Physicians Desk Reference still only lists D2, but not Vitamin D3 – Feb 2022

Vitamin D2 in Physicians Desk Reference

And, even the Vitamin D2 information is seriously out of date

Examples of out-of-date statements:

• To restore a deficiency to use 50,000 IU of D2 weekly for 6 weeks – WITH NO FOLLOW-ON maintenance dose
  Note D2 daily is about 5X less effective than D3 daily
• For the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis: 800 IU
• For the prevention of premenstrual syndrome: 700 IU
• “Ergocalciferol is contraindicated in patients with malabsorption syndrome”
  However, a gut-friendly form of Vitamin D3 works well
• “Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2) is classified as FDA pregnancy risk category C”
• “The recommended maternal daily allowance of vitamin D during breast-feeding is 600 International Units/day”
• “Magnesium-containing drug products and magnesium salts should be used cautiously in patients receiving vitamin D.”
  Actually, Magnesium is a great Vitamin D3 cofactor
• No mention appears to be made of other forms: Topical. Sublingual. Injection, gut-friendly

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Vitamin D3 instead of D2 category in VitaminDWiki starts with

Some of the 104 items

• Overview Vitamin D3 not D2
• Physicians Desk Reference still only lists D2, but not Vitamin D3 – Feb 2022
• Vitamin D3 better than D2, especially if non-daily or high dose - meta-analysis Sept 2021
• It’s Time to Say “Goodbye” to Vitamin D2 - 2015
• Vitamin D2 decreases levels of D3 (again) and visa versa – RCT Jan 2019
• It’s (way past) time to stop prescribing with Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) – Oct 2018
• If you have a vitamin D prescription, be sure that it is for D3– June 2017
• Vitamin D reduces risk of cause specific death, unless it is D2 – meta-analysis BMJ April 2014
• Vitamin D2 should not be used as a Vitamin supplement for any mammal – Oct 2006
• Loading dose of Vitamin D2 REDUCED vitamin D blood in a third of the patients – Jan 2015

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Bio-Tech has been supplying Vitamin D3 in 50,000 IU since year 2000, and 5,000 IU before that

WHOLESALER ORDER numbers for BIO-TECH 50,000 IU IU Vitamin D
Which costs less (and more profit for pharmacy) than D2-50,000

AmerisourceBergen: Walgreens Pharmacy, many independent & chain pharmacies	10146739
McKesson Corporation: Wal Mart, Target, Bi-Mart, Bartells, Thrifty White, Times & Foodland in Hawaii, Albertsons, Osco, Harps, and more	1399567
Cardinal Health: CVS, Kroger, Kmart, Safeway, Medicine Shoppe, Discount Drug Mart, PharMerica, Fred’s Pharmacy, Independents, and more	4080602
Smith Drug Company: Super Sav Drug (Also MANY others)	12-5062
HD Smith Drug Company: Many pharmacies	2432979
Morris & Dickson: Many pharmacies	059089
Dakota Drug: Many pharmacies	795112

US DISTRIBUTORS
Emerson Ecologies •
Natural Partners
Gulf South Medical Supply •
National Drug Source

INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS
Pharmaceutical Trade Services-US based distributor serving Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Africa and South America
Clinect/Symbion- Australia CrossMed - UAE
Al-Omair International Trading- Kuwait Trans Arabia Drug Store- UAE Taiba Pharma LLC- Sultanate of Oman WLS-www.wlsproducts.de - Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Belgium