Guide
Vitamin D and medications: what to check
Vitamin D is not a blood thinner, but it can interact with some medicines. The groups to check, what one thiazide analysis found, and what to ask a pharmacist.
No, vitamin D is not a blood thinner. But it can interact with some medicines. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (NIH ODS) names weight-loss drugs that block fat absorption, certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, steroids such as prednisone, and thiazide diuretics. Show your pharmacist the label and your medication list before you start.
Is vitamin D3 a blood thinner?
No. Vitamin D is not an anticoagulant and does not thin the blood. The vitamin that people connect to clotting is vitamin K, which is a different nutrient. We cite no study of vitamin D with any anticoagulant, so we cannot tell you that a particular combination is fine either; that is the pharmacist's call.
What medicines does NIH ODS say vitamin D can interact with?
| Medicine group | What the issue is |
|---|---|
| Orlistat (weight-loss drug) | Reduces absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin D, from food and supplements |
| Statins (cholesterol-lowering) | The fact sheet discusses a possible effect on how a statin works; ask your pharmacist about the one you take |
| Steroids such as prednisone | Can affect how vitamin D is absorbed and handled in the body |
| Thiazide diuretics | Reduce calcium loss in urine, so with vitamin D they can add to blood calcium |
The reference for this list is the NIH ODS vitamin D fact sheet, which is updated; check it for current wording.
What the thiazide data show
One post-hoc analysis of a dose-finding trial in 328 Black adults (median age 51) looked at calcium in the 84 people taking hydrochlorothiazide who also took vitamin D3 at 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000 IU a day for three months, in winter. They had slightly higher calcium (0.2 mg/dL) than 44 people not taking the diuretic, and one of the 84 had hypercalcemia, against none in the comparison group. The authors concluded that up to 4,000 IU a day with hydrochlorothiazide was associated with a low frequency of hypercalcemia. Limits: a post-hoc analysis, 84 people, three months, a comparison group that was a convenience sample. It is a reason to tell your clinician, not a clearance.
Other things that add up with vitamin D
- Other vitamin D. The adult upper limit is 100 mcg (4,000 IU) a day from all sources. Multivitamins, fish-liver oils and combined bone products all count. Our Personal Routines "D Complex" pill carries 125 mcg (5,000 IU) of D3 by itself, and with our 50 mcg softgel the total is 175 mcg, 1.75 times the limit. Do not combine them.
- Calcium. Vitamin D raises calcium absorption and high blood calcium is the main risk of too much (see vitamin D side effects). Our softgel has no calcium; check any calcium product's own label.
Our softgel
Electric Tiger Vitamin D3 provides 50 mcg (2,000 IU) of vitamin D3 as cholecalciferol per softgel, as low as $15.35 a bottle on subscription. Adults take one softgel daily, or as directed by a health care professional. We make no claim about how it interacts with any drug.
Questions people ask
Can you take vitamin D3 with Eliquis (apixaban)?
We cite no study on the combination and it is not one of the groups in the table, so we cannot say yes or no. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber, who can see your whole list. Vitamin D is not a blood thinner.
Can you take vitamin D3 with rosuvastatin?
Rosuvastatin is a statin, and NIH ODS discusses statins in its interactions section. We cite no study on rosuvastatin and vitamin D, so ask your pharmacist about the one you take.
Can you take Tylenol, metoprolol or levothyroxine with vitamin D3?
We cite no interaction data for acetaminophen (Tylenol), metoprolol or levothyroxine with vitamin D, so we cannot say. These are common medicines and a pharmacist can check them in seconds. Do not read our silence as a clearance.
What medications should not be taken with vitamin D3?
No medicine is "off limits" on our say-so. The ones that call for a check are in the table above, and any other medicine that affects calcium or fat absorption. Your pharmacist can check your own list.
Does vitamin D3 interact with any medications?
Yes, some: see the table. It also adds to other vitamin D you take.
Is a prescription strength or "prescription" vitamin D3 different?
A prescription vitamin D product is chosen and dosed by a clinician, usually after a blood test. We cite no trials of those and give no guidance on them. Ours is a 2,000 IU dietary supplement and is not a prescription product.
Sources
- Risk of hypercalcemia in blacks taking hydrochlorothiazide and vitamin D With up to 4,000 IU a day of D3, people on a thiazide diuretic had slightly higher calcium and one of 84 became hypercalcemic.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
