Calcium SaltsCalcium Carbonate
(kal si’ uhm)
Apo-Cal (CAN), Calcite 500 (CAN), Caltrate, Chooz, Equilet, Os-Cal, Oyst-Cal, PMS-Calcium (CAN), Surpass, Tums
Calcium Chloride
Calcium Glubionate
Calcionate, Calciquid
Calcium Gluconate
Cal-G
Calcium Lactate
Cal-Lac
PREGNANCY CATEGORY C
Drug Classes
Antacid
Electrolyte
Therapeutic Actions
Essential element of the body; helps maintain the functional integrity of the nervous and muscular systems; helps maintain cardiac function, blood coagulation; is an enzyme cofactor and affects the secretory activity of endocrine and exocrine glands; neutralizes or reduces gastric acidity (oral use).
Indications
Dietary supplement when calcium intake is inadequate
Treatment of calcium deficiency in tetany of the newborn, acute and chronic hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism, postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis, rickets, osteomalacia
Prevention of hypocalcemia during exchange transfusions
Adjunctive therapy for insect bites or stings, such as black widow spider bites; sensitivity reactions, particularly when characterized by urticaria; depression due to overdose of magnesium sulfate; acute symptoms of lead colic
Calcium chloride: Combats the effects of hyperkalemia as measured by ECG, pending correction of increased potassium in the extracellular fluid
Improves weak or ineffective myocardial contractions when epinephrine fails in cardiac resuscitation, particularly after open heart surgery
Calcium carbonate: Symptomatic relief of upset stomach associated with hyperacidity; hyperacidity associated with peptic ulcer, gastritis, peptic esophagitis, gastric hyperacidity, hiatal hernia
Calcium carbonate: Prophylaxis of GI bleeding, stress ulcers, and aspiration pneumonia; possibly useful
Unlabeled uses: Treatment of hypertension in some patients with indices suggesting calcium “deficiency”; treatment of premenstrual syndrome (calcium glubionate); treatment of calcium channel–blocker, beta-blocker overdose
Contraindications and Cautions
Contraindicated with allergy to calcium, renal calculi, hypercalcemia, ventricular fibrillation during cardiac resuscitation and patients with the risk of existing digitalis toxicity.
Use cautiously with renal impairment, pregnancy, lactation.
Available Forms
Tablets—250, 300, 500, 650, 975 mg, 1 g, 1.25 g, 1.5 g; powder—2,400 mg; injection—10%, 1.1 g/5 mL; syrup—1.8 g/5 mL; chewable tablets—400, 420, 500, 750, 1,000, 1,177, 1,250 mg; gum—300, 400, 500 mg
Dosages
Adults
Calcium carbonate or lactate
RDA:
14–18 yr: 1,300 mg/day
19–50 yr: 1,000 mg/day
Older than 50 yr: 1,200 mg/day
Pregnant or lactating
14–18 yr: 1,300 mg/day
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