Mr G complained that a doctor at the Trust prescribed him an excessive dose of vitamin D. He said that he consequently suffered symptoms from the toxicity of this medication, which led to deterioration in his mental health. He had to give up his job and this consequently had severe financial implications for him.
What happened
Mr G saw a specialist registrar in rheumatology in summer 2012. Blood tests showed that his vitamin D levels were very low at 14.1 nmol/L – the normal range is between 50 and 150 nmol/L. Trust staff prescribed Mr G a 28–day course of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) at a dose of 50,000 IU (international units) daily.
Mr G took the vitamin D as prescribed for approximately
What happened
Mr G saw a specialist registrar in rheumatology in summer 2012. Blood tests showed that his vitamin D levels were very low at 14.1 nmol/L – the normal range is between 50 and 150 nmol/L. Trust staff prescribed Mr G a 28–day course of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) at a dose of 50,000 IU (international units) daily.
Mr G took the vitamin D as prescribed for approximately two weeks, but stopped taking it after he began experiencing severe stomach pain.
When Mr G stopped taking the vitamin D, he became 'hyper' and had a lot of energy. He also said that his sleeping pattern changed, he had a racing mind and was unable to sleep. He became agitated and anxious and began experiencing periods of fear and panic attacks. He said that he became unable to concentrate or sit still at work and he eventually had to give up his job. He was diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
On the advice of the specialist registrar, Mr G then began taking vitamin D again. He said that during this time his symptoms of anxiety, depression, agitation and fear became more severe. A blood test carried out in winter 2012 showed that his vitamin D level was 236.3 nmol/L.
Mr G said that by this point he had slipped into a deep depression. During 2013 he began to have chest pains and an irregular heartbeat and went into hospital for this. He also said that he was admitted to hospital because of his deteriorating mental health, and was prescribed a number of medications to try to manage this.
In spring 2013 Mr G complained to the Trust about the dose of vitamin D prescribed to him. In its response, the Trust said that Mr G's health problems were not caused by the vitamin D the specialist registrar had prescribed.
Mr G was dissatisfied with this and came to us in summer 2014.
What we found
We partly upheld this complaint. In summer 2012, trust staff prescribed Mr G a significantly higher dose of vitamin D over a shorter period of time than would normally be recommended for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency. Even though Mr G stopped taking the vitamin D after approximately two weeks, and so did not complete the full dose prescribed, the amount of vitamin D he took during this period was higher than would normally be expected.
However, it was unlikely that the dosage of vitamin D in Mr G's case caused any form of toxicity that would have contributed to or caused his subsequent physical and mental health symptoms.
While Mr G claimed that a later course of vitamin D prescribed to him was done so on the advice of the specialist registrar, there was no evidence that the specialist registrar had recommended or prescribed any further prescription of vitamin D that Mr G may have taken.
two weeks, but stopped taking it after he began experiencing severe stomach pain.When Mr G stopped taking the vitamin D, he became 'hyper' and had a lot of energy. He also said that his sleeping pattern changed, he had a racing mind and was unable to sleep. He became agitated and anxious and began experiencing periods of fear and panic attacks. He said that he became unable to concentrate or sit still at work and he eventually had to give up his job. He was diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
On the advice of the specialist registrar, Mr G then began taking vitamin D again. He said that during this time his symptoms of anxiety, depression, agitation and fear became more severe. A blood test carried out in winter 2012 showed that his vitamin D level was 236.3 nmol/L.
Mr G said that by this point he had slipped into a deep depression. During 2013 he began to have chest pains and an irregular heartbeat and went into hospital for this. He also said that he was admitted to hospital because of his deteriorating mental health, and was prescribed a number of medications to try to manage this.
In spring 2013 Mr G complained to the Trust about the dose of vitamin D prescribed to him. In its response, the Trust said that Mr G's health problems were not caused by the vitamin D the specialist registrar had prescribed.
Mr G was dissatisfied with this and came to us in summer 2014.
What we found
We partly upheld this complaint. In summer 2012, trust staff prescribed Mr G a significantly higher dose of vitamin D over a shorter period of time than would normally be recommended for the treatment of vitamin D deficiency. Even though Mr G stopped taking the vitamin D after approximately two weeks, and so did not complete the full dose prescribed, the amount of vitamin D he took during this period was higher than would normally be expected.
However, it was unlikely that the dosage of vitamin D in Mr G's case caused any form of toxicity that would have contributed to or caused his subsequent physical and mental health symptoms.
While Mr G claimed that a later course of vitamin D prescribed to him was done so on the advice of the specialist registrar, there was no evidence that the specialist registrar had recommended or prescribed any further prescription of vitamin D that Mr G may have taken.
Barts Health NHS Trust
Greater London
Did not apologise properly or do enough to put things right
Not applicable