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Information for Pharmacists
Page content: Vitamin D deficiency | Dispensing high dose Vitamin D | Further informationVitamin D deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency is common in Australia and more common in the people living in the southern states.
Vitamin D is essential for bone and muscle health in all age groups and for the prevention of falls and fractures in older people.
Vitamin D supplements can be low dose (given daily) or high dose (given monthly or less often).
Low dose Vitamin D supplements are available in pharmacies, health food stores and some supermarkets. High dose Vitamin D supplements require a prescription from a medical practitioner that must be dispensed in a pharmacy.
More information about Vitamin D deficiency can be found at:
Dispensing high dose Vitamin D
Presently there are no high dose Vitamin D products available on the Australian market and medical practitioners are required to obtain an authorisation from the Therapeutic Goods Administration if they propose to treat a patient with an imported high dose product.
Pharmacies dispensing an imported high dose Vitamin D product must only do so upon the presentation of a prescription written by a prescriber authorised by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
High dose Vitamin D prescriptions must be filled at a pharmacy. High dose Vitamin D preparations are not subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.
Symbion Pharmacy Supply & Logistics has arranged to hold stock of a high dose Vitamin D product that has been imported from the United States. There is no recommended price for a high dose Vitamin D prescription but currently a dispensed price of around $12 for twelve months or $1 per capsule would be reasonable.
Pharmacies can order stock from Symbion and dispense prescriptions written by an authorised prescriber. Pharmacists cannot dispense the high dose Vitamin D product if the prescribing medical practitioner does not have a TGA authorisation.
More information about ordering high dose Vitamin D from Symbion can be found in the document below:
Symbion Special Procurement Services
Consumer medical information for high dose vitamin D can be found in the document below:
High dose vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) capsules, consumer medicines information
Further information
Contact information for further enquiries.
