Gemcal DS Capsule 15's

Gemcal DS Capsule 15's belongs to the class of 'dietary supplements, primarily used to treat low blood calcium levels. Gemcal DS Capsule 15's effectively treats various conditions caused by low calcium levels in the body, such as osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones), osteomalacia/rickets (weak bones), hypoparathyroidism (low levels of parathyroid hormone), and latent tetany (a muscle disease with low blood calcium levels). Gemcal DS Capsule 15's can also be given to pregnant, nursing, and postmenopausal women to ensure that they are getting enough calcium.

Gemcal DS Capsule 15's consists of three medicines, namely: Calcium (mineral), Calcitriol (Vitamin D3), and Menaquinone (Vitamin K2). Calcium is a mineral that is used to prevent or treat a calcium deficiency. It provides essential nutrients to maintain bone formation and maintenance. Calcitriol is a synthetic version of Vitamin D3 and treats calcium deficiency with hypoparathyroidism (the parathyroid glands' decreased activity) and metabolic bone diseases in people with chronic kidney failure. It raises Vitamin D levels and thereby increases calcium levels in the blood. This helps in improving the absorption rate of calcium from the intestine. Menaquinone is also known as Vitamin K2. Vitamin K2 helps to maintain bone density by promoting calcium transport from the bloodstream into the bone. Calcium-regulating proteins also require menaquinone in the arteries.

Your doctor will decide the dosage based on your medical condition. In some cases, Gemcal DS Capsule 15's can cause side effects like constipation or stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, mood changes, weakness, tiredness, fast or pounding heartbeat, bone/muscle pain, and headache. Most of these side effects of Gemcal DS Capsule 15's do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time. However, if these side effects persist longer, please consult your doctor.

If you are known to be allergic to Gemcal DS Capsule 15's or its inactive components, please inform your doctor. Please tell your doctor if you have hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), hypervitaminosis D (high vitamin D levels), and malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food). Brief your medical history if you have any heart/kidney/liver/blood vessel diseases, and kidney stones before starting Gemcal DS Capsule 15's. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before taking Gemcal DS Capsule 15's. Higher doses of Vitamin D than the recommended daily dose should be used in pregnant women only when advised by the doctor. Gemcal DS Capsule 15's may pass into the breast milk; hence breastfeeding mothers need to seek medical advice before starting Gemcal DS Capsule 15's.

Gemcal DS Capsule 15's is used to treat low blood calcium levels and various associated conditions caused by low calcium levels in the body, such as osteoporosis (weak and brittle bones), osteomalacia/rickets (weak bones), hypoparathyroidism (low levels of parathyroid hormone), and tetany (a muscle disease with low blood calcium levels). Gemcal DS Capsule 15's consists of Calcium (mineral), Calcitriol (Vitamin D3), and Menaquinone (Vitamin K2). Calcium is a mineral and prevents or treats calcium deficiency. It helps to maintain bone and teeth health. Calcitriol, a synthetic form of Vitamin D3, treats calcium deficiency with hypoparathyroidism (the parathyroid glands' decreased activity) and metabolic bone diseases in people with chronic kidney failure. Menaquinone, also known as Vitamin K2, helps maintain bone density by promoting calcium transport from the bloodstream into the bone. Calcium-regulating proteins also require it in the arteries.

• Constipation or stomach upset
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Mood changes
• Weakness, tiredness
• Fast or pounding heartbeat
• Bone/muscle pain
• Headache

Let your doctor know if you are allergic to Gemcal DS Capsule 15's or its inactive components. Brief your medical history if you have any heart/kidney/liver/blood vessel diseases, kidney stones, sarcoidosis (growth of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body), Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel disease), Whipple's disease (bacterial infection affecting joints and digestive system), achlorhydria (little or no stomach acid), low levels of bile, and phosphate imbalance. Chewable tablets of Gemcal DS Capsule 15's contain sugar or aspartame; hence caution should be taken to have diabetes and phenylketonuria (increased levels of an amino acid called phenylalanine). Calcitriol in higher doses may harm the foetus. Higher doses of Vitamin D than the recommended daily dose should be used in pregnant women only when advised by the doctor. Gemcal DS Capsule 15's may pass into the breast milk, hence consult your doctor before taking Gemcal DS Capsule 15's if you are a breastfeeding mother.

Drug-Drug Interaction: Gemcal DS Capsule 15's may interact with central nervous system stimulants (dextroamphetamine), anti-depressants (duloxetine), minerals (ferrous sulfate), anti-ulcer drugs (ranitidine), synthetic thyroid hormone (levothyroxine), painkillers (aspirin), calcium supplements (ergocalciferol), anti-clotting drugs (warfarin), drugs treating high cholesterol levels (cholestyramine), and drugs that treat high blood phosphorus levels (sevelamer). Some medications like tetracycline antibiotics (doxycycline), quinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin), drugs treating bone loss (alendronate), weight-loss drugs (orlistat), and anti-cancer drugs (estramustine) may affect the calcium absorption into the body. 

Drug-Food Interaction: Avoid or reduce the intake of caffeine, soft drinks and alcohol that inhibit calcium absorption.

Drug-Disease Interaction: Gemcal DS Capsule 15's is not recommended if you have hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), hypervitaminosis D (high vitamin D levels), and malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food).

• DEXTROAMPHETAMINE
• DULOXETINE
• FERROUS SULPHATE
• RANITIDINE
• LEVOTHYROXINE
• ASPIRIN
• ERGOCALCIFEROL
• WARFARIN
• CHOLESTYRAMINE
• SEVELAMER
• DOXYCYCLINE
• CIPROFLOXACIN
• ALENDRONATE SODIUM
• ORLISTAT
• ESTRAMUSTINE

• Include dairy products like milk, yoghurt, cheese or milk-based custard in your diet.
• Eat daily a serving of broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, spinach and other green leafy vegetables.
• Snack on calcium-rich nuts like Brazil nuts or almonds. 
• Sprinkle sesame seeds over your food, vegetables and salads. Sesame seeds are high in calcium.
• Avoid or reduce the intake of caffeine, soft drinks and alcohol that inhibit calcium absorption.
• Replace the meat with tofu or tempeh for extra calcium in your food.

• Low phosphate diet is recommended to control serum phosphorus levels in patients undergoing dialysis. 
• Clinical monitoring of serum electrolyte concentrations and cardiac function is recommended.

Osteoporosis: It is a bone disease that makes the bones weak and brittle by decreasing bone density. It is known as a silent disease since it is not revealed until a bone is broken easily or fractured. Symptoms include backache, easily breaking bones, and hunched or stooped posture. Thinning of bones can be prevented by treating with medications, calcium supplements, a calcium-rich diet, and lifestyle changes.

Osteomalacia/Rickets: A bone disease caused by softening and weakening bones in children due to inadequate vitamin D.

Tetany: A disease condition due to low levels of calcium (hypocalcaemia) in the body that causes cramps and spasms in the hands, feet, and larynx (voice box. 

Hypoparathyroidism: It is a disease characterized by low levels of parathyroid hormone. This can cause low calcium levels and trigger tetany.