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Drug Details

CACIT

• Drug Class Description
  Calcium supplements.
• Generic Name
  Calcium carbonate - deficiency
• Presentation
  Effervescent tablet
• Description
  Each tablet contains 1.25g Calcium Carbonate Ph Eur which when dissolved in water provides 500mg of calcium as calcium citrate.
• Indications
  

  1. Treatment of calcium deficiency states including osteomalacia, rickets and malabsorption syndromes affecting the upper gastrointestinal tract.

  2. An adjunct to conventional therapy in the arrest or slowing down of bone demineralisation in osteoporosis.

  3. In the arrest or slowing down of bone demineralisation in osteoporosis, where other effective treatment is contra-indicated.

  4. As a therapeutic supplement during times when intake may be inadequate, particularly those associated with the increased demand of childhood, old age, pregnancy and lactation.

• Adult Dosage
  

  For calcium deficiency states including malabsorption, the dosage should be tailored to the individual patient's needs. A dose of 1.0 g to 2.5g per day is recommended.

  For the treatment of osteoporosis a dose of up to 1.5g per day is normally required. In patients with adequate dietary calcium intake, 500mg daily may be sufficient.

  Up to 1.5g of calcium per day is the recommended dosage for therapeutic supplementation.

• Child Dosage
  

  For calcium deficiency states including malabsorption and rickets, the dosage recommendation under adult dosage should be followed.

  For therapeutic supplementation, a dose of up to 1.0g per day is recommended.

• Contra Indications
  

  Hypercalcaemia (eg. due to hyperparathyroidism, hypervitaminosis D, decalcifying tumours, severe renal failure, bone metastases), severe hypercalciuria calci-lithiasis and renal calculi. Long term immobilisation accompanied by hypercalciuria and/or hypercalcaemia. Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients.

• Special Precautions
  

  In mild hypercalciuria (exceeding 7.5 mmol/24 hours in adults or 0.12-0.15 mmol/kg/24 hours in children) or renal failure, or where there is evidence of stone formation in the urinary tract; adequate checks must be kept on urinary calcium excretion. If necessary the dosage should be reduced or calcium therapy discontinued. The product should be administered with caution in patients with sarcoidosis because of possible increased metabolism of vitamin D to its active form. These patients should be monitored for serum and urinary calcium.

• Interactions
  

  Concomitant administration with vitamin D causes an increase in calcium absorption and plasma levels may continue to rise after stopping vitamin D therapy.

  The effects of digoxin and other cardiac glycosides may be accentuated by calcium and toxicity may be produced, especially in combination with vitamin D.

  Calcium salts reduce the absorption of some drugs, in particular tetracyclines It is therefore recommended that administration of Cacit tablets be separated from these products by at least 3 hours.

  Thiazide diuretics increase renal absorption of calcium, so the risk of hypercalcaemia should be considered.

  Bisphosphonate, sodium fluoride: it is advisable to allow a two hour minimum period before taking Cacit (risk of reduction of the gastrointestinal absorption of bisphosphonate and sodium fluoride).

• Adverse Drug Reactions
  

  Mild gastrointestinal disturbances have occurred rarely (eg. nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, flatulence and eructation). Hypercalciuria and, in rare cases, hypercalcaemia in cases of long-term treatment with high doses.

  Skin reactions, such as pruritis, rash, and urticaria (especially urticaria in patients with a past history of allergy) have been reported. The colouring agent E110 can cause allergic type reactions including asthma. Allergy is more common in those people who are allergic to aspirin.