Formulary
Calcium carbonate: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Calcium carbonate clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Calcium carbonate: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Calcium carbonate clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Phosphate binding in renal failure and hyper-phosphataemia**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): (consult product literature).
**Calcium deficiency**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): (consult product literature).
**Phosphate binding in renal failure and hyper-phosphataemia for calcium carbonate**
- **Child 1-11 months** (By mouth): 120 mg 3-4 times a day, to be taken with feeds, dose to be adjusted as necessary.
- **Child 1-5 years** (By mouth): 300 mg 3-4 times a day, to be taken prior to or with meals, dose to be adjusted as necessary.
- **Child 6-11 years** (By mouth): 600 mg 3-4 times a day, to be taken prior to or with meals, dose to be adjusted as necessary.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): 1.25 g 3-4 times a day, to be taken prior to or with meals, dose to be adjusted as necessary.
**Calcium deficiency for calcium carbonate**
- **Neonate** (By mouth): 0.25 mmol/kg 4 times a day, dose adjusted according to response.
- **Child 1 month-4 years** (By mouth): 0.25 mmol/kg 4 times a day, dose adjusted according to response.
- **Child 5-11 years** (By mouth): 0.2 mmol/kg 4 times a day, dose adjusted according to response.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): 10 mmol 4 times a day, dose adjusted according to response.
Cautions
For all calcium salts History of nephrolithiasis; sarcoidosis
Contraindications
For all calcium salts Conditions associated with hypercalcaemia (e.g. some forms of malignant disease); conditions associated with hypercalciuria (e.g. some forms of malignant disease)
Side effects
For all calcium salts Uncommon Constipation; diarrhoea; hypercalcaemia; nausea Rare or very rare Gastrointestinal disorder Side-effects For calcium carbonate Uncommon Hypercalciuria Rare or very rare Flatulence; gastrointestinal discomfort; milk-alkali syndrome; skin reactions
Interactions
**Other interactions (9):**
- Thiazide diuretics reduce the urinary excretion of calcium.
- Due to increased risk of hypercalcaemia, serum calcium should be regularly monitored during concomitant use of thiazide diuretics.
- Systemic corticosteroids reduce calcium absorption.
- Calcium carbonate may interfere with the absorption of concomitantly administered tetracycline preparations.
- For this reason, tetracycline preparations should be administered at least two hours before or four to six hours after oral intake of calcium.
- Rifampicin, phenytoin or barbiturates may reduce the activity of vitamin D3, since they increase the rate of its metabolism.
Renal impairment
For all calcium salts Use with caution. M
Medicinal forms
Tablet,Tablet,Tablet,Tablet
Clinical governance
**Author:** MedNext Clinical Team. **Clinical reviewer:** Dr Shameer Deen, MBBS, MS, MRCS. **Sources:** BNF, Indian Pharmacopoeia, CIMS India. **Correction:** Report errors at support@mednext.academy.
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