ergocalciferol
Ergocalciferol, also known as vitamin D2 and nonspecifically calciferol, is a type of vitamin D found in food. It is used as a dietary supplement to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency due to poor absorption by the intestines or liver disease. It may also be used for low blood calcium due to hypoparathyroidism. It is taken by mouth or via injection into a muscle.
Key facts
- Drug.legal_UK
- POM
- Drug.image
- Ergocalciferol.svg
- Drug.image_class
- skin-invert-image
- Drug.alt
- Skeletal formula of ergocalciferol
- Drug.image2
- Ergocalciferol 3D ball.png
- Drug.image_class2
- bg-transparent
- Drug.alt2
- Ball-and-stick model of the ergocalciferol molecule
- Drug.tradename
- Drisdol, Calcidol, others
- Drug.MedlinePlus
- a616042
- Drug.DailyMedID
- Ergocalciferol
- Drug.routes_of_administration
- By mouth, intramuscular
- Drug.ATC_prefix
- A11
Article
7 sectionsContents
- Use
- Mechanism
- Sources
- Biosynthesis
- Names
- References
- External links
Ergocalciferol, also known as vitamin D2 and nonspecifically calciferol, is a type of vitamin D found in food. It is used as a dietary supplement to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency due to poor absorption by the intestines or liver disease. It may also be used for low blood calcium due to hypoparathyroidism. It is taken by mouth or via injection into a muscle.
Excessive doses can result in vitamin D toxicity causing increased urine production, high blood pressure, kidney stones, kidney failure, muscle weakness, and constipation. If high doses are taken for a long period of time, tissue calcification may occur. Normal doses are safe in pregnancy. It works by increasing the amount of calcium absorbed by the intestines and reabsorbed by the kidneys. Food in which it is found include some mushrooms.