Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol
About
Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol belongs to the class of ‘Multi-minerals’ primarily used to treat low blood calcium levels. Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol 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). Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol can also be given to pregnant, nursing, and postmenopausal women to ensure that they are getting enough calcium.
Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol consists of two medicines, namely: Calcium carbonate(mineral) and Cholecalciferol(Vitamin D3). Calcium carbonate is a mineral that is used to prevent or treat a calcium deficiency. It provides essential nutrients to maintain bone formation and maintenance. Cholecalciferol(Vitamin D3) is used in the absorption of calcium in the blood. Which helps in the processing of essential minerals in the body like Calcium and Phosphorus. Lack of Vitamin D3 results in bone weakening, bone pain, and skin diseases.
Take Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol as prescribed by your doctor. You are advised to take Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol for as long as your doctor has prescribed it for you depending on your medical condition. In some cases, Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol 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 Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol 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 Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol or its inactive components, please inform your doctor. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before taking Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol. Higher doses of Vitamin D than the recommended daily dose should be used in pregnant women only when advised by the doctor. Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol may pass into the breast milk, hence breastfeeding mothers need to seek medical advice before starting Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol. Do not take Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol if you have hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), hypervitaminosis D (high vitamin D levels), and malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food).
Uses of Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol
Medicinal Benefits
Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol is a combination of three drugs, namely; Calcium carbonate(mineral), Cholecalciferol(Vitamin D3) 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). Calcium carbonate is a mineral and prevents or treats calcium deficiency. It helps to maintain bone and teeth health. Cholecalciferol(Vitamin D3) treats calcium deficiency with hypoparathyroidism (the parathyroid glands' decreased activity) and metabolic bone diseases in people with chronic kidney failure.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Mood changes
- Tiredness/ weakness
- Bone/muscle pain
- Fast or pounding heartbeat
In-Depth Precautions and Warning
Drug Warnings
If you are known to be allergic to Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol. Higher doses of Vitamin D than the recommended daily dose should be used in pregnant women only when advised by the doctor. Cholecalciferol in higher doses may harm the foetus. Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol may pass into the breast milk, hence consult your doctor before taking Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol if you are a breastfeeding mother. Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol should be used with caution in children and only if prescribed by a doctor. Cholecalciferol in Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol can affect growth in children. Inform your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol. Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol is not recommended if you have hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), metastatic calcification (extra deposits of calcium in the body), hypervitaminosis D (high vitamin D levels), and malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food). Inform your doctor before taking Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol 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. Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol contains sugar or sorbitol; hence caution should be taken to have an intolerance to sugars, diabetes, and phenylketonuria (increased levels of an amino acid called phenylalanine).
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol may interact with calcium supplements (ergocalciferol, calcitriol), drugs treating bone loss (alendronate), diuretics (bendroflumethiazide, chlortalidone, indapamide), a drug used to treat heart disease (digoxin), antacids (magnesium hydroxide), steroid medicines (hydrocortisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone), central nervous system stimulants (dextroamphetamine, amphetamine), anti-depressants (duloxetine), minerals (ferrous sulfate), anti-ulcer drugs (ranitidine), synthetic thyroid hormone (levothyroxine), painkillers (aspirin), anti-clotting drugs (anisindione, dicumarol, warfarin), drugs treating high cholesterol levels (cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol), and drugs that treat high blood phosphorus levels (sevelamer), antibiotics (tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline), quinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin), weight-loss drugs (orlistat), and anti-cancer medication (estramustine).
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid or reduce the intake of caffeine, soft drinks, and alcohol that inhibit calcium absorption.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol is contraindicated in hypercalcemia (high calcium level in blood), hypervitaminosis D (high vitamin D level in the body), Vitamin D toxicity, malabsorption syndrome, heart/kidney/liver/blood vessel diseases, kidney stones, sarcoidosis (growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells (granulomas) in any part of your body), Crohn's disease, Whipple's disease (a bacterial infection that most often affects joints and digestive system), achlorhydria (absence of stomach acid), low levels of bile, and phosphate imbalance.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionDrinking alcohol can affect calcium absorption; hence it is advised to limit the alcohol intake while using Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol.
Pregnancy
cautionDuring pregnancy, use higher doses of Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol than the daily dietary allowance only when advised by the doctor. Calcitriol in higher doses may harm the foetus. Your doctor will weigh the potential risks and benefits before prescribing Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol.
Breast Feeding
cautionConsult your doctor before taking Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol if you are breastfeeding. Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol can pass into the breast milk. If Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol is used during breastfeeding, please monitor the mother and the infant's serum calcium levels.
Driving
cautionNo interaction found/established
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before taking Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol. Hepatic impairment/liver disease can alter the metabolic and therapeutic activity of certain Vitamin D forms.
Kidney
cautionIt is advised to seek doctor advice before starting Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol if you have kidney diseases like kidney stones or undergoing dialysis. Calcitriol in Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol increases inorganic phosphate levels in serum; hence caution should be taken in patients undergoing dialysis to maintain adequate phosphorus levels and avoid ectopic calcification (calcium deposition).
Children
cautionCalcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol should be used with caution in children and only if prescribed by a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- 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 for extra calcium in your food.
Special Advise
- Clinical monitoring of serum electrolyte concentrations and cardiac function is recommended.
- A low phosphate diet is recommended to control serum phosphorus levels in patients undergoing dialysis.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Osteoporosis: It is a bone disease that weakens and brittle bones by decreasing bone density. As bones become less dense, they weaken and are more likely to break. Breaking a bone is a serious complication of osteoporosis, especially with older patients. Women are much more likely to develop osteoporosis than are men. Sign and symptoms include back pain caused by a fractured or collapsed vertebra, loss of height over time, a stooped posture, a bone that breaks much more easily than expected.
Osteomalacia/Rickets: A bone disease caused by softening and weakening bones in children due to inadequate vitamin D. Adults can experience a similar condition known as osteomalacia. It causes bone pain, poor growth, and soft, weak bones that can lead to bone deformities.
Tetany: A disease condition due to low levels of calcium (hypocalcemia) in the body 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.
FAQs
Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol is a nutritional supplement that can be taken by people who have low levels of calcium in their blood and it keep the bones healthy and strong and is even effective in Chronic arthritis and Osteoporosis.
Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol is used to increase low levels of calcium in the body. Hence it is not advised to use Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol during hypercalcemia, since it causes the overdose of calcium leading to kidney stones and other effects.
Do not use Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol if you are allergic to Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol or any other ingredients in it. Calcium Carbonate+cholecalciferol is not recommended in hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), metastatic calcification (extra deposits of calcium in the body), hypervitaminosis D (high vitamin D levels), and malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food).
