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.

Uses

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

Warnings

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

Side Effects

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

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

Overdose & Brands

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