Details
Calcijex (calcitrol) is an injection form of medication. This drug is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. It is known worldwide especially in United States of America. Among the other names of calcitrol are dihydroxyvitamin D3 and dihydroxycholecalciferol.
Calcitrol is mainly use for the treatment of hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemic condition is commonly present for patient who is with chronic renal dialysis. This is also use for other disease condition as per doctor's discretion.
On the first part of treatment commonly the patient experience generalized body weakness, headache, nausea with or without vomiting, drying of the mouth, myalgia, painful bone, and unusual taste. On the latent part of the therapy the reported side effects are loss of appetite, excessive thirst, sensitivity to light, and fever like condition, frequent urination at night time, weight loss, and cardiac arrhythmias. Excessive side effects of the drug warrant medical attention immediately.
Calcitrol injection is never to be use by patient with known hypercalcemia or those patients that has obvious signs and symptoms of vitamin D toxicity.
Store the medication in a cool and safe place. Keep away from children's reach. The recommended room temperature for storage is 15 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius. Discard the drug immediately once the medication reached its maximum shelf life.
Calcitrol is the main component of Calcijex. Calcitrol is a compound which is crystalline in characteristic. Among the inert ingredients of the drugs are sodium ascorbate, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, and polysorbate 20.
Extra precautionary measures are given for the patients with severe health disorders. The intake of vitamin D and other vitamin D derivatives should be stop for patients undergoing calcitrol drug therapy. Extra care is also given to those patients who are receiving dialysis. The calcitrol drug therapy should be given with utmost cautious care for patient with cardiac disorder especially those who are receiving digitalis. Vital laboratory findings are needed to be constantly monitored given particular attention to serum calcium and phosphorus. This drug therapy should never ever be given to pregnant as well as lactating mothers. Studies have shown that the drug can cause fetal and teratogenic defects for pregnant women who took the medication. Components of the drug are also secreted to human milk. Hence, it is also not to be given for lactating or nursing mothers. Extra care is also given to pediatric as well as geriatric patients. It is also important to advice the patient to follow certain diet as well as activity and drug restrictions while undergoing calcitrol therapy.
Calcitrol dosing greatly depend on the doctor's discretion of the patient's general condition. The suggested dosing for the calcitrol drug is 1 mcg to 2 mcg given to the patient three times a week. The initial dose is in much smaller dose of 0.5 mcg. The maximum loading dose is 4 mcg. The usual interval is preferably every other day.