yes I have to take it also especially as women get older they often are low on Vitamin D. I take it daily, I get an over the counter one which my doctor recommended. I know that some of the meds I have to take also deplete my Vitamin D as well as my Vitamin B.

I don't think you should take any med until you understand the reasons.

With Vitamin D, is there a reason your body isn't producing it, even though you are out in the sun? And you do want to discuss with your dr. the effects of too much Vitamin D--it's a fat soluable vitamin, and if you get too much, it stores in the fatty tissues of your body and there can be detrimental effects of that. I don't think it's very responsible of your medical staff to prescribe something without telling you why, what other (if any) options you may have, and what the possible side effects of the treatment might be. I know a vitamin supplement isn't a big deal by some standards, but in this case? Might not be a bad idea to get a second opinion.

I have vitamin D deficiency. I am out in the sun a WHOLE lot.. but always use plenty of sun screen

I feel better, more up beat since I started vitamin D.

I just buy over the counter. My doc just recommended it, no prescription.

Moni

Moni, for a severe Vitamin D deficiency, over-the-counter pills may not be enough. We take 5000 units of Vitamin D per day, but Stan had a deficiency. For 3 months, he took a 50,000 unit once a week (in addition to the daily dosage). His most recent blood work was good, so he has discontinued the megadose, and will be retested in 3 months. My father (90 years young) takes a 50,000 unit pill once a month...and has for a year or so.

My Dr. did tests, was low in Vit D, which is usual in the northern tier states. But I was also low in Calcium so I just take over the counter Oscal. I asked about taking it without calcium, and he said the system absorbs it better and he checks to make sure I don't get too much. You might ask about that.

I'm on 50,000 units twice a week....UP from once a week after my lab results a week ago. I can certainly agree that IF and WHEN I have to be in the sun, I usually use at least a 15 SPF sunblock. Can't win it seems. Go out in the sun, get skin cancer...block the sun and have to take Vitamin D.

A couple of years ago I was having severe pain all over my body. I ended up with catscans, MRI's, xrays, a colonoscopy, all sorts of tests trying to figure out what was wrong and I finally self-diagnosed myself with severe Vitamin D deficiency, which a blood test confirmed. It was so low that it was elevating the ALT levels in my blood and made my doctor worry about my liver before we figured out what it was. My blood levels returned to normal once I started supplementing.

$10 prescription and a week later and I felt 100% better. To me it's a miracle vitamin. If I stop taking it for a few weeks, my bones start aching and I know I need to start up again.

It's the only vitamin I take where I can literally feel the difference in my body. I wish I had realized earlier how important it is.

My D level was good when I was tested. I don't remember the number. I take 2000 units a day over the counter and I never use sun screen.

I just finished my prescription of Vit D and next week I'll have blood work done to check my levels. Both of my sons were also on prescription levels of Vit D and they're out in the sun regularly.

There are ongoing studies to determine if low Vit D levels increases your risk of certain cancers.

I've never heard of needing a prescription for a vitamin.

I was prescribed vitamin d as it helps regulate calcium. I have thyroid nodules as well as parathroid problems so it was lacking and not absorbing right. NOTE THAT SUNSCREEN BLOCKS vitamin d absorbtion so if you are trying to get it from the sun do not use sun block. You only have to be in the sun 10 to 15 minutes a day to get a dose of vitamin d.

Ditto Azzalea. I think you should find out why he thinks you need it.

Is the test for Vit. D given routinely? I'm looking at the print-out of my latest bloodwork, and don't see anything I recognize as Vit. D. Everything is coded, though, so it's hard to tell.

I've always had to request it from the doctor specifically.

I just called my doctor's nurse and spoke to her about the prescription. She said my lab work showed low Vit. D, so I asked her what my levels were - mine was 27.5 and 30 is normal. Doesn't sound too bad to me. And then I asked what dosage I'll be taking and she told me 50,000units twice a week for six(8?)weeks and then once a week until my levels are checked again in 4 months. And no need for calcium supplement. Now, how was I suppose to know all that without asking?

"Now, how was I suppose to know all that without asking?"

You don't... which is WHY you ask!

I was feeling really horrible (daily headaches and light headedness) about 2 months ago and lab results showed very low vit. d and low iron. I am now taking 50,000units 1/wk of D and an iron pill with a vit. c pill. I feel much, much better. I don't get much sun where I live. I go back next week for another appt. and I'll have them recheck my levels.

They don't routinely check for vit. d, you have to specifically ask for it. Even though you can buy all the supplements over the counter, for me it's cheaper using my insurance, so I'll keep asking for the RX.