Calcium acetate

Generic name: Calcium Acetate

Usage of Calcium acetate

Calcium is a mineral that is needed for many functions of the body, especially bone formation and maintenance. Calcium can also bind to other minerals such as phosphate, and aid in their removal from the body.

Calcium acetate is used to control phosphate levels to keep them from getting too high in people with kidney failure who are on dialysis.

Calcium acetate may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Calcium acetate side effects

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

Calcium acetate may cause serious side effects. Stop using calcium acetate and call your doctor at once if you have:

high levels of calcium in your blood--nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst or urination, muscle weakness, bone pain, confusion, lack of energy, or tired feeling.

Common side effects of calcium acetate may include:

increased calcium in the blood

nausea; or

diarrhea.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Calcium acetate

You should not use calcium acetate if you are allergic to it, or if you have high levels of calcium in your blood.

Tell your doctor if:

your kidney disease gets worse; or

you also take digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether calcium acetate will harm an unborn baby, but having kidney failure or developing hypercalcemia during pregnancy may cause complications in the baby and the mother. The benefit of using calcium acetate during pregnancy may outweigh any risks..

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

Calcium acetate is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How to use Calcium acetate

Usual Adult Dose for Hyperphosphatemia:

Initial dose: 1334 mg (2 tablets/capsules, or 10 mL), orally, with each mealMaintenance dose: 2001 to 2668 mg (3 to 4 tablets/capsules, or 15 to 20 mL) with each mealComments:-Titrate dose every 2 to 3 weeks until an acceptable serum phosphorous level is reached.Use: Reduce serum phosphorous levels in patients with end stage renal disease.

Warnings

You should not use calcium acetate if you have high levels of calcium in your blood.

What other drugs will affect Calcium acetate

If you take any of the following medicines, take them separately from your dose of calcium acetate:

A fluoroquinolone antibiotic: Take your calcium acetate dose 6 hours before or 2 hours after you take an antibiotic such as ciprOfloxacin, moxifloxacin, Levofloxacin, Cipro, or Levaquin.

A tetracycline antibiotic: Take your calcium acetate dose 1 hour before or 1 hour after you take an antibiotic such as doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline, Doryx, or Oracea.

Thyroid medication: Take your calcium acetate dose 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take the thyroid medicine.

Other drugs may affect calcium acetate, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.