Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D3) (cholecalciferol (vitamin D3))

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.

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.

No dosing information is available for this tab.

No dosing information is available for this tab.

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.

No enhanced messaging available.

No enhanced messaging available.

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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