Has anyone switched from dry to oil based Vitamin D?

Hello all,

I presently take 300,000 units of dry vitamin D a day. I am wondering if anyone has tried switching to the prescription oil based vitamin D? I am mostly wondering due to a cost difference. The prescription one would be covered under my health insurance. The dry vitamin D is not covered and seeing as I am having to take so much it is getting more costly. I know oil is not absorbed as well by us DSers, but maybe it is a matter of taking more yet?  Thanks all!

Hi.  I am brand new to this so please disregard if you already know.  My doctor provides an annual injection of 600k units for $40 which seemed a much better alternative that taking a daily 50000 pill in my case which was also much more cost effective.  As I understand it based an additional injection may be necessary before the year is out depending upon the blood test results as I progress.  Will be good to know what others have to say on this topic.  Thanks, Michelle

Hi Michelle,
I am very interested in the injections. Can you tell me where I could get more information about this. I will ask my doctor to order it. I am sure she has never done this before. I have osteopenia now, it is imperative I have good vitamin D levels.

I am very interested in injections of *all* the fat solubles, especially D.  I am having a really hard time keeping my D level up, even though I'm taking 50,000 IU daily. 

As for oil based D - you'll go broke trying to get enough.  DSers only absorb 20% of lipids (fats), so it would be like taking nothing. Our malabsorption can be friend or foe.

Go for the shots. That's what I'm planning to do.

 

Nope, oil based is no good for DSers - it'll just pass straight through.  Injections are the only realistic alternative (the sun may help a little, but only really as a top up).

I believe I have read about only one DSer who had positive results with the oil based D. Everyone else takes the dry D. If you are going to try the oil based route, I would get regular D checks to see if it works for you.

As far as D injections, I think I would rather spend a few bucks and keep my D at a constant level than rely on injections and the resulting high to low drops in my D levels. I havent heard of anyone taking that approach. And D is very critical to calcium absorption.

Most people use injections as a way to quickly increase a low level which cant be brought up orally. Or, in the case of iron, to supplement when no absorption takes place.

D really isn't that expensive in the big scheme of things.

I have a feeling I may even need more vitamin D, once my levels are checked again. Also take a lot of other supplements, so just trying to be as cost effective as possible. Injections would be great, but don't know how well they work.

I'm gong for shots/infusions, because my bones are in trouble.  Not as much as they could be, but there has been spotty improvement in my PTH level since I ramped up the calcium/magnesium/D routine.

I already have osteopenia, and I *know* this endo that I have to see is going to to be blowing it out his/her @$$, but I'm so tired of fighting with these "medical professionals" to get what I know I need, , I don't know what else to do.

I will see my surgeon tomorrow (two more visits after this and I'm done - YAY!) for my regular follow up-she does 5 years, and I will see what she has to say.

Injections work well for DSers because they are not absorbed through the normal route. I to am having yearly injections since I became vit D deficient two years ago. I just had the DS and had my injection two days before surgery. My surgeon says they Give them to a lot of their DSers with good success.

I will let you know in a few months when I get my labs drawn.

Maybe I could get your surgeons name and number so I could find out from him how they do the injections. My surgeon doesn't live around here anymore. Thanks for your help, I would love to hear how the injections work for you!