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Drug Details

CALCIUM SANDOZ

• Drug Class Description
  Calcium supplements.
• Generic Name
  Calcium - deficiency
• Presentation
  Colourless to pale straw coloured, fruit flavoured syrup.
• Description
  Calcium glubionate 1.09g and calcium lactobionate USP 0.727g per 5ml.
• Indications
  1. An adjunct to conventional therapy in the arrest or slowing down of bone demineralisation in osteoporosis. 2. In the arrest or slowing down of bone demineralisation in osteoporosis where other effective treatment is contra-indicated. 3. A supplemental source of calcium in the correction of dietary deficiencies or when normal requirements are high. 4. Neonatal hypocalcaemia.
• Adult Dosage
  

  Treatment or therapeutic supplementation should aim to restore or maintain normal levels of calcium (2.25 to 2.75mmol/L or 4.5 to 5.5mEq/L).

  Calcium Sandoz Syrup should be taken by mouth either as provided or after dilution with syrup BP.

  Indication	Daily dose syrup (5ml spoonfuls)
  Adults Osteoporosis Therapeutic supplement (dose dependent upon severity)	11-15 3-15
  Children Calcium deficiency Dietary supplementation	6-9 2-6

  Neonatal hypocalcaemia: Calcium-Sandoz Syrup may be given at a dose of 1mmol calcium/kg/24 hours in divided doses. Serum calcium levels should be monitored and the dosage adjusted if necessary. Doses may be mixed with the first (small) part of milk feeds. Note: 1mmol of calcium is equivalent to 1.85ml Calcium-Sandoz Syrup.

  Elderly: No evidence exists that tolerance of Calcium-Sandoz is directly affected by advanced age; however, elderly patients should be supervised as factors sometimes associated with ageing, such as poor diet or impaired renal function, may indirectly affect tolerance and may require dosage reduction.

   

• Child Dosage
  Neonates, 1 mmol Ca++/kg daily in divided doses. Others, 10-45 mL daily.
• Contra Indications
  

  Hypercalcaemia (e.g., in hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D overdosage, decalcifying tumours such as plasmocytoma, severe renal failure, bone metastases), severe hypercalciuria, and renal calculi.

  Due to its galactose component Calcium-Sandoz Syrup should not be given to patients with galactosaemia.

• Special Precautions
  

  In mild hypercalciuria (exceeding 300mg (7.5mmol)/24 hours) 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 sugar content of Calcium-Sandoz Syrup should be taken into account in diabetic patients.

• Interactions
  

  High vitamin D intake should be avoided during calcium therapy, unless especially indicated.

  Thiazide diuretics reduce urinary calcium excretion, so the risk of hypercalcaemia should be considered.

  Oral calcium supplementation is aimed at restoring normal serum levels. Although it is extremely unlikely that high enough levels will be achieved to adversely affect digitalised patients, this theoretical possibility should be considered.

  Oral calcium administration may reduce the absorption of oral tetracycline or fluoride preparations. An interval of 3 hours should be observed if the two are to be given.

• Adverse Drug Reactions
  

  Mild gastrointestinal disturbances (e.g., constipation, diarrhoea) have occurred rarely. Although hypercalcaemia would not be expected in patients unless their renal function were impaired, the following symptoms could indicate the possibility of hypercalcaemia: nausea, vomiting, anorexia, constipation, abdominal pain, bone pain, thirst, polyuria, muscle weakness, drowsiness or confusion.