Vitamin D2 is a form of vitamin D produced by exposure to ultraviolet rays on ergosterol. A person receives this element through the use of animal products, as well as from his own layer of the epidermis, where it is produced under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. At the same time, the activity of the production depends directly on the intensity of the radiation process itself.
Indications for use
Vitamin D2 is recommended by doctors for diseases such as rickets, tuberculosis, psoriasis, as well as calcium metabolism disorders. Doctors advise using vitamin D2 for the treatment and prevention of hypovitaminosis. Very often, the drug is prescribed for the treatment of diseases of the kidneys and liver, 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 that you should definitely read before using the drug:
- hypersensitivity to any component in the supplement, as well as hypervitaminosis;
- active pulmonary tuberculosis;
- if in urine and bloodthere is an increased content of calcium and phosphorus;
- presence of urolithiasis;
- serious diseases of the digestive system.
Method of application and dosage
Ergocalciferol instructions for use recommends using during the process of eating, internally. The drug should be used as drops. At the same time, one drop contains about 1400 IU.
The tool does an excellent job with the treatment of rickets. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the degree of the disease and its course. Usually, vitamin D drops are 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 during the summer months, the use of the drug should be discontinued.
In places where the 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 Ca ++ element 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 method of treatment, but an auxiliary one.
During TB treatmentlupus in adults, the daily intake of a substance can be increased several tens of times. In this case, the drug should be taken twice a day for about six months.
Vitamin D2 for babies: instructions for use
For the prevention of rickets in newborns and infants, ergocalciferol can also be used by pregnant and lactating women. In this case, the supplement should be taken from the thirty-second week of pregnancy for six to eight weeks.
Nursing mothers should start taking the medication immediately after giving birth and do so until the medication is prescribed for the baby.
Ergocalciferol instructions for use describe as a drug, the main purpose of which is the prevention and treatment of rickets. To prevent this disease in full-term babies, it is worth starting the use of the drug from the third week of life. Premature babies should be given it from the second week. The same goes for twins and babies living in adverse environmental conditions.
Are there any side effects
With long-term use, vitamin D2 (oily solution) can cause side effects such as:
- hypersensitivity, rashes, burning;
- headache, depression, insomnia;
- 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.
Casesoverdose
In the initial stages of an overdose, symptoms such as persistent thirst, problems with stools, nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue and bad taste in the mouth may occur.
Late stages are characterized by the above symptoms, as well as severe bone pain, cloudy urine, changes in blood pressure, sudden weight loss, changes in eye photosensitivity, and problems with the nervous system. Psychosis has been reported.
In order to bring the body back to normal, it is urgent to 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, and also use laxatives. To weaken the effect of vitamin D2, you need to take vitamin A at the same time. This is especially true in cases with children.
Use of the drug during pregnancy and lactation
The drug can be used from the 30th-32nd week of pregnancy. With extreme caution, it is worth prescribing vitamin D drops to women after 35 years of age. Hypercalcemia in the mother, associated with too long use of the drug D2, can cause this disease in a newborn baby. In this case, mental retardation, as well as diseases of systems and organs, may be detected.
During pregnancy, doctors strongly do not recommend taking the drug in excessively large doses, as this may adversely affect he alth and notonly the mother, but also the unborn child. The same goes for a breastfeeding mom as the supplement she takes can overdose her baby as well.
Vitamin use by children
Do not self-medicate and prescribe this substance yourself. Whether it is 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 along with it.
Features of use
Pay attention to the correct storage of the drug, because its effectiveness will depend on this. Keep the package out of direct sunlight and store it in an air-tight place. This is very important, because under the influence of these factors, the drug will lighten up and turn into a toxic substance.
If you have been using the drug for quite some time, get regular 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 no longer perceives the effects of sunlight so well.
When using this component in large dosages, it stands in parallelconsume vitamins of groups B and A. Thus, the toxic effect of D2 will be eliminated as much as possible.
The appointment of a vitamin should be strictly individual. The doctor must take into account not only the intake of D2 from this drug, but also its other sources.
It is worth using vitamin D2 (drops) with extreme caution to drivers, as well as people working with mechanisms. Indeed, 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 cannot 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 enters the body along with plant and animal foods, as well as mushrooms.
Ergocalciferol is a vitamin involved in phosphorus and calcium metabolism. It promotes their absorption in the intestines and timely deposition in bone tissues. In turn, vitamin D3 transports mineral s alts and is involved in bone calcification.
Never buy vitamin D without a prescription from your doctor. After all, when it enters the body, it breaks down into several simpler substances that can have a bad effect on the body as a whole.
To replenish the reserves of vitamin D in the body, it is worth eating food of plant and animal origin. And only if suchmeasures are insufficient, proceed to drug treatment.
Another difference between vitamins D2 and D3 is their shelf life. The first element may last for a shorter period, therefore it is considered not as effective as the second.
Pharmacological properties
Vitamin D2 (oil solution) is an excellent regulator of phosphorus and calcium metabolism in the human body. It activates the processes of absorption 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 using calcium and phosphorus in moderation.
Ergocalciferol is a vitamin that can dissolve in oils. It has another name - "anti-rachitis vitamin", as it copes well with this disease and prevents its occurrence.
Vitamin D, taken orally, will be absorbed into the blood already in the small intestine. And from there, with the help of blood, it will begin to flow to the liver and kidneys. Already here, this vitamin will begin to perform its main functions.
Reviews
Many moms who give this supplement to their babies notice positive effects within a few months of starting. However, it is very important not to exceed the dosage constantly. If you do this several times, then nothing bad will happen, but a constant overdose can lead to negative consequences. According to reviews, cases of vomiting and dizziness were observed, the causes of which were the inept use of the drug.
You can't self-medicate. The need for a vitamin can only be determined by a doctor. At the same time, you need to undergo regular examinations and take tests.
The drug provides maximum results when combined with other vitamins and minerals. But in this case, you also need to consult a doctor.
Pregnant women who lack calcium during pregnancy also liked the supplement.
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 can benefit your body. Try to get your micronutrient intake naturally whenever possible.
Remember to lead a he althy lifestyle and eat right. After all, it is the key to your he alth. Thus, not only your body will thank you, but also the body of your child. After all, the he alth of the baby primarily depends on the he alth of his mother. Therefore, experts strongly recommend not to self-medicate.