my doc just told me to make sure that I am taking 2,000 [size="2"][/size]iu's for depression. I was only taking 800. Anybody else taking this much and do you feel better? hugs-from, 'The princessgod 'of menopause!

How does your doc know that low vitamin D is what is causing your depression?
Angie

IF you are talking about D3 I take 5000iu a day.

hi angie -i've tried just about everything that there is to try.it's all actually starting to come together a little. with other sup. like magnesium,b complex,omega 3's, vit e and now he is saying that they are doing a lot of research on vit d and that even without the testing -most people are deficient, so we are going to try this for a couple of months and i have to 'chart' my moods. We live in a VERY DREARY climate and have not seen much sunshine in 2 years! everyone in our community is depressed right now (all ages!) So -what have I got to lose? Are you taking it? Hugs to all!

I did all the researcha nd I have been taking 4,000 iu's a day.Could be in my head - but I am felling MUCH BETTER this week! i will continue to post and tell you how I am feeling. Gave up sugar. Eating protein, lots of veggies and fruit. also lost a couple of pounds. YAY ME!! HUGS TO EVERYONE!

I don't know about the depression aspect but I started taking D3 back in January/February (2000 IU/day) and within a short period of time (week or two) I felt better. By Vit. D level went from 18 to 56 in about 3 months so I'm on 800 per day now. Started Vit. E, Super B complex w/ zinc and C plus a multivitamin a few months ago and I feel even better. Even my finger nails are growing faster than they ever have in my life. I'm still down in the dumps but it's situational for me so I doubt the D will do much for that. Just have to get over this hump.

You can get a blood test to make sure you have enough. Some sunlight is really good. Not a ton, but a few minutes will make Vit D. It is important for a lot of reasons.

Ditto!

When my peri symptoms were at their worst about a year ago, my Vit D level was checked and it was 13, seriously low. I live in sunny So Cal and spend a lot of time outside, but I wear heavy duty sunscreen all the time. I started on 2,000 units a day and went up to 5,000 when my level didn't rise much. Recently it was up to 33, so doc put me on 10,000units, and will recheck in 1-2 mos..she said she wanted it up to at least 50. I did notice a big decrease in aches and pains when I started taking it. kim

I think that it is really great that Doctors are finally taking this seriously w/vit def, think about it, just 5 years ago you would go in the dr's office, tell him how you feel, and there would of been no explaination of it. They would either dx us w/fibromyalgia or worse yet call us a hypochondriac. I wonder how many ppl had and have to suffer for something as simple as a vit deficiency...

Let us know how it goes.. and how you continue to do.... Could give so hope to some ladies on here... thanks...

I've been taking 20,000iu's every other day for 3 months and due to have blood tests to check the levels. I think the level that doctors aim for is 70. My range was 11 so pretty low. I do feel better - much less depression and very little body aches except for when I'm due on a period.

Good luck girls - I hope you feel better soon.

hi girlfriends! i have been taking 4000 iu's of vitamin D for almost 2 weeks and I DEFINITELY find a change of attitude! I am sleeping like a baby. i also am taking 2000 mgs omega 3 and 400 magnesium and b complex with 100 extra b6. Wow - could this have been the missing link? (and I thought 400 was enough!) god bless you girls and good luck! love fron - The princessgod of Menopause p.s. i also am drinking a big glass of 'greens' in the morn.

My Vit D came in low on my blood work. I was doing about 15 min in the sun and taking 1000 IU's of Vit D. I think I'm gonna up it a bit and see if that helps with the yummy Lexapro I'm taking. Glad whatever you are doing is helping you feel better. It does a girl good to get some positive results when she is trying to help herself.

In case you are not aware....The Vitamin D Council has TONS of information about vitamin D. Quite a few articles about depression and vitamin D deficiency too. There is information on the site to help you understand whether you are deficient or not.

I've been taking 5,000iu D3 for a number years -- not necessarily for any specific symptom -- I was just deficient. It's recommended by the vitamin D experts to keep your level between 50-80ng/ml -- especially with all the flu season coming.

Best wishes,
Jann

My levels were at 26 and now at 34. I've been taking 5,000 IU per day for about a month. Hard to say if there is an improvement. I have bad days and good days. Maybe once my levels go above 50 I'll notice a real difference. I hope so.

My level was 28 in November 2008. I was taking 1000iu a day and then a little more in multis and I also spend a lot of time in sun in the summer and in winter I'm in my car in the sun quite a bit. But my level was low. I upped it to 2000iu D3 but by April it only edged up to 33. I then upped it to 4000 iu a day and in 4 months it got up to 46, so it is taking a long time. I'm now taking 6000iu a day and will retest and may even take 8000.

Also check ferritin levels. Low ferritin levels also cause depression and a host of other symptoms that mimic low thyroid. And, thyroid problem can occur because of low D and ferritin. The ferritin level is needed to properly convert the hormones to be active in the body. Ferritin should also be around 70-100 just like D levels.

My wife takes oodles of Vitamin D and she is still one cranky Mama...

Wow, I just found this thread. I was diagosed with low vitamin D this past friday. NP said my level was at <4. What the heck? Doesn't even sound right, it's so low. Anyways, she just called a prescription in and I picked it up. It's 50,000 IU once a week for a month, of vita D! Sounds a bit excessive?! has anyone out there been on that high of a doseage, and if so, any side effects. I don't like to take anything, tho I do take a multi vitamin, vita E, C and garlic daily.
O and before you were told you had low Vita D levels..what were the symptoms? thanks for any and all help!

Hi Slo...

Wow -- that IS low. I know several folks that have taken 50,000iu D3. I think they just did that for a short time...then they went to a maintenance dose.

I been taking D3 for about 4yrs. My level started out at 26. I've been struggling to get my level higher than 50ng/ml. I've taken as much as 10,000iu daily for over a month...and I still couldn't get my level as high as I wanted. Since I have autoimmune issues [vitiligo, Hashi's] -- I want to maintain a higher level to help support my immune system.

I finally tried the liquid D3 from Life Extension. They describe it as being SUPER absorbable. One drop is 2,000iu D3. I took between 5,000-8,000iu D3. Well.... I can report that they are right. I finally got my level to 82 !!

I will continue with my dosing at this schedule through this flu season -- especially since I didn't get any flu vaccines.

Getting back to your deficiency. I wouldn't worry about the high dose...or any side effects. I would think that the only side effect you will notice is a big difference in how you feel...given that your level was so low. Did you have muscle aches..?? ....depression...?? Do you know what lab they used for the testing..??.. I've never heard anyone have a level THAT low before.

ANYWAY... I do hope that you do well.

Best wishes,
Jann