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Pharmacist issues warning to anyone who takes Vitamin D

If you’re referring to a recent headline saying a pharmacist has warned everyone who takes vitamin D, the important point is that vitamin D itself isn’t considered dangerous when taken appropriately. The concern is mainly excessive doses or taking supplements without considering medications and other sources of vitamin D.

  • For adults, the NIH lists 4,000 IU (100 mcg) per day as the general tolerable upper intake level from all sources. A doctor may temporarily prescribe higher doses to treat a documented deficiency. ODs+1

  • Too much vitamin D can raise calcium levels and cause nausea, vomiting, weakness, excessive thirst/urination, dehydration and kidney stones; severe toxicity can damage the kidneys and cause abnormal heart rhythms. ODs

  • Vitamin D can interact with medicines including thiazide diuretics, steroids, orlistat and some statins. ODs

  • You generally cannot develop vitamin-D toxicity simply from sunlight, because the skin limits vitamin D production. ODs

So the practical warning is: don’t automatically take high-dose vitamin D (such as 50,000 IU repeatedly) unless it has been recommended and monitored by a healthcare professional.

If you send me the headline, video, or article you’re referring to, I can check exactly what the pharmacist warned about and whether the claim is accurate.

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