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What is calcitriol?
Calcitriol is vitamin D3. Vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium from the stomach and for the functioning of calcium in the body. Calcitriol is used to treat calcium deficiency with hypoparathyroidism (decreased functioning of the parathyroid glands) and metabolic bone disease in people with chronic kidney failure. Calcitriol may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

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What are the possible side effects of calcitriol?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking calcitriol and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• increased thirst,

• urinating more than usual;

• pain in your lower back;

• fast, slow, or uneven heart rate;

• weakness, drowsiness, changes in behavior;

• bone pain, muscle weakness, loss of height;

• nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, weight loss;

• slow growth (in a child taking calcitriol); or

• dry mouth or a metallic taste.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I take calcitriol?
Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Drink plenty of fluids unless your doctor has told you to restrict your fluid intake.

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What is the most important information I should know about calcitriol?
Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have high levels of calcium or vitamin D in your blood. Drink plenty of fluids unless your doctor has told you to restrict your fluid intake. Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. Becoming dehydrated while taking calcitriol can lead to an electrolyte imbalance. Do not take other vitamin or mineral supplements unless your doctor has told you to.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect calcitriol?
Before taking calcitriol, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps); cholestyramine (Questran, Prevalite); sevelamer (Renagel); ketoconazole (Nizoral); lanthanum (Fosrenol); seizure medication such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Solfoton); steroids such as prednisone, fluticasone (Advair), mometasone (Asmanex, Nasonex), dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol) and others; or a (water pill) diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, Microzide,Oretic), chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), and others.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Calcitriol has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have shown calcitriol to be teratogenic, resulting in external and skeletal abnormalities, when used at doses 4 to 15 times the recommended human dose. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Calcitriol should be used during pregnancy only when benefit outweighs the risk.

Nonteratogenic effects noted in animals receiving calcitriol at doses approximately 6 times the maximum recommended for human use included increased maternal fatality, decreased fetal body weight, and a reduced number of newborns surviving up to 24 hours. A woman with hypoparathyroidism was successfully treated with calcitriol during pregnancy. Calcitriol was given throughout the pregnancy at a dose of 1.5 to 3 mcg per day without fetal adverse effects. Increases in dose were necessary during the last trimester to combat hypocalcemia, muscle cramps, and paresthesias. Mild hypercalcemia returning to normal by day 3 of life was reported in a neonate of a woman administered 17 mcg to 36 mcg of calcitriol daily (17 to 36 times the maximum recommended dose) during pregnancy. Earlier literature expressed concerns over the development of supravalvular aortic stenosis, craniofacial abnormalities, and dental abnormalities in infants and children with idiopathic hypercalcemia. Whether or not prenatal factors predisposed these children to the development of hypercalcemia is not known. Fifteen hypoparathyroid women receiving 50,000 to 250,000 Intl units of vitamin D2 experienced 27 uneventful births. No cardiovascular or craniofacial abnormalities were reported.

There are no data on the excretion of calcitriol into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that due to the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or discontinue calcitriol, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother.

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Who should NOT use this medication?

Hypercalcemia or evidence of vitamin D toxicity.

Known hypersensitivity to calcitriol, other vitamin D analogs, or any ingredient in the formulation.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Overdose symptoms may include increased thirst or urination, uneven heart rate, weakness, behavior changes, bone pain, nausea, weight loss, decreased appetite, constipation, or a metallic taste in the mouth.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking calcitriol?
Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have: high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia); or high levels of vitamin D in your body (hypervitaminosis D). Before taking calcitriol, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. You may not be able to take calcitriol, or you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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Where can I get more information?
More Information

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