ERGOCALCIFEROL (VITAMIN D₂)

Vitamin D supplement

Dosage Forms

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Tablet

250 microgram (10,000 IU)

Uses

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  • Hypocalcaemia associated with hypoparathyroidism
  • Treatment of vitamin D deficiency
  • Prevention of vitamin D deficiency

Dose and Duration

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Prevention of vitamin D deficiency
Adult: 10 micrograms (400 IU) once daily
Child 1 month–18 years: 400–600 IU daily
Neonate: 400 IU daily
Treatment of vitamin D deficiency
Adult: 1250 micrograms (50,000 IU) once daily for a limited period of time
Child 12–18 years: 10,000 IU once daily
Child 6 months–12 years: 6000 IU once a day
Child 1–6 months: 75 micrograms (3000 IU) daily
Hypocalcaemia associated with hypoparathyroidism
Adult: 2500 micrograms (100,000 IU) daily
Child: up to 1500 micrograms (60,000 IU) daily
Vitamin D deficiency in intestinal malabsorption or in chronic liver disease
Child 12–18 years: 10,000–40,000 units daily, adjusted as necessary
Child 1–12 years: 10,000–25,000 units daily, adjusted as necessary

Contraindications

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  • Hypercalcaemia
  • Metastatic calcification
  • Evidence of vitamin D toxicity
  • Hypervitaminosis D

Side Effects

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Symptoms of overdose include:

  • Anorexia, weight loss
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation
  • Polyuria, sweating, thirst, vertigo
  • Headache, lassitude
  • Raised concentrations of calcium and phosphate in plasma and urine

Pregnancy

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  • Can be used

Breastfeeding

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  • Can be used

⚠️ Caution

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  • Monitor plasma-calcium concentration in patients receiving high doses and in renal impairment
  • Avoid high doses in pregnancy
  • High doses in breast-feeding may cause hypocalcaemia in an infant