Calcium 600 With Vitamin D3 (calcium carbonate/cholecalciferol (vitamin D3))

Dosage of the oral calcium supplements is usually expressed in grams or mg of elemental calcium and depends on the requirements of the individual patient. Dosage of parenteral calcium replacements is usually expressed as mEq of calcium and depends on individual patient requirements. One mEq of elemental calcium is equivalent to 20 mg. See Table 1 for the approximate calcium content of the various calcium salts.

Table 1.

Calcium Salt Calcium Content calcium acetate 253 mg (12.7 mEq) per g calcium carbonate 400 mg (20 mEq) per g calcium chloride 270 mg (13.5 mEq) per g calcium citrate 211 mg (10.6 mEq) per g calcium gluceptate 82 mg (4.1 mEq) per g calcium gluconate 90 mg (4.5 mEq) per g calcium glycerophosphate 191 mg (9.6 mEq) per g calcium lactate 130 mg (6.5 mEq) per g calcium phosphate dibasic anhydrous 290 mg (14.5 mEq) per g calcium phosphate dibasic dihydrate 230 mg (11.5 mEq) per g calcium phosphate tribasic 400 mg (20 mEq) per g

Oral calcium supplements usually are administered in 3 or 4 divided doses daily. Optimum calcium absorption may require supplemental vitamin D in individuals with inadequate vitamin D intake, those with impaired renal activation of the vitamin, or those not receiving adequate exposure to sunlight.

Dietary intake of ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol varies among individual patients, and dietary intake should always be considered when calculating the appropriate dosage of vitamin D analogs. During therapy with vitamin D analogs, dosage depends on the nature and severity of the patient's hypocalcemia and must be individualized to maintain serum calcium concentrations of 9-10 mg/dL. In the management of hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, and familial hypophosphatemia, the range between therapeutic and toxic effects is narrow; however, hypercalcemia may occur at any time when therapeutic doses of vitamin D analogs are used, and careful monitoring is imperative. In the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism, dosage of vitamin D analogs should be individualized according to serum or plasma intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) concentrations and serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations.

During therapy with vitamin D analogs, patients should receive adequate amounts of calcium through management of diet or administration of calcium supplements; however, overdosage of calcium may lead to hypercalcemia. Dosage of vitamin D analogs should be decreased when symptoms improve and before biochemical normality or complete bone healing has occurred because requirements for vitamin D analogs often decrease after bone healing occurs. In patients who become bedridden (especially children), dosage reduction may occasionally be needed to avoid hypercalcemia.

The acetate, carbonate, citrate, gluconate, lactate, and phosphate salts of calcium are administered orally. It has been recommended that most oral calcium supplements be administered 1-1.5 hours after meals or with a demulcent (e.g., milk). However, calcium carbonate powder (i.e., CAL CARB-HD(R)) should generally be administered with meals, since the manufacturer recommends mixing the powder with food for administration. Calcium salts used to bind dietary phosphate in patients with end-stage renal disease should be administered with meals (e.g., 10-15 minutes before, or during, the meal).

Calcium chloride and calcium gluconate may be administered IV. Calcium chloride also may be administered by intraosseous (IO) injection+ in the setting of pediatric resuscitation; onset of action and systemic concentrations are comparable to those achieved with venous administration. Parenteral calcium salts may be administered in large volume IV infusion fluids.

IV calcium injections must be administered slowly at a rate not exceeding 0.7-1.8 mEq/minute, and the injection should be stopped if the patient complains of discomfort. Following IV injection, the patient should remain recumbent for a short time. Close monitoring of serum calcium concentrations is essential during IV administration of calcium. Calcium chloride should not be injected IM or into subcutaneous or perivascular tissue, since severe necrosis and sloughing may occur. Although other calcium salts may cause mild to severe local reactions, they are generally less irritating than calcium chloride. (See Cautions.) The fixed combination of calcium glycerophosphate and calcium lactate is injected IM. Although some manufacturers previously stated that calcium gluconate could be injected IM when IV administration was not possible, manufacturers of calcium gluconate currently state that the drug should not be injected IM or into subcutaneous tissue because of the potential for severe local reactions. In children, calcium salts should not be administered through scalp veins. Oral administration of calcium supplements or calcium-rich foods should replace parenteral calcium therapy as soon as possible.

The interaction of calcium and phosphate in parenteral nutrition solutions is a complex phenomenon; various factors have been identified as playing a role in the solubility or precipitation of a given combination. Calcium salts are conditionally compatible with phosphate in parenteral nutrition solutions; incompatibility is dependent on a solubility and concentration phenomenon and is not entirely predictable. Precipitation may occur during compounding or at some time after compounding is completed. Specialized references should be consulted for specific compatibility information.

Vitamin D analogs are usually administered orally; however, calcitriol, doxercalciferol, and paricalcitol may be given by IV injection. Ergocalciferol may be given by IM injection; however, a suitable formulation of the drug for IM injection no longer is commercially available in the US.

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There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication interactions for this drug.

There are no severe interactions for this drug.

There are no moderate interactions for this drug.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication contraindications for this drug.

There are no severe contraindications for this drug.

There are no moderate contraindications for this drug.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no severe adverse reactions for this drug.

There are no less severe adverse reactions for this drug.

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A characteristic physiognomy, possibly with aortic valvular stenosis, retinopathy, and mental and/or physical retardation, has occurred following prolonged hypercalcemia in infants and in neonates of mothers with hypercalcemia during pregnancy. Hypercalcemia during pregnancy may also lead to suppression of PTH concentrations in the neonate resulting in hypocalcemia, tetany, and seizures. Safe use of calcifediol, calcitriol, dihydrotachysterol (no longer commercially available in the US), paricalcitol, or ergocalciferol during pregnancy has not been established; however, the risks to the mother and fetus from untreated hypoparathyroidism or hypophosphatemia may be greater than those resulting from administration of vitamin D analogs.

Safe use of calcifediol, calcitriol, dihydrotachysterol, doxercalciferol, paricalcitol, or ergocalciferol during lactation has not been established; however, the risks to the mother and fetus from untreated hypoparathyroidism or hypophosphatemia may be greater than those resulting from administration of vitamin D analogs. Large doses of vitamin D analogs should not be administered to nursing women.

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