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    Calcitriol

    Table of Contents > Drugs > Calcitriol     Print

    Pronunciation
    U.S. Brand Names
    Synonyms
    Generic Available
    Canadian Brand Names
    Use
    Use - Unlabeled/Investigational
    Pregnancy Risk Factor
    Lactation
    Contraindications
    Warnings/Precautions
    Adverse Reactions
    Overdosage/Toxicology
    Drug Interactions
    Stability
    Compatibility
    Mechanism of Action
    Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics
    Dosage
    Administration
    Monitoring Parameters
    Reference Range
    Test Interactions
    Dietary Considerations
    Patient Education
    Dental Health: Effects on Dental Treatment
    Dental Health: Vasoconstrictor/Local Anesthetic Precautions
    Mental Health: Effects on Mental Status
    Mental Health: Effects on Psychiatric Treatment
    Dosage Forms
    References
    International Brand Names

    Pronunciation

    (kal si TRYE ole)

    U.S. Brand Names

    Calcijex®; Rocaltrol®

    Synonyms

    1,25 Dihydroxycholecalciferol

    Generic Available

    Yes

    Canadian Brand Names

    Rocaltrol®

    Use

    Management of hypocalcemia in patients on chronic renal dialysis; management of secondary hyperparathyroidism in moderate-to-severe chronic renal failure; management of hypocalcemia in hypoparathyroidism and pseudohypoparathyroidism

    Use - Unlabeled/Investigational

    Decrease severity of psoriatic lesions in psoriatic vulgaris; vitamin D resistant rickets

    Pregnancy Risk Factor

    C (manufacturer); A/D (dose exceeding RDA recommendation) (expert analysis)

    Lactation

    Enters breast milk/not recommended

    Contraindications

    Hypercalcemia; vitamin D toxicity; abnormal sensitivity to the effects of vitamin D; pregnancy (dose exceeding RDA)

    Warnings/Precautions

    Adequate dietary (supplemental) calcium is necessary for clinical response to vitamin D. Monitor serum calcium and phosphate concentrations; avoid hypercalcemia; calcium-phosphate product (serum calcium times phosphorus) must not exceed 70. Immobilization or excessive dosage may increase risk of hypercalcemia and/or hypercalciuria. Maintain adequate hydration. Use caution in patients with malabsorption syndromes (efficacy may be limited and/or response may be unpredictable).

    Adverse Reactions

    >10%: Endocrine & metabolic: Hypercalcemia (33%)

    Frequency not defined:

    Cardiovascular: Cardiac arrhythmia, hyper-/hypotension

    Central nervous system: Headache, irritability, seizure (rare), somnolence, psychosis

    Dermatologic: Pruritus, erythema multiforme

    Endocrine & metabolic: Hypermagnesemia, hyperphosphatemia, polydipsia

    Gastrointestinal: Anorexia, constipation, metallic taste, nausea, pancreatitis, vomiting, xerostomia

    Hepatic: LFTs increased

    Neuromuscular & skeletal: Bone pain, myalgia, dystrophy, soft tissue calcification

    Ocular: Conjunctivitis, photophobia

    Renal: Polyuria

    Overdosage/Toxicology

    Toxicity rarely occurs from acute overdose. Symptoms of chronic overdose include hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria with weakness, altered mental status, GI upset, renal tubular injury, and occasionally cardiac arrhythmias. Following withdrawal of the drug, treatment consists of bed rest, liberal fluid intake, reduced calcium intake, and cathartic administration. Severe hypercalcemia requires I.V. hydration and forced diuresis. I.V. saline may increase excretion of calcium. Calcitonin, cholestyramine, prednisone, sodium EDTA, biphosphonates, and mithramycin have all been used successfully to treat the more resistant cases of vitamin D-induced hypercalcemia. Use of peritoneal dialysis against a calcium-free dialysate has been reported.

    Drug Interactions

    Induces CYP3A4 (weak)

    Cholestyramine, colestipol: May decrease absorption/effect of calcitriol.

    Corticosteroids: May decrease hypercalcemic effect of calcitriol.

    Digitalis: Risk of toxicity may be increased due to hypercalcemia from calcitriol. Monitor.

    Magnesium-containing antacids: Toxicity may be increased by calcitriol. Avoid concurrent use.

    Thiazide diuretics: May increase risk of hypercalcemia.

    Stability

    Store in tight, light-resistant container; calcitriol degrades upon prolonged exposure to light

    Compatibility

    Stable in D5W, NS, sterile water for injection

    Mechanism of Action

    Promotes absorption of calcium in the intestines and retention at the kidneys thereby increasing calcium levels in the serum; decreases excessive serum phosphatase levels, parathyroid hormone levels, and decreases bone resorption; increases renal tubule phosphate resorption

    Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics

    Onset of action: ~2-6 hours

    Duration: 3-5 days

    Absorption: Oral: Rapid

    Protein binding: 99.9%

    Metabolism: Primarily to 1,24,25-trihydroxycholecalciferol and 1,24,25-trihydroxy ergocalciferol

    Half-life elimination: 3-8 hours

    Excretion: Primarily feces; urine (4% to 6%)

    Dosage

    Individualize dosage to maintain calcium levels of 9-10 mg/dL

    Renal failure:

    Children:

    Oral: 0.25-2 mcg/day have been used (with hemodialysis); 0.014-0.041 mcg/kg/day (not receiving hemodialysis); increases should be made at 4- to 8-week intervals

    I.V.: 0.01-0.05 mcg/kg 3 times/week if undergoing hemodialysis

    Adults:

    Oral: 0.25 mcg/day or every other day (may require 0.5-1 mcg/day); increases should be made at 4- to 8-week intervals

