Calcium

GENERIC NAME: DOSAGE/FREQUENCY/ROUT SIDE NURSING

Calcium Gluconate E: EFFECTS/ADV RESPONSIBILITY
All doses are in terms of elemental ERSE
calcium: 1 g calcium carbonate = 400 mg REACTION
(20 mEq, 40%) elemental calcium; 1 g  Note number and
calcium acetate = 250 mg (12.6 mEq, consistency of
25%) elemental calcium; 1 g calcium GI: Constipation or stools. If
citrate = 210 mg (12 mEq, 21%) laxative effect, acid constipation is a
elemental calcium; 1g tricalcium rebound, nausea, problem,
phosphate = 390 mg (19.3 mEq, 39%) eructation, flatulence,  physician may
elemental calcium vomiting, fecal prescribe alternate
concretions. or combination
Supplement for Osteoporosis Adult: PO
1–2 g b.i.d. or t.i.d.  Metabolic: Hyperc therapy with a
magnesium
alcemia with
Antacid Adult: PO 0.5–2 g 4–6 times/d antacid or advise
alkalosis, metastatic
patient to take a
Hyperphosphatemia Adult: PO calcium calcinosis,
laxative or stool
acetate 2–4 tablets with each meal hypercalciuria,
softener as
hypomagnesemia,
necessary.
hypophosphatemia
(when phosphate  Lab tests:
BRAND NAME: INDICATION:
intake is low).  Determine serum
Calgonate This medication is used to prevent or treat
and urine calcium
low blood calcium levels in people who
do not get enough calcium from their CNS: Mood and weekly in patients
DRUG mental changes.  receiving
diets. It may be used to treat conditions
ILLUSTRATION: prolonged therapy
caused by low calcium levels such as Urogenital: Polyuri and in patients
bone loss (osteoporosis), weak bones a, renal calculi. with renal
(osteocalcin/rickets), decreased activity of
dysfunction.
the parathyroid gland
 Record
(hypoparathyroidism), and a certain
amelioration of
muscle disease (latent tetany). It may also
symptoms of
be used in certain patients to make sure
hypocalcemia (see
they are getting enough calcium (e.g.,
Signs &
women who are pregnant, nursing, or
Symptoms,
postmenopausal, people taking certain
Appendix F).
medications such as phenytoin,
phenobarbital, or prednisone).  Observe for S&S
of hypercalcemia
CLASSIFICATION: CONTRAINDICATION: in patients
FLUID AND ELECTROLYTIC Hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria (e.g., receiving frequent
BALANCE AGENT; hyperparathyroidism, vitamin D or high doses, or
REPLACEMENT SOLUTION; who have
overdosage, decalcifying tumors, bone
ANTACID
MECHANISM OF ACTION: metastases), calcium loss due to impaired renal
Rapid-acting antacid with high immobilization, severe renal disease, function (see
neutralizing capacity and renal calculi, GI hemorrhage or Appendix F).
relatively prolonged duration of obstruction, dehydration, hypochloremic
action. Decreases gastric acidity,
alkalosis, ventricular fibrillation, cardiac
thereby inhibiting proteolytic
action of pepsin on gastric disease, pregnancy (category C).
mucosa. Also increases lower
esophageal sphincter tone.
Although classified as a no
systemic antacid, a slight to
moderate alkalosis usually
develops with prolonged
therapy. Acid rebound, which
may follow even low doses, is
thought to be caused by release
of gastrin triggered by action of
calcium in small intestines.