Hi Carly,

I too had very low serum levels of vitamin D (25 hydroxy). My Integrative physician recommended a product by Biotics Research called Bio D Mulsion Forte which delivers 2000 IU's per drop. He recommended 50,000 IU's 3 times a week for 3 months, then retest. My initial serum level was around 12.... three months later it was 62! He then recommended 4000 IU's per day as a maintenance dose and retest in 3 months. That test came back 57! That was 2 years ago and I am still taking 2000 to 4000 IU's per day (all year long) and maintaining a serum level of 57-65. My husband had very similar results.

My sister was also severely deficient in vitamin D. Her physician prescribed just as yours did......Pliva, one cap 2 times a week for one month then retest. Her initial serum level was around 8... her retest was around 12. She continued on this rx for 9 months being periodically retested... her serum D levels never went above 25. However, her bone density worsened and she developed digestive problems. She decided to forgo the Pliva and take the Biotics Research as I did. Three months taking that her serum D level rose to 35! She continued on this regimen for several more months and her level rose to 52! She is on a maintenance dose of 4000 IU's a day and her serum levels range between 45-52.

Biotics Research products are not prescription meds and can be purchased online, just do a google search. I know of many people who have had excellent results with using this product. As a matter of fact, we recommend it to patients in our dental practice!

Here is some information on Bio D Mulsion Forte:
https://www.bioticsresearch.com/node/1570

Another good source for information on vitamin D is from the vitamin D council.
http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

Hope this is helpful to you!

Bryanna