Vitamin D and Related Compounds (Systemic)

Brand name(s): Calciferol

Proper Use of This Medicine

For use as a dietary supplement:

• Do not take more than the recommended daily amount . Vitamin D is stored in the body, and taking too much over a period of time can cause poisoning and even death.

If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

For individuals taking the oral liquid form of this dietary supplement:

• This preparation should be taken by mouth even though it comes in a dropper bottle.
• This dietary supplement may be dropped directly into the mouth or mixed with cereal, fruit juice, or other food.

While you are taking alfacalcidol, calcifediol, calcitriol, dihydrotachysterol, doxercalciferol or paricalcitol , your health care professional may want you to follow a special diet or take a calcium supplement. Be sure to follow instructions carefully. If you are already taking a calcium supplement or any medicine containing calcium, make sure your health care professional knows.

Dosing-

The dose of these vitamin D and related compounds will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your health care professional tells you to do so.

The number of milliliters (mL) of solution that you take, or the number of capsules or tablets you take, depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking the combination medicine.

For alfacalcidol
• To treat bone disease in kidney patients undergoing kidney dialysis:
  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
    • Adults and teenagers-At first, 1 microgram (mcg) a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed. However, most people will take not more than 3 mcg a day.
  • For oral dosage form (drops):
    • Adults and teenagers-At first, 1 microgram (mcg) a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed. However, most people will take not more than 3 mcg a day.
  • For oral dosage form (solution):
    • Adults and teenagers-At first, 1 mcg a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed. However, most people will take not more than 3 mcg a day.
  • For parenteral dosage form (injection):
    • Adults and teenagers-At first, 1 mcg a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed. However, most people will take not more than 12 mcg a week.
• To treat diseases in which calcium is not used properly by the body
  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
    • Adults and teenagers-At first, 0.25 microgram (mcg) a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed. However, most people will take not more than 1 mcg a day.
  • For oral dosage form (drops):
    • Adults and teenagers-At first, 0.25 microgram (mcg) a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed. However, most people will take not more than 1 mcg a day.
  • For oral dosage form (solution):
    • Adults and teenagers-At first, 0.25 mcg a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed. However, most people will take not more than 1 mcg a day.

For calcifediol
• To treat diseases in which calcium is not used properly by the body or to treat bone disease in kidney patients undergoing kidney dialysis:
  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
    • Adults, teenagers, and children over 10 years of age-At first, 300 to 350 micrograms (mcg) a week, taken in divided doses either once a day or every other day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed.
    • Children up to 2 years of age-20 to 50 mcg a day.
    • Children 2 to 10 years of age-50 mcg a day.

For calcitriol
• To treat diseases in which calcium is not used properly by the body or to treat bone disease in kidney patients undergoing kidney dialysis:
  • For oral dosage form (capsules and solution):
    • Adults, teenagers, and children-At first, 0.25 micrograms (mcg) a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed.
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults and teenagers-At first, 0.5 mcg injected into a vein three times a week. Your doctor may change your dose if needed.
    • Children-Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For dihydrotachysterol
• To treat diseases in which calcium is not used properly by the body:
  • For oral dosage forms (capsules, solution, or tablets):
    • Adults and teenagers-At first, 100 micrograms (mcg) to 2.5 milligrams (mg) a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed.
    • Children-At first, 1 to 5 mg a day. Your doctor may change your dose if needed.

For doxercalciferol
• To treat an overactive parathyroid gland in patients with kidney failure:
  • For oral dosage form (capsules):
    • Adults: 10 micrograms (mcg) three times weekly at dialysis. The doctor may change your dose if needed.
    • Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For ergocalciferol
• For oral dosage forms (capsules, tablets, oral solution):
  • The amount of vitamin D to meet normal daily recommended intakes will be different for different individuals. The following information includes only the average amounts of vitamin D.
  • To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes:
    For the U.S.
    • Adults and teenagers: 5 to 10 micrograms (mcg) (200 to 400 Units) per day.
    • Pregnant and breast-feeding females: 10 mcg (400 Units) per day.
    • Children 4 to 10 years of age: 10 mcg (400 Units) per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age: 7.5 to 10 mcg (300 to 400 Units) per day.
    For Canada
    • Adults and teenagers: 2.5 to 5 mcg (100 to 200 Units) per day.
    • Pregnant and breast-feeding females: 5 to 7.5 mcg (200 to 300 Units) per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age: 2.5 to 5 mcg (100 to 200 Units) per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age: 5 mcg (200 Units) per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age: 5 to 10 mcg (200 to 400 Units) per day.
  • To treat deficiency:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children: Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on severity of deficiency.
  • To treat diseases in which calcium and phosphate are not used properly by the body:
    • Adults and teenagers: At first, 1000 to 500,000 Units a day. The doctor may change your dose if needed.
    • Children: At first, 1000 to 200,000 Units a day. The doctor may change your dose if needed.

For paricalcitol
• To treat an overactive parathyroid gland in patients with kidney failure:
  • For injection dosage form:
    • Adults: 0.04 to 0.1 micrograms (mcg) per kg no more than every other day during dialysis. The doctor may change your dose if needed.
    • Children: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose-

• For use as a dietary supplement: If you miss taking a dietary supplement for one or more days there is no cause for concern, since it takes some time for your body to become seriously low in vitamins. However, if your health care professional has recommended that you take this dietary supplement, try to remember to take it as directed every day.
• If you are taking this medicine for a reason other than as a dietary supplement and you miss a dose and your dosing schedule is:
  • One dose every other day: Take the missed dose as soon as possible if you remember it on the day it should be taken. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until the next day, take it at that time. Then skip a day and start your dosing schedule again. Do not double doses.
  • One dose a day: Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Then go back to your regular dosing schedule. However, if you do not remember the missed dose until the next day, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.
  • More than one dose a day: Take the missed dose as soon as possible. Then go back to your regular dosing schedule. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you have any questions about this, check with your health care professional.

Storage-

To store this dietary supplement:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the dietary supplement to break down.
• Keep the oral liquid form of the dietary supplement from freezing.
• Do not keep outdated dietary supplements or those no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded dietary supplement is out of the reach of children.

Last Revised: 03/28/2001

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