Calcium Chloride (calcium chloride)

Dosage of the oral calcium supplements is usually expressed in grams or mg of elemental calcium and depends on the requirements of the individual patient. Dosage of parenteral calcium replacements is usually expressed as mEq of calcium and depends on individual patient requirements. One mEq of elemental calcium is equivalent to 20 mg. See Table 1 for the approximate calcium content of the various calcium salts.

Table 1.

Calcium Salt Calcium Content calcium acetate 253 mg (12.7 mEq) per g calcium carbonate 400 mg (20 mEq) per g calcium chloride 270 mg (13.5 mEq) per g calcium citrate 211 mg (10.6 mEq) per g calcium gluceptate 82 mg (4.1 mEq) per g calcium gluconate 90 mg (4.5 mEq) per g calcium glycerophosphate 191 mg (9.6 mEq) per g calcium lactate 130 mg (6.5 mEq) per g calcium phosphate dibasic anhydrous 290 mg (14.5 mEq) per g calcium phosphate dibasic dihydrate 230 mg (11.5 mEq) per g calcium phosphate tribasic 400 mg (20 mEq) per g

Oral calcium supplements usually are administered in 3 or 4 divided doses daily. Optimum calcium absorption may require supplemental vitamin D in individuals with inadequate vitamin D intake, those with impaired renal activation of the vitamin, or those not receiving adequate exposure to sunlight.

The acetate, carbonate, citrate, gluconate, lactate, and phosphate salts of calcium are administered orally. It has been recommended that most oral calcium supplements be administered 1-1.5 hours after meals or with a demulcent (e.g., milk). However, calcium carbonate powder (i.e., CAL CARB-HD(R)) should generally be administered with meals, since the manufacturer recommends mixing the powder with food for administration. Calcium salts used to bind dietary phosphate in patients with end-stage renal disease should be administered with meals (e.g., 10-15 minutes before, or during, the meal).

Calcium chloride and calcium gluconate may be administered IV. Calcium chloride also may be administered by intraosseous (IO) injection+ in the setting of pediatric resuscitation; onset of action and systemic concentrations are comparable to those achieved with venous administration. Parenteral calcium salts may be administered in large volume IV infusion fluids.

IV calcium injections must be administered slowly at a rate not exceeding 0.7-1.8 mEq/minute, and the injection should be stopped if the patient complains of discomfort. Following IV injection, the patient should remain recumbent for a short time. Close monitoring of serum calcium concentrations is essential during IV administration of calcium. Calcium chloride should not be injected IM or into subcutaneous or perivascular tissue, since severe necrosis and sloughing may occur. Although other calcium salts may cause mild to severe local reactions, they are generally less irritating than calcium chloride. (See Cautions.) The fixed combination of calcium glycerophosphate and calcium lactate is injected IM. Although some manufacturers previously stated that calcium gluconate could be injected IM when IV administration was not possible, manufacturers of calcium gluconate currently state that the drug should not be injected IM or into subcutaneous tissue because of the potential for severe local reactions. In children, calcium salts should not be administered through scalp veins. Oral administration of calcium supplements or calcium-rich foods should replace parenteral calcium therapy as soon as possible.

The interaction of calcium and phosphate in parenteral nutrition solutions is a complex phenomenon; various factors have been identified as playing a role in the solubility or precipitation of a given combination. Calcium salts are conditionally compatible with phosphate in parenteral nutrition solutions; incompatibility is dependent on a solubility and concentration phenomenon and is not entirely predictable. Precipitation may occur during compounding or at some time after compounding is completed. Specialized references should be consulted for specific compatibility information.

No dosing information is available for this tab.

No dosing information is available for this tab.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication interactions for this drug.

Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

Intravenous Calcium Products/Digitalis Glycosides

SEVERITY LEVEL: 2-Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: The mechanism of action of digitalis glycosides involves its ability to cause an increase in excitation-contraction coupling mediated through the effects of calcium. Excitable tissues in the heart experience inhibition of sodium/potassium ATPase (the membrane "sodium pump") by digitalis glycosides and so attain relatively higher intracellular sodium and lower potassium concentrations. Higher intracellular sodium concentrations facilitate exchange of extracellular calcium ions and the inward and internal flux of calcium results in modified transmembrane potentials and stronger contractions of cardiac muscle. Elevated extracellular concentrations of calcium after parenteral calcium salts further facilitate these inward calcium fluxes.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Rapid administration of calcium via the intravenous route may result in digitalis toxicity, including arrhythmias.(1)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Low body weight, advanced age, impaired renal function, hypokalemia, hypercalcemia, and/or hypomagnesemia may increase the risk of digoxin toxicity.

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: In patients maintain on a digitalis glycosides, administer intravenous calcium slowly and with caution. If cardiac toxicity develops, supportive measures without additional antiarrhythmics may be sufficient.

