Osteoporosis Support Group

Vitamin D tablets were not very helpful for me. After taking them most of my adult life, I had a Vitamin D reading of 12. I started taking cod liver oil, and in a year my reading was up to 22 (low normal) and then 32 the next year.

I see an endocrinologist for my osteoporosis. I take 1000 I.U. of Vitamin D along with Os-Cal with D, two 500 mg. tablets a day. A recommendation for your individual needs though should come from your doctor. You could also contact the National Osteoporosis Foundation at www.nof.org for recommendations.

Your dose should be based on your blood levels of vit. D. If it is very low, you may need injections. You could just take Caltrate, which has Ca and vit. D. It also needs to be Vit. D3. Somewhere between 600-3000. 1000 is pretty common. I take 3000 because mine runs a bit low. Might want to find one that combines Ca & Mg so you don't get constipated

I tested at 11 on the vitamin D. This is considered "insufficient". With that said, I was put on 100,000 units of vitamin D for 3 mos. I just got back the results yesterday and I am now at 33.2 which is considered "sufficient" yet still low. I am to continue taking vitamin D at 50,000 IU once a week for the next couple of months.
I also asked for a copy of the bone scan I recently had done. I was told I had osteoporosis or very close to it. This was not at all correct. I have a reading of 2.1 in my left neck only. The rest of the scores were not great, but definitely not osteoporosis - they are osteopenia still.

I am taking up to 1500 mg. of calcium a day now and continuing with the vitamin D. For some reason, my body was not absorbing it when I was taking it with multi-vitamins.

My pain is less now however. This in itself is progress!

To "Reply #4: Are you sure of those numbers of units? They sound awfully high. Do you take 50,000 units all at one time once a week? That's 50 1000-unit pills. You don't have any side effects?

Yes, I am sure. I got an RX from my doctor for these pills after the blood test showed I was at 11. You can only get them from a pharmacy. Today I start taking the 50,000 once a week rather than twice a week. I notice no negative effects from this.

My pain is somewhat less. I was on oxycontin for awhile and I was quickly declining. Once I got off of that and got on the vitamin D pills (they are a transparent blue color) I noticed that the pain was less.

You cannot buy these at the store - you need an RX and also blood tests.

I hope this helps.

Friends i'm in the same boat. My test was 12.6 and should be 32 to 40? Am waiting to pick up the vitamin D prescription and will let you know how much it is. xoxox deeee