Amendment to Prescription Drug List: Vitamin D
Posted On: February 24, 2021
On February 24, 2021 Health Canada amended the qualifier for Vitamin D on the Prescription Drug List to allow non-prescription status for products
- containing up to 62.5µg or 2,500 International Units (IU)/dosage form for oral use; or
- with a maximum recommended daily oral intake of 2,500 IU.
To align the rules governing drugs on the provincial levels, the National Association of Pharmacy Regulatory Authorities (NAPRA) today updated their Schedule I drug list.
As a result of both of these changes, a prescription will no longer be required for Vitamin D containing less than 62.5µg or 2,500 International Units (IU)/dosage form for oral use and any Naturopath with the knowledge, skill and judgement to do so, can recommend Vitamin D up to these amounts for their patients.
Amounts of Vitamin D above the 62.5µg or 2,500 International Units (IU)/dosage form for oral use will continue to require a prescription and a Naturopath must have met the Standard of Practice for Prescribing to perform this controlled act.
The College is working with the Ministry of Health to update the tables in the General Regulation for prescribing, dispensing, compounding and selling drugs to reflect this change; however, these changes are deemed to be in place at this time.
As a reminder whether issuing a prescription or recommending a publicly available substance Naturopaths are required to comply with the appropriate standards of practice.
For more information:
- Health Canada Notice of Intent to Amend the Prescription Drug List: Vitamin D
- NAPRA Vitamin D listing
- Standard of Practice for Recommending Non-Scheduled Substances
- Standard of Practice for Prescribing