Formulary
Colecalciferol: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Colecalciferol clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
MedNext Academy | 3 min read
Colecalciferol: Indications, Dosing, Side Effects and Interactions
Colecalciferol clinical drug profile including indications, dosing, side effects, cautions and interactions.
Indications and dose
**Primary prevention of vitamin D deficiency**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 400 units daily.
**Treatment of vitamin D deficiency [Loading dose]**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 50 000 units once weekly for 6 weeks, alternatively 40 000 once weekly for 7 weeks, alternatively 4000 units daily for 10 weeks, different loading regimens can be used to achieve a cumulative total of approximately 300 000 units divided into daily or weekly doses over 6-10 weeks.
**Treatment of vitamin D deficiency [Maintenance dose]**
- **Adult** (By Mouth): 800-2000 units daily, maintenance dosing may be given daily or the equivalent dose given intermittently. Maintenance to be started one month after loading dose completed, or if correction of vitamin D deficiency is less urgent, maintenance may be started without the use of loading doses. Higher maintenance doses may be necessary in those at high risk of vitamin D deficiency; maximum 4000 units per day.
**Primary prevention of vitamin D deficiency (if breastfed or formula-fed and consume less than 500mL formula per day) for colecalciferol**
- **Child up to 11 months** (By mouth): 340-400 units daily.
**Primary prevention of vitamin D deficiency for colecalciferol**
- **Child 1-17 years** (By mouth): 400 units daily.
**Treatment of vitamin D deficiency [Loading dose] for colecalciferol**
- **Child 1-5 months** (By mouth): 3000 units daily for 8 to 12 weeks, loading dosing may be given daily or the equivalent dose given intermittently e.g. weekly or fortnightly.
- **Child 6 months-11 years** (By mouth): 6000 units daily for 8 to 12 weeks, loading dosing may be given daily or the equivalent dose given intermittently e.g. weekly or fortnightly.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): 10 000 units daily for 8 to 12 weeks, loading dosing may be given daily or the equivalent dose given intermittently e.g. weekly or fortnightly. A single or divided loading dose totalling 300 000 units can be considered if there are concerns about compliance.
**Treatment of vitamin D deficiency [Maintenance dose] for colecalciferol**
- **Child 1 month-11 years** (By mouth): 400-600 units daily, maintenance to be started one month after loading dose completed, or if correction of vitamin D deficiency is less urgent, maintenance may be started without the use of loading doses.
- **Child 12-17 years** (By mouth): 400-600 units daily, maintenance dosing may be given daily or the equivalent dose given intermittently. Maintenance to be started one month after loading dose completed, or if correction of vitamin D deficiency is less urgent, maintenance may be started without the use of loading doses. Higher maintenance doses may be necessary in those at high risk of vitamin D deficiency; maximum 4000 units per day.
Cautions
Sarcoidosis
Contraindications
D and analogues (systemic) Hypercalcaemia; metastatic calcification
Side effects
D and analogues (systemic) Common or very common Abdominal pain; headache; hypercalcaemia; hypercalciuria; nausea; skin reactions Uncommon Appetite decreased; arrhythmia; asthenia; constipation; diarrhoea; dry mouth; myalgia; vomiting; weight decreased Overdose Symptoms of overdosage include anorexia, lassitude, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, weight loss, polyuria, sweating, headache, thirst, vertigo, and raised concentrations of calcium and phosphate in plasma and urine.
Interactions
**Other interactions (1):**
- Concomitant treatment with phenytoin or barbiturates can decrease the effect of vitamin D because of metabolic activation.
Pregnancy
D and analogues (systemic) High doses teratogenic in animals but therapeutic doses unlikely to be harmful.
Breast feeding
D and analogues (systemic) Caution with high doses; may cause hypercalcaemia in infant-monitor serum-calcium concentration.
Medicinal forms
Tablet,Tablet,Tablet,Tablet,Capsule,Solution,Drops
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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