Table 4.10.3 Open in new tab... | Oxford Academic

Table 4.10.3

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Pharmaceutical preparations of vitamin D and active metabolites

	Ergocalciferol	Dihydrotachysterol^a	Calcifediol^a	Calcitriol	Alfacalcidol
Abbreviation	D₂	DHT	25(OH) D₃	1,25(OH)₂D₃	1α(OH)D
Dosage form	Capsules: 1.25 mg Liquid: 200 μg/ml Intramuscular injection: 12.5 mg/ml in sesame oil	Tablets: 0.125, 0.200, and 0.400 mg Liquid: 0.250 mg/ml	Capsules: 20 and 50 μg	Capsules: 0.25 and 0.50 μg Injection: 1.0 μg/ml Liquid: 1.0 µ/ml	Capsules: 0.25 and 1.0 μg Liquid: 0.20 μg/ml Injection: 2.0 μg/ml in propylene glycol
Time to reach maximum biological effects	4–10 weeks	2–4 weeks	4–20 weeks	0.5–1 week	0.5–1 week
Persistence of biological effect after cessation	6–30 weeks	2–8 weeks	4–12 weeks	0.5–1 week	0.5–1 week

	Ergocalciferol	Dihydrotachysterol^a	Calcifediol^a	Calcitriol	Alfacalcidol
Abbreviation	D₂	DHT	25(OH) D₃	1,25(OH)₂D₃	1α(OH)D
Dosage form	Capsules: 1.25 mg Liquid: 200 μg/ml Intramuscular injection: 12.5 mg/ml in sesame oil	Tablets: 0.125, 0.200, and 0.400 mg Liquid: 0.250 mg/ml	Capsules: 20 and 50 μg	Capsules: 0.25 and 0.50 μg Injection: 1.0 μg/ml Liquid: 1.0 µ/ml	Capsules: 0.25 and 1.0 μg Liquid: 0.20 μg/ml Injection: 2.0 μg/ml in propylene glycol
Time to reach maximum biological effects	4–10 weeks	2–4 weeks	4–20 weeks	0.5–1 week	0.5–1 week
Persistence of biological effect after cessation	6–30 weeks	2–8 weeks	4–12 weeks	0.5–1 week	0.5–1 week

^a

These forms of vitamin D are no longer generally available, but are listed for historical interest and for reference.