Rocaltrol (Calcitriol) Canada
Description
Rocaltrol - one of the most important active metabolites of vitamin D3. It promotes calcium absorption in the intestine and regulates bone mineralization. The pharmacological effect of a single dose of the drug lasts 3-5 days.
The key role of the drug Rocaltrol in the regulation of calcium metabolism, which consists in the stimulation of osteoblastic activity of the skeleton, is a reliable pharmacological basis for its therapeutic effect in osteoporosis.
Indications for use of Rocaltrol
Deciding to treat with the drug, first, consult the doctor and make it sure that you need this medication. Thus, the most widespread indications for Rocaltrol use are: confirmed postmenopausal osteoporosis, renal osteodystrophy in patients with chronic renal failure, especially in hemodialysis, secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with moderate and pronounced chronic renal insufficiency, postoperative hypoparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism allopathic, vitamin-D-dependent rickets, phosphate diabetes.
How to apply Rocaltrol at the correct dosage?
The dose of the drug is selected individually, depending on the amount of calcium in the blood serum. When menopausal osteoporosis, it is prescribed 0.25 mg 2 times a day. Contents of calcium and creatinine should be determined after 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months of treatment, then - at intervals of 6 months. In renal osteodystrophy, the initial daily dose - 0.25 mg, in patients with normal or slightly reduced serum calcium levels sufficiently 0.25 mcg every other day. With hypoparathyroidism and rickets Rocaltrol initial dose - 0.25 mg / day (in the morning). If clinical indicators will not improve within 2-4 weeks, the daily dose is increased to 0.25 micrograms. During this period, serum calcium should be determined at least two times a week. In most patients the therapeutic effect occurs at a daily dose of 0.5-1 mg.
Contraindications and side effects of Rocaltrol
- All the diseases associated with hypercalcemia, hypersensitivity to the drug (or drugs of the same class) or its excipients;
- Atherosclerosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, heart failure, phosphate nephrolithiasis, sarcoidosis and other granulomatosis;
- Old age (may promote atherosclerosis);
- Lactation.
Side effects of Rocaltrol
Because the drug Rocaltrol has activity of vitamin D, its side effects are similar to those that occur when an overdose of vitamin D, i.e. intoxication hypercalcemia syndrome or calcium (depending on the severity and duration of hypercalcemia). Acute symptoms may include anorexia, headache, vomiting, gastralgia, intestinal colic, increased activity of "liver" transaminases and constipation.
Because of the short biological half-life of calcitriol serum calcium levels become normal in a few days after intake of the drug, that is much faster than drugs in the treatment of vitamin D3.
Chronic administration of Rocaltrol can lead to dystrophy, sensitivity disorders, fever, thirst, polyuria, and dehydration, lethargy, growth retardation, and urinary tract infections.
The frequency of each of the adverse reactions is described in the clinical use of the drug Rocaltrol during 15 years of application, is very low (including hypercalcemia) and does not exceed 0.001%.
When both hypercalcemia and hyperphosphatemia may occur calcification of soft tissues, which is detected radiographically. In patients with normal renal function, chronic hypercalcemia can lead to increase in serum creatinine. In sensitive individuals may develop a hypersensitivity reaction (itching, rash, urticaria, and very rarely erythematous skin lesions).