“Stop Taking Vitamin D Immediately If You Have These 4 Symptoms” — Is That True?

This headline is too alarming. Vitamin D is generally safe when taken at an appropriate dose, and vitamin D toxicity is rare. When toxicity occurs, it is usually caused by taking excessive amounts of supplements over time, leading to abnormally high calcium levels in the blood.

🚩 Four symptoms that can occur with too much vitamin D

1. Nausea or vomiting
Persistent nausea, vomiting or loss of appetite can occur when vitamin D toxicity causes high calcium levels.

2. Excessive thirst
Unusual, persistent thirst can be a symptom of hypercalcemia associated with vitamin D toxicity.

3. Frequent urination
High calcium levels can cause increased urination and dehydration.

4. Weakness, fatigue or confusion
These can occur with significant hypercalcemia and shouldn’t be ignored, particularly if you’re taking high-dose vitamin D.

Other possible signs include constipation, weight loss, dehydration, kidney stones and bone pain. Severe toxicity can damage the kidneys and, in extreme cases, cause abnormal heart rhythms or kidney failure.

Should you stop vitamin D immediately?

Don’t automatically stop a prescribed vitamin D treatment just because you have one of these symptoms. These symptoms have many possible causes.

If you’re taking high-dose vitamin D and develop several of these symptoms, contact your healthcare professional promptly. They may check your blood calcium and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and assess your kidney function.

The NIH lists the adult tolerable upper intake level for vitamin D as 4,000 IU (100 mcg) per day, although doctors may temporarily prescribe higher doses to treat documented deficiency under medical supervision