First you need a blood test to see how much D YOU need. Some people only need 2,000 IU some need much more. If you don't take enough then you risk having too low Calcium (D tells GI to absorb calcium). So then you have bone density issues and nerve signaling issues as Ca is required to release neurotransmitters for the chemical portion of an impulse.

However, if you take too much you can do permanent damage to your liver. The max high dose I have ever heard of a doctor recommending was 50,000 IU a week or about 7,000 IU a day.

Best wishes to you working with your doctor to find something that helps you without harming you.
EP

Have you had a blood test to see what your D levels are? My Dr has me test every few months to check my level. He wants my 'number' to be between 50 & 80. Three months ago I was at 30, and I was taking 1000 iu. He upped me to 1400 iu. I just had it checked again last week, and it's at 36. His PA called and said to up my intake to 2400 iu (just add 1000 iu).

Yesterday, when I met with my Dr, he said to just go ahead and take 2800-3000 iu. Because I have 800 iu in my multi-vitamin and my calcium, and I have two separate D3 supplements (one is 400 iu and one is 1000 iu), I wanted to get the right amount without too much trouble with splitting tablets, etc. He said that it's not that big of a difference from 2400 to 3000, I can just take what's convenient- 2800 or 3000. At first he said just take 3 of the 1000 iu's, then when I told him about the 800 already in the other stuff, that's when he said to just go ahead and take 2 of the 1000.

You are talking about an amount that is way more than these amounts (I am in the small league of doses... lol). I think that if you take that much under the direction of your Dr, and you need it, it can help you. But the key would be whether you need that amount. I would find out with a blood test...

Sorry if this is rambling and confusing... my head is foggy this morning.

I've been taking 100,000 IU for months now (via RX). My reading was at 11. I have noticed NO DIFFERENCE in how I feel.

I went to have more blood drawn last week. Today I get the results.

I'm ready to tell the doctor to forget this Vitamin D crap. It is costing a lot of money and I absolutely HATE having blood drawn as they have great difficulty locating my veins. UGH!

Will post again when I get the results on this today. I am not at all amused nor a case of being cured, that is for sure!

Like I said, my brain is foggy. When I was taking 1000 iu (before they increased me), that's what was included in my multi & calcuim combined. Recently, I replaced my calcium, and they had changed the amount of D3 included from 600 iu to only 400 iu.

I just read my previous post, and noticed I mentioned I was taking 1000 iu's then only 800. That would explain that... I hope.

BTW you guys ie (hope4cure) you have to take vitamin D3 with good fat ie fish oil, UNcooked olive oil, nuts, primerose oil, avacados, etc.
If you do not have good fat in your gut when you take D you can't absorb it. PLUS you need good fat in your body to store it. I BET all of your HDL levels are L-O-W. Get your omega 6s's, palmitic, stearic and nervonic acid checked. RALLY Low good fat = no raw material for myelin, storage for D and low hormone....MS.

Best wishes,
EP

PS This is what my hubby's blood work, that I asked for, came back with and a few others out here who have taken my advice and gotten checked,

I'm taking an Omega 3 supplement and Calcium as well. I would like to go to the doctor to ask about it, however it's only recommended to take 2000 IU a day through health Canada, so I'm not sure I would receive any support.

I have done research and the only conclusion I have come to is that there isn't enough research to say that there is such thing as too much vitamin D.

When reading the Mayo clinic websites information on vitamin D, it said they are treating young children with rickets with 12000 IU a day for 2-3 months. So I figured if young children can sustain several months on high doses of vitamin D, I should be ok.

And because of the chemo drug I am on and because I am taking Betaseron, I need to have my liver enzymes closely monitored.

Interesting that you mentioned D3. Unless my doctor tells me that I need to start taking Copaxon or something else, I've started my own treatment of Vitamin D3 and 1200mg of fish oil per day. It's only been a couple of days and I'm not expecting anything to really change, but if it helps hold off future attacks, that would be fine with me. And the levels of D that I'm taking are significantly lower than the author's level. My D level was fairly close to ok, so I'm just raising it a little bit. I get sun in the summer so I'm hoping that will help supplement the pills.

I did have a toxic response to 50,000 IU/week (after three weeks). I agree with having your blood drawn and edging your way up (rather than starting with a massive dosage). If you feel good on 12,000 IU and your D level is still low, work with your doctor on pushing it up. My neuro started me with 50,000 IU and I didn't respond well (he also believed that you could never overprescribe a dosage of D3 and that my symptoms of toxicity must be signs of an MS exacerbation).

I saw a the Head of Nuerology at USC here in So. Cal. without a test he shared with me that most all of his MS patients are at least 4000 IU deficient a day. I have yet to get a blood test done. I have been taking 2000-3000 IU a day and feel great. My liver tests are still good. Great advice on theis post.

I started at 1000 IU a day and then went up to 5000 IU after reading how much vitamin D others are taking, I then went to 12000 IU. I didn't just start with nothing.

I will have my levels checked but so far I'm feeling good.

The test results came back and I am no longer deficient in Vitamin D. I still am to continue taking 50,000 IU a week. This is the prescription form of it and you cannot buy it in a health food store or anywhere else for that matter.

As for fish oil (aka Omega 3) - been there and done that. It has given me no positive effects after taking it for over 3 years.

I suppose I'll continue taking 50,000 IU forever perhaps? I don't really know. It is being given to me for osteopenia.

Do I feel any better? I cannot say I do, nope.

for me taking Omega-3 capsules has been great. In the winter my skin doesn't get as dry. My hair is shinier. My skin is clear. My boyfriend had horrible acne on his back until I convinced him to start taking Omega-3 pills and his back is almost completely clear.

I convinced his mother to start taking Omega-3 as well, and dry patches of skin on her face have completely cleared up.

I don't know if anything else is being helped by taking the Omega-3 capsules but for me I've seen enough benefit to continue.

Have you noticed any improvement in anything with taking 50,000 IU of vitamin D?