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Drug Details

ALU-CAP

• Drug Class Description
  Antacids.
• Generic Name
  Aluminium hydroxide dried gel - hyperacidity
• Presentation
  Hard gelatin capsules
• Description
  Each capsule contains 475 mg Dried Aluminium Hydroxide Gel Ph Eur as a white powder.
• Indications
  Alu-Cap is recommended for use as a phosphate binding agent in the management of renal failure. It may also be used as an antacid.
• Adult Dosage
  

  FOR PHOSPHATE BINDING

  ADULTS AND CHILDREN: The dosage must be selected in accordance with individual patient requirements, and may range from 4 to 20 capsules of Alu-Cap daily (approximately 2 to 10 g dried aluminium hydroxide gel), taken with meals.

  AS AN ANTACID

  ADULTS: One Alu-Cap four times daily and on retiring.

  CHILDREN: Alu-Cap is not suitable for antacid therapy in children.

  ELDERLY: No special dosage recommendations are made for elderly patients.

• Child Dosage
  Not recommended.  Not recommended.
• Contra Indications
  

  Alu -Cap is contra-indicated in patients with hypophosphataemia and acute porphyria.

• Special Precautions
  

  Phosphate depletion: Aluminium salts may cause phosphate depletion, which is generally negligible. On prolonged treatment with large doses hypophosphataemia may occur, especially in patients with restricted phosphate intake. This syndrome is characterised by anorexia, malaise and muscle weakness. If left unchecked this condition may give rise to osteomalacia. osteoporosis and urinary calculi. Serum phosphate levels should be monitored regularly (bi-monthly) in patients on maintenance haemodialysis who are receiving chronic aluminium hydroxide therapy.

  Renal failure: In patients with chronic renal failure. hyperaluminaemia may occur. Aluminium accumulates in the bone, lungs and nerve tissue. Aluminium accumulation in the CNS may be the cause of dialysis dementia which sometimes occurs in chronic renal failure patients receiving long term aluminium therapy for hyperphosphataemia.

  Effect on drug absorption: Aluminium hydroxide reduces absorption of tetracyclines and vitamins and may delay the absorption of quinidine (see interactions). Aluminium hydroxide and such drugs should be administered 2 hours apart.

• Interactions
  

  Reported to interfere with absorption of some drugs including tetracyclines. penicillin. sulphonamides, iron, digoxin. indometacin, naproxen. phenylbutazone and vitamins. Aluminium hydroxide and such drugs should be administered 2 hours apart

• Adverse Drug Reactions
  

  Aluminium hydroxide is astringent and may cause constipation.