Yashoda Hospitals > Medicine FAQS > Ergocalciferol

Ergocalciferol: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What Is Ergocalciferol?

Ergocalciferol is a Vitamin D2 or calciferol supplement that is a type of fat-soluble vitamin D that helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. It is found in our daily food items.

Vitamin D helps you keep an optimal level of calcium and phosphorus in your body and is readily available in daily food items. However, you might need a supplement as per your doctor’s instructions, and Ergocalciferol helps maintain the required amount of Vitamin D in your body.

What Are the Uses of Ergocalciferol?

There are several uses of Ergocalciferol that ensures that your body contains an adequate amount of Vitamin D that helps to absorb calcium and phosphorous:

  • Assists in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism, refractory rickets, and familial hypophosphatemia
  • It proves helpful in maintaining a sufficient amount of Vitamin D in your body
  • Beneficial for to-be and breast-feeding mothers as well as the babies
  • Works for small children in the form of drops or another supplement to maintain Vitamin D in their body

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    What Are the Side Effects of Ergocalciferol?

    There are several common and severe side effects of Ergocalciferol. You are likely to either experience no side effects or less severe ones.

    • Pain in chest or breathing issues
    • Weakness, muscle pain, and nausea
    • Vomiting, constipation, and different taste in the mouth
    • Weight loss and loss of appetite
    • Stiffness and drowsiness
    • Growth problems in children

    Although the chances are less, we still recommend you to consult an expert before taking the supplement yourself or giving it to your children.

    What is Ergocalciferol

    Uses of Ergocalciferol

    Side effects of Ergocalciferol

    References

    1. https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-8604/ergocalciferol-vitamin-d2-oral/details
    2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-d2-vs-d3#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4
    3. https://www.drugs.com/mtm/ergocalciferol.html
    4. https://go.drugbank.com/drugs/DB00169

    Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.

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    Frequently Asked Questions about Ergocalciferol

    Yes, Ergocalciferol is a steroid that belongs to the class of organic compounds of Vitamin D. As Vitamin D receptors are transcription factors and members of the steroid hormone nuclear receptor family, Ergocalciferol contains secosteroid backbone, usually secoergostane or secocholestane. Hence, the best advice would be to consult the doctor for its dosage amount and daily usage.

    Ergocalciferol is Vitamin D2. It is a highly effective supplement to prevent and treat Vitamin D deficiency and low blood calcium levels due to hypoparathyroidism. On the other hand, Cholecalciferol is another type of Vitamin D derivative, also known as Vitamin D3, a supplement used to maintain sufficient Vitamin D levels in the body.

    Yes, for everyone, taking Ergocalciferol is safe for intake. But you must remember to consume an adequate amount of calcium for the supplement to work effectively. We suggest that you ask an expert about the calcium-rich food you must intake daily to ensure Ergocalciferol works for you as it should.

    As Ergocalciferol is a type of Vitamin D2, a derivative of Vitamin D, any food item that contains Vitamin D would work:
    • Dairy products, such as milk and ghee
    • Eggs, sardines, fatty fish, and Cod liver oil
    • Soy milk
    • Mushrooms
    Other than these, daily food items contain a small amount of Vitamin D but not necessarily Ergocalciferol.

    The dosage of Ergocalciferol depends on your Vitamin D deficiency and doctor’s prescription. Additionally, age, diet, and exposure to the sun also impact your daily or weekly dosage of Ergocalciferol. Usually, one tablet a day before bedtime works for people. But once a week is also a viable option. Consult an expert.

    After you take the first dose of ergocalciferol, the effect of medicine starts to show approximately in 28 to 30 hours. But you need to ensure that your body has sufficient calcium that can be absorbed. If not, Ergocalciferol will not work for you and might show some side effects.

    The best time to take Ergocalciferol is whenever the doctor has asked you to take it. Usually, medical consultants would ask you to take the supplement after a meal, but you can also take it without food. For tablets, take it once a day after dinner. For injection, ask an expert.

    Yes, ergocalciferol is used for osteoporosis. By definition, osteoporosis is a disease characterized by thinning of bones due to a lack of sufficient calcium. Calcium and ergocalciferol tablets are mineral and vitamin D supplements that usually help to treat such cases. The tablets improve bone strength and help to prevent bone thinning.

    While both Ergocalciferol and Cholecalciferol belong to the family of Vitamin D nutrients, they differ in their usage. Ergocalciferol is Vitamin D2 that is less effective than D3 (Cholecalciferol) at raising Vitamin D blood levels. The former is easily found in plants, while the latter is present in animals. D3 is formed in the skin, while D2 can be ingested via daily food intake or supplements.

    It is advisable to take Ergocalciferol after a meal as it would help the calcium you just ate to absorb. Mainly, this works if you are taking Ergocalciferol in the form of tablets. If you are taking Ergocalciferol in any other form, the best thing to do is consult an expert and then go ahead.

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