    I.V.: 0.5 mcg/day 3 times/week (may require from 0.5-3 mcg/day given 3 times/week) if undergoing hemodialysis

    Hypoparathyroidism/pseudohypoparathyroidism: Oral (evaluate dosage at 2- to 4-week intervals):

    Children:

    <1 year: 0.04-0.08 mcg/kg once daily

    1-5 years: 0.25-0.75 mcg once daily

    Children >6 years and Adults: 0.5-2 mcg once daily

    Vitamin D-dependent rickets: Children and Adults: Oral: 1 mcg once daily

    Vitamin D-resistant rickets (familial hypophosphatemia): Children and Adults: Oral: Initial: 0.015-0.02 mcg/kg once daily; maintenance: 0.03-0.06 mcg/kg once daily; maximum dose: 2 mcg once daily

    Hypocalcemia in premature infants: Oral: 1 mcg once daily for 5 days

    Hypocalcemic tetany in premature infants: I.V.: 0.05 mcg/kg once daily for 5-12 days

    Elderly: No dosage recommendations, but start at the lower end of the dosage range

    Dosage adjustment for toxicity: Hypercalcemia: Adults:

    Dialysis or hypoparathyroidism: Discontinue calcitriol and calcium supplements; initiate low-calcium diet. In dialysis patients with persistent hypercalcemia, may dialyze against calcium-free dialysate.

    Predialysis:

    Discontinue or reduce calcium supplements.

    If taking calcitriol 0.5 mcg once daily, reduce to 0.25 mcg once daily.

    If taking calcitriol 0.25 mcg once daily, discontinue until serum calcium normalizes. Restart at 0.25 mcg every other day.

    Administration

    May be administered without regard to food. Give with meals to reduce GI problems. May be administered as a bolus dose I.V. through the catheter at the end of hemodialysis.

    Monitoring Parameters

    Monitor symptoms of hypercalcemia (weakness, fatigue, somnolence, headache, anorexia, dry mouth, metallic taste, nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, muscle pain, bone pain and irritability). If patient becomes hypercalcemic on therapy, check serum calcium daily until normalized, then twice weekly on new dose. If hypercalcemia persists in predialysis patient, monitor PTH.

    Reference Range

    Calcium (serum) 9-10 mg/dL (4.5-5 mEq/L) but do not include the I.V. dosages; phosphate: 2.5-5 mg/dL

    Test Interactions

    Increased calcium, cholesterol, magnesium, BUN, AST, ALT, calcium (S), cholesterol (S); decreased alkaline phosphatase

    Dietary Considerations

    May be taken without regard to food. Give with meals to reduce GI problems.

    Patient Education

    Take exact dose as prescribed; do not increase dose. Maintain recommended diet and calcium supplementation. Avoid taking magnesium-containing antacids. You may experience nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or metallic taste (small, frequent meals, frequent mouth care, chewing gum, or sucking lozenges may help); or hypotension (use caution when rising from sitting or lying position or when climbing stairs or bending over). Report chest pain or palpitations; acute headache; skin rash; change in vision or eye irritation; CNS changes; unusual weakness or fatigue; persistent nausea, vomiting, cramps, or diarrhea; or muscle or bone pain. Pregnancy/breast-feeding precautions: Inform prescriber if you are or intend to become pregnant. Breast-feeding is not recommended.

    Dental Health: Effects on Dental Treatment

    Key adverse event(s) related to dental treatment: Metallic taste and xerostomia (normal salivary flow resumes upon discontinuation).

    Dental Health: Vasoconstrictor/Local Anesthetic Precautions

    No information available to require special precautions

    Mental Health: Effects on Mental Status

    May cause sedation or irritability

    Mental Health: Effects on Psychiatric Treatment

    None reported

    Dosage Forms

    Capsule (Rocaltrol®): 0.25 mcg, 0.5 mcg [each strength contains coconut oil]

    Injection, solution: 1 mcg/mL (1 mL); 2 mcg/mL (2 mL)

    Calcijex®: 1 mcg/mL (1 mL)

    Solution, oral (Rocaltrol®): 1 mcg/mL (15 mL) [contains palm seed oil]

    References

    Letsou AP and Price LS, "Health Aging and Nutrition: An Overview,"Clin Geriatr Med, 1987, 3(2):253-60.

    Myrianthopoulos M, "Dietary Treatment of Hyperlipidemia in the Elderly,"Clin Geriatr Med, 1987, 3(2):343-59.

    Riggs BL and Melton LJ, "The Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis,"N Engl J Med, 1992, 327(9):620-7.

    International Brand Names

    Acuode® (CL); Alpha D!3® (RO); Altrical® (MX); Bocatriol® (AT, DE, DK); Calcijex® (AT, AU, BD, CH, CZ, ES, GB, HK, HR, HU, ID, IL, IT, LU, NL, NO, PL, RO, SE, SG, SI, TR); Calcitriol® (AR, CH, CO); Calcitriol KyraMed® (DE); Calcitriol-Nefro® (DE); Calcitriolo Teva® (IT); Calcitriol Purissimus® (AR); Decostriol® (DE); Dexiven® (AR); Difix® (IT); Hitrol® (ID); Kalcytriol® (PL); Kolkatriol® (ID); Lotravel® (AR); Osteo D® (SI); Osteotriol® (DE); Renatriol® (DE); Rexamat® (AR); Rocaltrol® (AT, AU, BD, BE, BR, CA, CH, CL, CZ, DE, DK, ES, FR, GB, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IT, JP, LU, MX, NL, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SE, SG, SI, TH, TR, YU, ZA); Roical® (SG); Rolsical® (IN); Silkis® (BE, CH, DE, FI, FR, GB, IE, NO, PL); Sitriol® (AU); Tirocal® (MX)

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