Vitamin D (Calciferol, Ergocalciferol, Rocaltrol)

Category:

• Vitamin

Description:

• Dietary supplement; fat-soluble vitamin

Indications:

• Vitamin D deficiency

  • Ricketts in children

  • Osteomalacia in elderly

• Familial hypophosphatemia

• Familial hypoparathyroidism

• Bone, cartilage development

• Calcium absorption  

Contraindications:

• Do not administer intravenously.

Precautions:

• Pregnancy category C

• Potency is expressed in the form of International Units (IU)

• Vitamin D is considered a hormone that promotes active absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the small intestine.

• Vitamin D deficiency leads to progressive hearing loss, rickets and/or osteomalacia.

• Patients may develop hypervitaminosis D with excessive dosages (greater than 60,000 IU per day).  Symptoms of hypervitaminosis D are:

  • Hypercalcemia

  • Hypercalciuria

  • Hyperphosphatemia

  • Anorexia

  • Nausea

  • Weakness

  • Weight loss

  • Vague aches and stiffness

  • Constipation

  • Diarrhea

  • Mental retardation and a multitude of other symptoms.

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

• Relatively non-toxic in therapeutic doses

• Early: weakness, headache, somnolence, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, myalgia

• Late: 

  • Polyuria

  • Polydypsia

  • Anorexia

  • Irritability

  • Nocturia

Dosage:

• Dietary sources: Converted from dietary cholesterol by UV radiation (sunlight exposure), milk (Vitamin D fortified), oily fish, liver, eggs

• Administered orally (soft gelatin capsules, tablets, liquid) and IM injection

• Dietary supplementation (RDA: recommended daily allowance):

  • Adults <25 years old: 400 IU per day

  • Adults >25 years old: 200 IU per day

• Vitamin D resistant rickets: 12,000-500,000 IU per day

• Hypoparathyroidism: 50,000-200,000 IU per day

• Familial hypophosphatemia: 10,00-80,000 IU per day