Fem-Cal Citrate (calcium citrate/magnesium ox/vit D2/manganese/boron/silica)

Calcium Oral Tablet

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data

Overview

Ergocalciferol is a vitamin D analog.

Calcium salts are used as a source of calcium, an essential nutrient cation.

Calcium salts are used as a source of calcium cation for the treatment or prevention of calcium depletion in patients in whom dietary measures are inadequate. Conditions that may be associated with calcium deficiency include hypoparathyroidism, achlorhydria, chronic diarrhea, vitamin D deficiency, steatorrhea, sprue, pregnancy and lactation, menopause, pancreatitis, renal failure, alkalosis, and hyperphosphatemia. Administration of certain drugs (e.g., some diuretics, anticonvulsants) may sometimes result in hypocalcemia which may warrant calcium replacement therapy.

Calcium should be administered in long-term electrolyte replacement regimens and is also recommended for the routine prophylaxis of hypocalcemia during transfusions with citrated blood. Administration of calcium salts should not preclude the use of other measures intended to correct the underlying cause of calcium depletion.

Generic name: calcium citrate/magnesium ox/vit D2/manganese/boron/silica
Drug class: Calcium
Therapeutic class: Electrolyte Balance-Nutritional Products

Reference product & biosimilars

No reference, biosimilar or interchangeable associated with this drug.

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Indications

No indications are available for this drug.

Dosing

Each mg of ergocalciferol is equivalent to 40,000 USP units; each mcg of the drug is equivalent to 40 USP units.

Dosage is expressed by weight (mg, mcg) or in terms of units.

During therapy with ergocalciferol, dosage depends on the nature and severity of the patient's hypocalcemia and must be individualized to maintain serum calcium concentrations of 9-10 mg/dL. In patients with familial hypophosphatemia (vitamin D-resistant rickets) or hypoparathyroidism, determinations of serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations should be made every 2 weeks or more frequently as needed. In these patients, the manufacturers of ergocalciferol recommend that radiographic examination of the bones be performed every month until the condition stabilizes or is corrected; however, some clinicians believe that this is unnecessary.

The manufacturers state that patients with malabsorption syndrome should not receive oral ergocalciferol.

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.

Drug interactions

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Contraindications

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Adverse reactions

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Precautions

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ICD codes

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Last reviewed · Source: First Databank (FDB) drug data