ALFACALCIDOL

Alfacalcidol is a drug that is known as the precursor of the active hormone vitamin D or calcitriol. It often requires 25-hydroxylation processing in the liver so that it can be converted to calcitriol.

Alfacalcidol is used to treat low blood calcium levels (hypocalcemia), hypoparathyroidism, low blood phosphate levels (hypophosphataemia), renal osteodystrophy, rickets or osteomalacia.

Alfacalcidol should not be used in people with the following conditions:

  • Increased calcium blood levels (Hypercalcaemia)
  • Metastatic/cancer calcification
  • Increased phosphate levels in the blood (hyperphosphataemia, except when occurring with hypoparathyroidism)
  • Increased levels of magnesium in the blood (hypermagnesaemia)
  • Hypersensitivity to injections containing propylene glycol

Alfacalcidol may have the following side effects:

  • Anorexia
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhoea
  • Lassitude
  • Polyuria
  • Sweating
  • Headache
  • Thirst
  • Vertigo
  • Pruritus
  • Rash
  • Urticaria
  • Hypercalcaemia
  • Hypercalciuria
  • Ectopic calcification
  • In case of renal impairment, hyperphosphataemia
  • In hypercalcaemic dialysis patients, possibility of calcium influx from the dialysate

Precautions

Take extra cautions in people with the following conditions:

  • Pregnancy
  • Lactation
  • Renal impairment
  • Infants
  • Elderly
  • Kidney failure
  • History of kidney stones

 

Interactions

Alfacalcidol may interact with the following medicines:

  • Thiazides
  • Antiepileptics e.g. carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin and primidone
  • Rifampicin
  • Isoniazid
  • Corticosteroids

Symptoms of overdosage include the following:

  • Anorexia
  • Lassitude
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhoea
  • Polyuria
  • Nocturia
  • Sweating
  • Headache
  • Thirst
  • Somnolence
  • Vertigo
  • Hypercalcaemia

If you think you may have overdosed, seek medical help immediately.

 

Available Brands:

  • Alfacalcinol
  • Alpha D3

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