I was prescribed 50,000 iu of vit d weekly - levels at 23 - can i take 5,000 iu daily for a few months instead? i've heard reactions with high amts.

Some people do that: Some patients get prescribed 50,000 units a week for a month or two, to rapidly build up their bodily stores of vitamin D. The 50,000 unit tablet looks like a huge chewable old-style SweetTarts candy (the pediatric size is 14,000 units). However, one can take a smaller pill more often, or for a longer time. For example, taking 2,000 units 3 times a day for a week is 42,000 units per week.