Calcitriol

Calcitriol is a form of vitamin D that is used to treat and prevent low levels of calcium in the blood of patients whose kidneys or parathyroid glands (glands in the neck that release natural substances to control the amount of calcium in the blood) are not working normally. Low blood levels of calcium may cause bone disease. Calcitriol is in a class of medications called vitamins. It works by helping the body to use more of the calcium found in foods or supplements.

Calcitriol comes as a capsule and a solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It usually is taken once a day or once every other day in the morning with or without food. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take calcitriol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of calcitriol and may gradually increase your dose, not more than once every 2-8 weeks. Calcitriol may help to control your condition but will not cure it. Continue to take calcitriol even if you feel well. Do not stop taking calcitriol without talking to your doctor.

<p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p></p> <p>Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

<ul>
<li>
weakness</li>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
sluggishness</li>
<li>
upset stomach</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
dry mouth</li>
<li>
constipation</li>
<li>
muscle pain</li>
<li>
bone pain</li>
<li>
metallic taste in mouth</li>
<li>
increased thirst</li>
<li>
decreased appetite</li>
<li>
weight loss</li>
<li>
increased urination (especially at night)</li>
<li>
difficult or painful urination</li>
<li>
changes in vision</li>
<li>
lack of interest in the things around you</li>
<li>
hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)</li>
<li>
fever or chills</li>
<li>
stomach pain</li>
<li>
pale, fatty stools</li>
<li>
yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
<li>
runny nose</li>
<li>
decreased sexual desire</li>
<li>
irregular heartbeat</li>
<li>
rash</li>
<li>
hives</li>
<li>
itching</li>
<li>
difficulty breathing or swallowing</li></ul>If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online [at <a href='http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch'>http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch</a>] or by phone [1-800-332-1088].</p>

Before taking calcitriol, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to calcitriol, other forms of vitamin D such as calcifediol (Calderol), dihydrotachysterol (Hytakerol, DHT), doxercalciferol (Hectorol), ergocalciferol (Drisdol, Calciferol), paricalcitol (Zemplar) or any other medications or vitamins. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking, especially antacids; calcium supplements; cholestyramine (Questran); colestipol (Colestid); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics ('water pills') ketoconazole (Nizoral);lanthanum (Fosrenol); laxatives; oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); other forms of vitamin D; phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); phenytoin (Dilantin);and sevelamer (Renagel). Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking ergocalciferol (Drisdol, Calciferol) or have stopped taking it in the past few months.Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects. you should know that many nonprescription medications are not safe to take with calcitriol. Ask your doctor before you take any nonprescription medications while you are taking calcitriol. tell your doctor if you have recently had surgery or are unable to move around for any reason and if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking calcitriol.

In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, call local emergency services at 911. Symptoms of overdose may include:

<ul>
<li>
weakness</li>
<li>
headache</li>
<li>
sluggishness</li>
<li>
upset stomach</li>
<li>
vomiting</li>
<li>
dry mouth</li>
<li>
constipation</li>
<li>
muscle pain</li>
<li>
bone pain</li>
<li>
metallic taste in mouth</li>
<li>
increased thirst</li>
<li>
decreased appetite</li>
<li>
weight loss</li>
<li>
increased urination (especially at night)</li>
<li>
difficult or painful urination</li>
<li>
changes in vision</li>
<li>
lack of interest in the things around you</li>
<li>
hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist) </li>
<li>
fever or chills</li>
<li>
stomach pain</li>
<li>
pale, fatty stools</li>
<li>
yellowing of the skin or eyes</li>
<li>
runny nose</li>
<li>
decreased sexual desire</li>
<li>
irregular heartbeat</li></ul>