Vitamin D2 vs. D3 question

I swear I read something about taking D3 over D2. Had labs done last week. Vit D was low so I was prescribed vit D2 1.25mg (50,000 unit) once a week. This is a new office/doc for me and while most of their post op vitamin requirements are on point (They tell patients to take Flintstones multi but the other stuff is on par with the ASMBS). Anyway, if anyone has some insight is appreciate it. I'm running around a bunch this morning so I didn't have time to search so if this has been addressed recently I apologize. :) thanks in advance. 

Here is a good article that I found. You can read it all but I will link the results: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/746941

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22552031

In conclusion, ergocalciferol (vitamin D₂) and cholecalciferol (vitamin D₃) are not bioequivalent and should not be considered interchangeable. Although few head-to-head trials exist, based on pharmacokinetic studies and limited clinical evidence, cholecalciferol is preferred over ergocalciferol. Because of its shorter half-life and decreased potency, this is especially relevant in the setting of severe deficiency, where high-dose ergocalciferol is often only given once weekly. Health professionals should encourage use of cholecalciferol over ergocalciferol in all patients without severe renal failure, either as a general supplement or as a treatment for vitamin D deficiency

Thanks a bunch! I'm going to call the office and inquire about this. 

Vitamins d3 in dry form is hard to find. You will find a lot in a oil form which isnt great for us. Here is the brand I take, I take 10,000 IU a day to keep my levels above 80.http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitamin-d3-as-cholecalcifer ol-10000-iu-365-capsules

You are correct -- you want Vitamin D3. And you want it as "dry" (meaning not suspended in oil). Unfortunately there is no such thing as a Rx for the right kind of Vitamin D3 in 50k/iu for us. And also unfortunately, doctors usually don't have a clue about the difference and will probably just tell you the Rx is fine. It's not. 

So we take matters into our own hands and do what's right for our body. I buy my 50K Vitamin D3 on Amazon -- this is about the only brand I've found that's readily available. Biotech D5-50. I also wrote about my experience with Vitamin D on my blog: http://pamtremble.blogspot.com/2009/06/my-vitamin-d.html

~Pam

Apparently there is NOW a prescription for D3 (at least in a softgel form) in all sorts of doses - discussed on the Main Board this week,  complete with pictures ...   Several people have posted that they have been able to get it.   Who can keep up with all this if we don't deal with drug co's every day?

Prescription D3