I took the test on Thursday after being on the D3 regimen (15,000/daily with 50,000 loading dose) for about a week and the results were 35 ng/ML. I wonder what my levels were before I started the D3.

Anyways, how much should I be taking to get to the "green zone" as quickly and as safely as possible?

I am currently taking:
D3: 15,000 i.u./daily
Calcium Citrate: 500mg/daily
Magnesium Citrate: 400mg/daily
Fish Oil: 4000mg/daily

Thanks.

Hey Karate Joe,

Welcome to the club... "Yikes" is an understandable comment on your 25(OH)D serum concentration after a few days on the anti-inflammatory regimen...

The accelerated vitamin D3 dosing schedule starts with 20,000 IU/day for two weeks... During that two weeks you need to take two (2) 50,000 IU loading doses of vitamin D3 once a week on top of the 20,000 IU/day dose... i.e., 70,000 IU that day and 7 days later...

For the next two weeks, take 15,000 IU/day vitamin D3 and at the end of these two weeks, ask your PCP for a lab test of your 25(OH)D...  When you total it all up you've taken 590,000 IU over the 4-week period, ~21,000 IU/day...  At the end of the 4-week period your lab results for 25(OH)D should be 60 ng/mL higher than your starting serum concentration at the start of this regimen...

Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch

Thanks, Batch. I am currently 4 weeks into my cycle and have not had an attack in the last few days. I can definitely attribute this to the D3. My cycle usually last about 6 weeks with no pain free days during the cycle.

I began taking the D3 regimen at 15,000 IU/day around the first week of January (first week of my cycle). I then took the 25(OH) test in the second week of January, which indicated a level of 35 ng/ML. I immediately upped my dosage of D3 as you suggested to 20,000 IU/day with a loading dose of 50,000 IU. Within a week or so, I began to feel a reduction in the frequency and intensity of my headaches. I am now 4 weeks into the cycle and have not had an attack in 3 days (I hope I don't jinx myself!). Around a week or so ago, I also began to include nitric oxide to supplement the D3 regimen as I've heard it has anti-inflammatory effects. Have any of you experimented with nitric oxide?

I know I'll likely need to continue to take D3 at 10,000 IU daily for the rest of my life, but when should I begin to taper down from 20,000 IU/daily?

Thanks again everyone for all of your help.

Hey Karate Joe,

Great update and good question...  It's a wonderful feeling known you've finally got a handle on the beast.

Regarding when to lower the vitamin D3 intake to a maintenance dose of 10,000 IU/day...  The accelerated vitamin D3 dosing schedule amounts to taking 600,000 IU over a four-week period...  I know that sounds like a lot but it works out to an average of 21,400 IU/day vitamin D3 over the 28 days. 

For reference, a study published in 2010 reported the results of 48 participants, average age 36, age range 25-56, who were given a single oral dose of 600,000 IU vitamin D3 with no adverse events. 

The mean 25(OH)D response was an increase of 60 ng/mL above the mean starting concentration of 15 ng/mL by day 3.  Serum calcium remained within the normal reference range.

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The suggested dosing schedule we use should result in an average increase of 60 ng/mL in serum 25(OH)D concentration on top of the starting concentration....  At the end of the 4 weeks, you switch to a vitamin D3 maintenance dose of 10,000 IU/day.

To recap the accelerated vitamin D3 dosing schedule:

2 weeks at 20,000 IU/day plus two (2) 50,000 IU loading doses taken once a week during the first two weeks on top of the daily dose, (a total of 70,000 IU/day on these two days)

15,000 IU/day during the second two week period.

Have your 25(OH)D serum concentration tested at the end of the 4 week accelerated vitamin D3 dosing schedule.

Hope this helps.

Take care and please keep us posted.

V/R, Batch