 IU once per day.

Vitamin D is available by prescription and in over-the-counter (OTC) form. Prescription vitamin D products come in strengths higher than OTC vitamin D products. But still, the recommended dosages of both forms of vitamin D aren’t different for women and men.

Talk with your doctor if you have more questions about your dosage of vitamin D.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “male” and “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Is vitamin D taken long term?

Yes, it might be. Doctors may prescribe vitamin D oral capsule as a short-term or long-term treatment. You and your doctor can discuss whether it’s safe and effective for your condition. Then if needed, you might take the capsule long term.

If you have questions about how long you should take vitamin D oral capsule, talk with your doctor.

How vitamin D is taken

You’ll swallow vitamin D oral capsule, typically once per day. You can take it with or without food.

Your doctor may advise that you take this medication around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent amount of the drug in your body. And that can help the drug work more effectively.

Swallow vitamin D oral capsule whole. The drugmaker doesn’t state whether it’s safe to cut, chew, or open the capsule. If it’s hard for you to swallow capsules, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form.

Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.

Vitamin D coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for vitamin D when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.

Overdose of vitamin D

It’s important that you do not take more vitamin D oral capsule than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.

Symptoms of vitamin D overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• loss of appetite
• constipation
• kidney problems

What to do if you take too much vitamin D

If you think you’ve taken too much vitamin D, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for vitamin D oral capsule. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of vitamin D oral capsule without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take vitamin D oral capsule exactly as your doctor prescribes it. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Will my dosage of vitamin D oral capsule need to change if I’m taking other drugs with it?
• How often will my dosage of vitamin D oral capsule change?
• Would changes in my diet require adjustments to my vitamin D oral capsule dosage?

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.