Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3
About Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3
Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 is used to treat low calcium levels in conditions like Vitamin D deficiency, osteoporosis, hypoparathyroidism (low levels of parathyroid hormone), and latent tetany (a muscle disease with low blood calcium levels).
Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 consists of elemental calcium and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which help maintain blood calcium and phosphorus levels and support bone mineralisation.
Take Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 as advised by your doctor. Sometimes, it may cause side effects like constipation and stomach upset. These side effects do not require medical attention and gradually resolve over time.
Do not take Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 if you are allergic to any ingredient in it. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before taking Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3. Do not use Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 if you have kidney problems/stones or have a high vitamin D level in your blood.
Uses of Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3
Medicinal Benefits
When used as advised, Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 may offer the following benefits:
For Vitamin D deficiency:
- Increases total vitamin D levels and treats vitamin D insufficiency.
- Increases bone mineral density and fortifies teeth and bones.
- Relieves deficiency-related bone pain, muscle pains, and weakness.
- Reduces the chance of bone fractures, particularly in older people.
For Osteoporosis:
- Reduces bone loss and increases bone mineral density
- Lowers the chance of fragility fractures, particularly those of the wrist, hip, and spine.
- Reduces osteoporosis-related muscular weakness and bone discomfort.
- Reduces the incidence of falls in elderly patients by promoting normal muscle strength.
For Osteomalacia:
- Decreases the chance of bone fractures and pseudofractures and gradually improves bone softness and abnormalities.
- Promotes healthy muscular movement and function.
- Helps with overall skeletal recovery when taken on a regular basis.
For Tetany:
- Relieves tetany-related muscular stiffness, cramps, and spasms.
- Keeps calcium levels steady, helping prevent recurring tetany episodes.
- Promotes healthy muscle and nerve function
- Beneficial for long-term care once acute tetany is under control.
Directions for Use
- Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 can be taken with food to improve its absorption.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Swallow Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not break, chew, or crush it.
Storage
Side Effects of Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3
- Constipation
- Stomach upset
Medicines Containing this Salt
View All
Drug Warnings
- Do not take Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 if you're allergic to any ingredient in it.
- If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3.
- Consult your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 should be used with caution in children and only if recommended by a doctor.
- Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 is not recommended if you have hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), metastatic calcification (extra deposits of calcium in the body), hypervitaminosis D (high vitamin D levels), and malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food).
- Inform your doctor before taking Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 if you have any heart/kidney/liver/blood vessel diseases, kidney stones, sarcoidosis (growth of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body), Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel disease), Whipple's disease (bacterial infection affecting joints and digestive system), achlorhydria (little or no stomach acid), low levels of bile, and phosphate imbalance.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Taking Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 with the following medication classes may cause adverse reactions.
- Antibiotic (tetracycline, doxycycline)
• Potential effect: May reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics. - Water pills (hydrochlorothiazide)
• Potential effect: May cause increased risk of hypercalcemia (elevated calcium levels). - Medicines used to treat irregular heartbeat (digoxin)
• Potential effect: May result in high risk of cardiac arrhythmias. - Drugs treating bone loss (alendronate)
• Potential effect: May reduce the absorption of Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3. - Thyroid hormone (levothyroxine)
• Potential effect: May reduce the absorption of other drugs. - Fits medicines (phenobarbital, phenytoin)
• Potential effect: May reduce the effectiveness of Vitamin D - Other Vitamin D supplements (Doxercalciferol, ergocalciferol)
• Potential effect: May cause elevated risk of vitamin D toxicity.
Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid or reduce caffeine intake, soft drinks, and alcohol that inhibit calcium absorption.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Inform your doctor if you have a history of the following conditions before taking Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3, as it may worsen your condition or cause complications.
- Heart problems
- Malabsorption
- Kidney disease
- High calcium levels
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionDrinking alcohol can affect calcium absorption; hence, limiting the alcohol intake while using Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3.
Pregnancy
consult your doctorConsult your doctor if you are pregnant. Your doctor will weigh the potential risks and benefits before recommending Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3.
