Vitamin D2 is a form of vitamin D that forms under the influence of ultraviolet rays on ergosterol. A person receives this element through the use of products of animal origin, as well as from its own layer of the epidermis, where it is produced under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. In this case, the activity of the development depends directly on the intensity of the radiation process itself.
Indications for use
Doctors recommend vitamin D2 for diseases such as rickets, tuberculosis, psoriasis, as well as for disorders of calcium metabolism. Doctors recommend using vitamin D2 for the treatment and prevention of hypovitaminosis. Very often, the drug is prescribed for the treatment of kidney and liver diseases, as well as for women while taking birth control pills.
This element is also prescribed during the recovery period after injuries and fractures.
Contraindications
Vitamin D2 has a number of contraindications, which you must be familiar with before using the drug:
- Hypersensitivity to any component in the supplement, as well as hypervitaminosis;
- pulmonary tuberculosis in active form;
- if in urine and blood there is an increased content of calcium and phosphorus;
- the presence of urolithiasis;
- serious diseases of the digestive system.
Dosage and administration
Ergocalciferol instructions for use recommends to use during the process of eating internally. The drug should be used as drops. Moreover, in one drop contains about 1400 IU.
The tool copes with the treatment of rickets. In this case, the degree of the disease and its course must be taken into account. Typically, vitamin D in drops is prescribed at 1400-5600 IU per day. This dosage should be observed from one to two months. After the therapeutic effect is considered achieved, it is worth switching to preventive measures. In this case, the daily dose is 500 IU. In order to avoid overdose in the summer months, the use of the drug should be discontinued.
In places where winter is very long, it is worth using vitamin D2 for children until they are five years old. However, these data are inaccurate, therefore, during the use of the drug, be sure to see a doctor and take tests. To determine the level of vitamin in the body, you need to control the content of the element Ca ++ in the urine.
The drug can be prescribed during the treatment of tuberculosis, psoriasis, as well as in violation of calcium metabolism. In this case, drops are not the main treatment method, but an auxiliary one.
During the treatment of lupus erythematosus in adults, the daily norm of the substance can be increased by several tens of times. In this case, the drug should be taken twice a day for about six months.
Vitamin D2 for infants: instructions for use
To prevent rickets in newborns and infants, ergocalciferol can also be used by pregnant and lactating women. In this case, the supplement should be taken starting from the thirty-second week of pregnancy for six to eight weeks.
A nursing mother should start using the medicine immediately after childbirth and do this until the drug is prescribed to the baby.
Ergocalciferol instructions for use describe as a drug whose main purpose is the prevention and treatment of rickets. To prevent this disease in full-term babies, it is worth starting to use the medicine from the third week of life. Premature babies need to be given it from the second week. The same applies to twins and babies living in adverse environmental conditions.
Are there any adverse reactions?
With prolonged use, vitamin D2 (oil solution) can provoke such adverse reactions as:
- hypersensitivity, rashes, burning;
- headache, depression, insomnia;
- an increase in the level of calcium in the urine, as well as related organ diseases;
- loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea and anorexia;
- general weakness throughout the body.
Overdose cases
At the initial stages of an overdose, phenomena such as a constant feeling of thirst, problems with stools, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue and an unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth can be observed.
The later stages are characterized by the symptoms listed above, as well as severe pain in the bones, clouding of the urine, a change in pressure, a sharp decrease in body weight, a change in photosensitivity of the eyes, as well as problems with the nervous system. Cases of development of psychosis have been observed.
In order to bring the body back to normal, you need to urgently stop using the drug, as well as stop eating foods rich in vitamin D. It is recommended to clean the digestive system with activated charcoal, as well as use laxatives. To weaken the effect of vitamin D2, you need to take vitamin A. at the same time. This is especially true for children.
The use of the drug during pregnancy and lactation
The drug can be used starting from the 30-32th week of pregnancy. With special care, vitamin D in drops should be prescribed to women after 35 years. Hypercalcemia in the mother, associated with too long use of the drug D2, can cause this disease in a newborn baby. In this case, delayed mental development, as well as diseases of systems and organs, can be detected.
During pregnancy, doctors strongly do not recommend taking the drug in excessively large doses, as this can adversely affect the health of not only the mother, but also the unborn child. The same applies to a nursing mother, since the supplement that she takes can cause an overdose in her baby.
