[Vitamin D intoxication caused by drugs bought online. Sky high daily dosage for six months resulted in severe hypercalcemia]

Lakartidningen. 2015 Jun 2:112:DF37.
[Article in Swedish]

Abstract

Intoxication with vitamin D may lead to severe hypercalcemia, renal failure and occasionally to death. An increasing amount of vitamin D supplement is sold over-the-counter (OTC) or over the internet. Here we present a case were a person obtained vitamin D over the internet and administered 50 000 IE daily to his father for a period of six months, in the pursuit to stop or reverse the progression of a vascular dementia. The treatment resulted in a severe hypercalcemia and recurrent hospitalizations. In cases with an unexplained hypercalcemia, being associated with high levels of 25(OH)-vitamin D3 the possibility of intake of D-vitamin sold without a doctor's prescription should be investigated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Calcifediol / administration & dosage
  • Calcifediol / poisoning*
  • Calcifediol / therapeutic use
  • Dementia / drug therapy
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Humans
  • Hypercalcemia / chemically induced*
  • Internet
  • Male
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage
  • Vitamin D / poisoning*
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • Calcifediol