Breast Feeding
consult your doctorConsult your doctor before taking Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 if you are breastfeeding. Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 can pass into the breast milk. If Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 is used during breastfeeding, please monitor the serum calcium levels of the mother and the infant.
Driving
cautionElemental Calcium+vitamin D3 usually does not affect your ability to drive or operate machinery. If you experience any unmanageable side effects while using Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3, do not drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before taking Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3. Hepatic impairment/liver disease can alter the metabolic and therapeutic activity of certain Vitamin D forms.
Kidney
cautionYou should seek a doctor's advice before starting Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 if you have kidney diseases like kidney stones or are undergoing dialysis. It should be used with caution in patients undergoing dialysis to maintain adequate phosphorus levels and avoid ectopic calcification (calcium deposition).
Children
consult your doctorIf you have any concerns regarding the use of Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 for children, please consult a doctor.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
Healthy eating habits:
- Add foods high in calcium, such as milk, curd, paneer, cheese, ragi, sesame seeds, and almonds.
- Make sure you get enough vitamin D from foods like eggs, salmon, fortified milk, and mushrooms.
- To promote bone health, consume meals high in protein (dal, legumes, eggs, lean meat).
- To improve vitamin D synthesis, spend 15 to 20 minutes in the morning in the sun.
- Reduce your intake of carbonated drinks, salt, and caffeine because they accelerate the loss of calcium.
Lifestyle modifications:
- To strengthen your bones, engage in weight-bearing and strength-building activities such as yoga, stair climbing, and walking.
- To reduce bone stress and fracture risk, maintain a healthy body weight.
- Steer clear of alcohol and tobacco since they weaken bones and decrease the absorption of calcium.
- Wearing appropriate footwear and maintaining well-lit living areas can help prevent falls and injuries.
- To promote bone growth and general health, make sure you get enough sleep.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Vitamin D deficiency: When a person cannot get enough Vitamin D through food and exposure to sunlight, it leads to vitamin D deficiency. It often leads to thin, brittle, or misshapen bones.
Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a bone disease that weakens and makes bones brittle by decreasing bone density.
Tetany: A disease condition due to low levels of calcium (hypocalcemia) in the body that causes cramps and spasms in the hands, feet, and larynx (voice box).
Osteomalacia/Rickets: Osteomalacia/Rickets disease is caused by softening and weakening of bones in children due to inadequate vitamin D.
Hypoparathyroidism: It is a disease characterised by low parathyroid hormone levels. This can cause low calcium levels and trigger tetany (muscle cramps, spasms, or tremors).
FAQs
Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 is primarily used to treat nutritional deficiencies. It effectively treats various conditions caused by low calcium levels in the body, like Vitamin D deficiency.
Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 consists of two vitamins: elemental calcium and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol). Elemental calcium is a mineral that is used to prevent or treat a calcium deficiency. It provides essential nutrients to maintain bone formation. Vitamin D3 is a steroid hormone produced in the skin when exposed to ultraviolet light or obtained from food sources. It helps maintain blood calcium and phosphorus levels and the mineralization of bone.
Antacids may increase the absorption of Calcium from Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3. Hence, it is advised to take Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 two hours before or four hours after taking antacids.
Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 is used to increase low levels of calcium in the body. Hence, it is not advised to use Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 during hypercalcaemia since it causes the overdose of calcium, leading to kidney stones and other effects.
Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 can cause kidney stones due to excess calcium deposition when used for a prolonged period. Please consult your doctor before taking Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 as a daily supplement if you have any kidney problems or a history of kidney stones.
Milk is considered to be the best source of calcium. You can take Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 with milk.
The food sources of Vitamin D3 and Calcium include cheese, milk, paneer, curd, and other dairy products, kale, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, and milk products.
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones as it helps the body absorb calcium, preventing weakness and fractures. It raises vitamin D levels in your blood. It boosts the immune system to fight infections, may help improve mood and reduce depression, and keeps muscles strong, reducing the risk of falls. You can get vitamin D from sunlight, foods like fatty fish, or supplements if necessary.
Elemental Calcium+vitamin D3 causes side effects such as constipation and stomach upset. Please consult a doctor if the side effects persist for longer durations.
