Ergocalciferol

Generic name: ergocalciferol (vitamin D2) [ ER-goe-kal-SIF-e-role ]
Brand names: Calcidol, Calciferol, Drisdol, Vitamin D2
Dosage forms: oral capsule (50 mcg; 50,000 intl units); oral solution (200 mcg/mL)
Drug class:Vitamins

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com on Mar 11, 2021. Written by Cerner Multum.

What is ergocalciferol?

Ergocalciferol is vitamin D2. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium.

Ergocalciferol is used to treat hypoparathyroidism (decreased functioning of the parathyroid glands).

Ergocalciferol is also used to treat rickets (softening of the bones caused by vitamin D deficiency) or low levels of phosphate in the blood (hypophosphatemia).

Ergocalciferol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Warnings

You should not take ergocalciferol if you have had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have high levels of calcium or vitamin D in your body, or any condition that makes it hard for your body to absorb nutrients from food (malabsorption).

Use only the recommended dose of ergocalciferol. An overdose could cause serious or life-threatening side effects.

Before taking this medicine

You should not take ergocalciferol if you have had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have:

• high levels of vitamin D in your body (hypervitaminosis D);

• high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia); or

• any condition that makes it hard for your body to absorb nutrients from food (malabsorption).

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