DISCUSSION: Effects of digitalis glycosides on the heart are increased by elevated extracellular concentrations of ionic calcium. Intravenous administration of calcium salts during digitalis therapy may result in altered cardiac electrophysiologic activity such as tachycardia or arrhythmias. Oral calcium carbonate has not been shown to affect the bioavailability of oral digitalis.

Intravenous Calcium Products/Intravenous Ceftriaxone

SEVERITY LEVEL: 2-Severe Interaction: Action is required to reduce the risk of severe adverse interaction.

MECHANISM OF ACTION: Intravenous ceftriaxone and intravenous calcium may form an insoluble precipitate if administered too closely together.

CLINICAL EFFECTS: Intravenous administration of calcium-containing products with intravenous ceftriaxone may have serious risks in all patients, especially in the neonate population. NEONATES: Intravenous administration of calcium-containing products within 48(1-2) to 120(3) hours of intravenous administration of ceftriaxone may result in damage to the lungs and/or kidneys in neonates. Fatalities in neonates have been reported.(1-7) OLDER CHILDREN and ADULTS: Sequential administration requires proper line flushing. Use within 48 hours may result in the formation of kidney stones in older children(5) and the formation of "sludge" in the gallbladder.(2) Simultaneous administration in patients older than 28 days may result in the formation of an insoluble ceftriaxone-calcium precipitate.(1-7)

PREDISPOSING FACTORS: Neonates, both preterm and term, may be a greatest risk of death from this interaction.(1-4) Young age may predispose patients to formation of ceftriaxone-calcium precipitates in the kidney.(5) High doses of ceftriaxone may also increase the risk of precipitates.(6)

PATIENT MANAGEMENT: The US manufacturer of ceftriaxone, Health Canada, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) state that the concomitant use of ceftriaxone and intravenous calcium-containing products is contraindicated in neonates less than or equal to 28 days of age. Ceftriaxone should not be used in neonates less than or equal to 28 days of age if they are receiving or are expected to receive calcium-containing intravenous products.(2,3,7) The US manufacturer of ceftriaxone, Health Canada, and the US FDA state that in patients older than 28 days of age, ceftriaxone and calcium-containing products may be administered sequentially, provided the infusion lines are thoroughly flushed between infusions with a compatible fluid.(2,3,7) The US manufacturer of ceftriaxone, Health Canada, and the US FDA state that ceftriaxone must not be administered simultaneously with intravenous calcium-containing solutions via a Y-site in any age group.(2,3,7)

DISCUSSION: Isolated reports of neonatal (both term and preterm infants) deaths have been associated with ceftriaxone-calcium precipitates in the lungs and kidneys. A total of 7 cases have been reported to the FDA, resulting in 5 deaths. All 5 deaths were in neonates of 3 weeks or less in age. Six of the 7 patients received calcium gluconate, 1 received calcium via hyperalimentation.(6) In some cases, ceftriaxone and the calcium product were administered by different routes,(1) lines,(2) and/or at different times.(1,2) Reports of a ceftriaxone-calcium salt precipitate in the gall-bladder have also been reported.(2) In in vitro studies in adult and neonatal plasma, ceftriaxone recovery was examined with ceftriaxone concentrations up to 1 mM (in excess of concentrations seen with 2 g ceftriaxone infused over 30 minutes) and calcium concentrations up to 12 mM (48 mg/dL). Ceftriaxone recovery was reduced with calcium concentrations of 6 mM (24 mg/dL) in adult plasma and 4 mM (16 mg/dL) in neonatal plasma. This may indicate ceftriaxone-calcium precipitation formation.(2,7) There have been no reports associated with concurrent use of oral calcium products and the US manufacturer of ceftriaxone states that there is no risk with oral calcium products or use of intramuscular ceftriaxone.(4)

There are no moderate interactions for this drug.

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

There are no contraindication contraindications for this drug.

• Kidney disease with reduction in glomerular filtration rate (GFr)
• Sarcoidosis

• Acute respiratory failure
• Cor pulmonale
• Respiratory acidosis

There is no enhanced messaging for this drug.

More Frequent

• Hypotension

Rare or Very Rare

• Bradycardia
• Calcinosis cutis
• Cardiac arrest
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Extravasation injury
• Hypercalcemia
• Tissue necrosis

More Frequent

• Flushing
• Hyperhidrosis
• Nausea
• Paresthesia
• Vomiting

Less Frequent

• Injection site inflammation

Rare or Very Rare

• Dysgeusia
• Fatigue
• Headache disorder
• Irritability
• Polydipsia
• Syncope
• Vasodilation of blood vessels
• Xerostomia

No enhanced messaging available.

No enhanced messaging available.

No enhanced messaging available.

No enhanced messaging available.

No enhanced messaging available.