Calcitriol Oral Solution

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take calcitriol oral solution. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• Talk with your doctor about whether you may need to take calcium while taking this medicine.
• If you are taking other sources of vitamin D, talk with your doctor.
• Do not take products that have magnesium with calcitriol oral solution. This includes some types of antacids. Talk with your doctor.
• Drink lots of noncaffeine liquids unless told to drink less liquid by your doctor.
• Follow the diet plan that your doctor told you about.
• If you take cholestyramine, talk with your pharmacist about how to take with this medicine.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using calcitriol oral solution while you are pregnant.

Use this medicine as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take calcitriol oral solution at the same time of day.
• Take with or without food.
• To gain the most benefit, do not miss doses.
• Measure liquid doses carefully. Use the measuring device that comes with this medicine. If there is none, ask the pharmacist for a device to measure calcitriol oral solution.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

• Store at room temperature.
• Protect from light.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Check with your pharmacist about how to throw out unused drugs.

Calcitriol can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.

To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Medications that might interact with this drug

Drugs you should not use with calcitriol

Do not take these drugs with calcitriol. Doing so can cause dangerous effects in the body. Examples of these drugs include:

• Other forms of vitamin D. These drugs may lead to higher levels of calcium in your body.
• Medications that contain magnesium, such as antacids. These drugs may cause high levels of magnesium in your body.

Interactions that increase your risk of side effects

• Increased side effects from calcitriol: Taking calcitriol with certain medications raises your risk of side effects from calcitriol. This is because the amount of calcitriol in your body may be increased. Examples of these drugs include:
  • Diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide. Increased side effects can include higher levels of calcium in your body. Symptoms can include dehydration (low fluid levels), increased thirst, weight loss, or itching.
  • Digitalis. Increased side effects can include higher levels of calcium in your body. They can also include abnormal heart rhythms.
  • Calcium supplements. Increased side effects can include higher levels of calcium in your body. Symptoms can include dehydration (low fluid levels), increased thirst, weight loss, or itching. Don’t take any calcium supplements without talking to your doctor first.

Interactions that can make calcitriol less effective

• Phosphate binders, such as sevelamer or lanthanum. Your doctor may adjust your dosage of calcitriol as needed.
• Cholestyramine. Your doctor may adjust your dosage of calcitriol as needed.
• Phenytoin or phenobarbital. Your doctor may increase your dosage of calcitriol.
• Antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, or voriconazole. Your doctor may adjust your dosage of calcitriol as needed.
• Corticosteroids. Your doctor may adjust your dosage of calcitriol as needed.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking. Calcitriol warnings

People with high calcium levels

Do not take calcitriol. This drug can raise your calcium levels to a dangerous range.

Pregnant women

Calcitriol is a category C pregnancy drug. That means two things:

1. Research in animals has shown adverse effects to the fetus when the mother takes the drug.
2. There haven’t been enough studies done in humans to be certain how the drug might affect the fetus.

Talk to your doctor if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant. This drug should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

 

Women who are breast-feeding

Calcitriol may pass into breast milk and may cause side effects in a child who is breast-fed. It’s recommended to avoid breast-feeding while taking calcitriol.

Talk to your doctor if you breast-feed your child. You may need to decide whether to stop breast-feeding or stop taking this medication.

For seniors

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects.

For children

• This medication hasn’t been studied in children on dialysis. It shouldn’t be used in people on dialysis who are younger than 18 years.
• It hasn’t been confirmed that calcitriol is safe and effective for use in people younger than 1 year of with low levels of parathyroid hormone.
• It hasn’t been confirmed that calcitriol is safe and effective for use in people younger than 6 years with a condition called pseudohypoparathyroidism.

When to call the doctor

Call your doctor right away if you become pregnant while taking this drug.

Allergies

Calcitriol can cause a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can include:

• rash
• hives
• severe itching
• blistering, raised sores on the skin that look like red rings
• peeling skin

Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room if you develop these symptoms.

Don’t take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. Taking it again could be fatal (cause death).

All possible dosages and drug forms may not be included here. Your dosage, drug form, and how often you take the drug will depend on:

• your age
• the condition being treated
• how severe your condition is
• other medical conditions you have
• how you react to the first dose

What are you taking this medication for?

Hyperparathyroidism and bone disease due to hypocalcemia in people with severe kidney problems on dialysis

Brand: Rocatrol

Form: Oral capsule Strengths: 1 mcg/mL

Generic: Calcitriol

Form: Oral capsule Strengths: 1 mcg/mL Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

• Typical starting dosage: 0.25 mcg once per day.
• Dosage increases: Every 4–8 weeks, your doctor will slowly increase your dosage. Your doctor will change your dosage based on the results of your lab tests. These check things such as your calcium levels.   

Child dosage (ages 0–17 years)

Calcitriol capsules haven’t been studied in children on dialysis. They shouldn’t be used in people on dialysis who are younger than 18 years.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different medication schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Hyperparathyroidism and bone disease due to hypocalcemia in people with severe kidney problems before dialysis

Brand: Rocatrol

Form: Oral capsule Strengths: 1 mcg/mL

Generic: Calcitriol

Form: Oral capsule Strengths: 1 mcg/mL Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

• Typical starting dosage: 0.25 mcg once per day.
• Dosage increases: Every 4–8 weeks, your doctor will slowly increase your dosage. Your doctor will change your dosage based on the results of your lab tests. These check things such as your calcium levels.

Child dosage (ages 3–17 years)

• Typical starting dosage: 0.25 mcg once per day.

Child dosage (ages 0–2 years)

• Typical starting dosage: Your child’s doctor will determine your child’s dosage based on weight. Typical dosage is 0.01–0.015 mcg/kg per day.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different medication schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Hypocalcemia in people with hypoparathyroidism

Brand: Rocatrol

Form: Oral capsule Strengths: 1 mcg/mL

Generic: Calcitriol

Form: Oral capsule Strengths: 1 mcg/mL Adult dosage (ages 18–64 years)

• Typical starting dosage: 0.25 mcg once per day.
• Dosage increases: Every 4–8 weeks, your doctor will slowly increase your dosage. Your doctor will change your dosage based on the results of your lab tests. These check things such as your calcium levels.   

Child dosage (ages 6–17 years)

• Typical starting dosage: 0.25 mcg once per day.
• Dosage increases: Every 4–8 weeks, your child’s doctor will likely increase the dosage.
• Maximum dosage: 2 mcg once per day.

Child dosage (ages 1–5 years)

• Typical starting dosage: 0.25 mcg once per day.
• Dosage increases: Every 4–8 weeks, your child’s doctor will likely increase the dosage.
• Maximum dosage: 0.75 mcg once per day.

Child dosage (ages 0–1 year)

It hasn’t been confirmed that calcitriol is safe and effective for use in people younger than 1 year who have low levels of parathyroid hormone.

Senior dosage (ages 65 years and older)

The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This increases your risk of side effects.

Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different medication schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always to speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you. Important considerations for taking calcitriol

You can take calcitriol solution with or without food

Take this drug at the time(s) recommended by your doctor

Store this drug carefully

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A prescription for this medication is refillable

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Travel

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Clinical monitoring

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Your diet

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Not every pharmacy stocks this drug. When filling your prescription, be sure to call ahead.

Insurance

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Are there any alternatives?