Vitamin Use in Children
Do not self-medicate and prescribe this substance on your own. Is it necessary to take this vitamin at all, and if necessary, in what quantities, only a doctor can determine during a special examination. In this case, the treatment is selected individually.
If this drug is prescribed for premature babies, then it is recommended to take phosphates at the same time with it.
Features of use
Pay attention to the correct storage of the drug, because it is precisely on this that its effectiveness will depend. Avoid direct sunlight on the packaging, and store it in a place that prevents air from entering. This is very important, because under the influence of these factors, the drug will lighten and turn into a toxic substance.
If you have been taking the drug for a fairly long period of time, regularly take urine and blood tests to help determine the amount of the substance in your body.
With extreme caution, ergocalciferol (vitamin) is prescribed to the elderly. After all, it is he who can cause the development of atherosclerosis. However, it is at this age that the need for vitamin D2 can increase significantly. After all, the skin is not so well perceives the effects of sunlight.
When using this component in large doses, it is worth consuming the vitamins of groups B and A. In parallel, the toxic effect of D2 will be eliminated as much as possible.
The purpose of the vitamin should be strictly individual. The doctor should consider not only the intake of D2 from this drug, but also its other sources.
It is necessary to use vitamin D2 (drops) with extreme caution to drivers, as well as people working with mechanisms. After all, with the constant use of drugs, pathologies of the nervous system can begin.
Vitamin D2 and D3: differences
Vitamin D is a very important element, without which the human body will not be able to grow and develop normally. This component can be of two types: cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol.
The first of them (D3) is produced in the human body as a result of exposure to the skin of sunlight. The second one enters the body along with plant and animal food, as well as mushrooms.
Ergocalciferol is a vitamin that takes part in phosphorus and calcium metabolism. It contributes to their absorption in the intestine and timely deposition in bone tissue. In turn, vitamin D3 transports mineral salts and is involved in bone calcification.
Never buy Vitamin D without your doctor’s prescription. After all, once it enters the body, it breaks down into several simpler substances, which can have a bad effect on the body as a whole.
To replenish vitamin D in the body, it is worth consuming food of plant and animal origin. And only if such measures prove to be insufficient, proceed to drug treatment.
Another difference between vitamins D2 and D3 is their shelf life. The first element may persist for a shorter period, so it is considered not as effective as the second.
Pharmacological properties
Vitamin D2 (oil solution) is an excellent regulator of the exchange of phosphorus and calcium in the human body. It activates the absorption processes of these elements in the intestine due to an increase in tissue permeability. In order for the drug to work as efficiently as possible, it is also worth consuming calcium and phosphorus in moderation.
Ergocalciferol is a vitamin that can dissolve in oils. It has another name - "anti-rachit vitamin", as it copes well with this disease and prevents its appearance.
Vitamin D, taken orally, will begin to be absorbed into the blood already in the small intestine. And from there, with the help of blood, it will begin to enter the liver and kidneys. This vitamin is already here and will begin to fulfill its main functions.
Reviews
Many mothers who give this supplement to their children notice a positive effect several months after the start of use. However, it is very important not to exceed the dosage constantly. If you do this several times, then nothing bad will happen, however, a constant overdose can lead to negative consequences. According to reviews, cases of vomiting and dizziness were noticed, the reasons for which became the inept use of the drug.
Do not self-medicate. The need for vitamin use can only be determined by a doctor. In this case, you need to undergo regular examinations and take tests.
The drug has the maximum result while combining its use with other vitamins and minerals. But in this case, you also need to consult a doctor.
The supplement was also liked by pregnant women who lack calcium during gestation.
conclusions
Vitamin D is an element that enters the body through food of plant and animal origin, as well as mushrooms. Element D3 is formed in the layers of the skin due to exposure to ultraviolet rays.
Vitamin D2, despite all its usefulness, can have a detrimental effect on the body as a whole, so do not self-medicate. With skillful use, both D2 and D3 will be able to benefit your body. If possible, try to ensure the supply of trace elements in a natural way.
Do not forget to lead a healthy lifestyle and eat right. After all, this is the key to your health. Thus, not only your body will thank you, but also the body of your child. After all, the health of the baby primarily depends on the health of his mother. Therefore, experts strongly recommend not to self-medicate.