Can you buy ergocalciferol over the counter?
Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is a form of vitamin D that’s available both over the counter or with a prescription, depending on the dose. It’s used to treat a few different medical conditions that cause or are caused by low vitamin D levels, including hypoparathyroidism (low parathyroid hormone) and rickets.
Is Drisdol over the counter?
Sometimes people can get what they need from an over-the-counter (OTC) supplement, but many people need a prescription from their doctor. You can find generic vitamin D supplements in pharmacies and drugstores as well as brand-name supplements such as Drisdol and Calciferol.
Is ergocalciferol a generic?
Calciferol (ergocalciferol) is vitamin D2 used to treat hypoparathyroidism (decreased functioning of the parathyroid glands), and is also used to treat rickets (softening of the bones caused by vitamin D deficiency) or low levels of phosphate in the blood (hypophosphatemia). Calciferol is available in generic form.
How do I get ergocalciferol?
Fortified foods, which account for the majority of vitamin D intake, include milk, other dairy products, breakfast foods, and a few other products. These natural and fortified foods largely contain cholecalciferol (7). Mushrooms can be an important dietary source of ergocalciferol.
Is prescription vitamin D better than over the counter?
OTC Vitamin D (D3) More Effective Than Prescription Vitamin D (D2)
Can you take too much vitamin D2?
The main consequence of vitamin D toxicity is a buildup of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), which can cause nausea and vomiting, weakness, and frequent urination. Vitamin D toxicity might progress to bone pain and kidney problems, such as the formation of calcium stones.
Do I need a prescription for ergocalciferol?
Ergocalciferol, like calcitriol and calcipotriene, is a medication that belongs to a class of medications known as vitamin D analogues (specifically vitamin D2) and is available as a prescription.
Why would a doctor prescribe ergocalciferol?
Ergocalciferol is used in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism (condition in which the body does not produce enough parathyroid hormone), refractory rickets (softening and weakening of bones that does not respond to treatment), and familial hypophosphatemia (rickets or osteomalacia caused by an inherited condition with …