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What is the most important information I should know about calcitriol?

Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have high levels of calcium or vitamin D in your blood.

Drink plenty of fluids unless your doctor has told you to restrict your fluid intake.

Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. Becoming dehydrated while taking calcitriol can lead to an electrolyte imbalance.

Do not take other vitamin or mineral supplements unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid using antacids without your doctor’s advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Antacids contain different minerals and some types can cause serious side effects if you take them together with calcitriol.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Calcitriol is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include a special diet. It is very important to follow the diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. You should become very familiar with the list of foods you must eat or avoid to help control your condition.

Warning

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed

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What is calcitriol?

Calcitriol is vitamin D3. Vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium from the stomach and for the functioning of calcium in the body.

Calcitriol is used to treat calcium deficiency with hypoparathyroidism (decreased functioning of the parathyroid glands) and metabolic bone disease in people with chronic kidney failure.

Calcitriol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.


Precautions

Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have:

  • high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia); or
  • high levels of vitamin D in your body (hypervitaminosis D).

Before taking calcitriol, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. You may not be able to take calcitriol, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

Calcitriol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not take other vitamin or mineral supplements unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid using antacids without your doctor’s advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Antacids contain different minerals and some types can cause serious side effects if you take them together with calcitriol.

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Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include increased thirst or urination, uneven heart rate, weakness, behavior changes, bone pain, nausea, weight loss, decreased appetite, constipation, or a metallic taste in the mouth.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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Side-effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking calcitriol and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • increased thirst,
  • urinating more than usual;
  • pain in your lower back;
  • fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;
  • weakness, drowsiness, changes in behavior;
  • bone pain, muscle weakness, loss of height;
  • nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss;
  • slow growth (in a child taking calcitriol); or
  • dry mouth or a metallic taste.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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Interactions

Before taking calcitriol, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:

  • digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
  • cholestyramine (Questran, Prevalite);
  • sevelamer (Renagel);
  • ketoconazole (Nizoral);
  • lanthanum (Fosrenol);
  • seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Solfoton);
  • steroids such as prednisone, fluticasone (Advair), mometasone (Asmanex, Nasonex), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) and others; or
  • a (water pill) diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, Microzide,Oretic), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), and others.

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with calcitriol. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04

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