Calcium Acetate

Calcium acetate is a calcium supplement used to control the level of phosphate in the blood for patients on dialysis due to severe kidney disease.

Calcium acetate is available under the following different brand names: Eliphos, PhosLo, Phoslyra, and Calphron.

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Capsule/tablet

• 667mg (169mg elemental Ca)

Oral solution

• 667mg/5mL (169mg/5mL elemental Ca)

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Hyperphosphatemia in End Stage Renal Failure (On Dialysis)

• Adult and geriatric, initial: 2 capsules (1334 mg) orally with each meal
• Increase dose to bring serum phosphate value less than 6 mg/dL as long as hypercalcemia does not develop
• Usual Dose: 3-4 capsules (2001-2868 mg) orally with each meal

Other Information

• Do not give additional calcium supplements
• Pediatric: Safety and efficacy not established

Side effects of Calcium Acetate include:

• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias)
• Low blood magnesium (hypomagnesemia)
• Low blood phosphates (hypophosphatemia)
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Nausea
• Stomach upset
• Itching (rare)
• Weakness
• Constipation
• Dry mouth
• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• High blood calcium (hypercalcemia)
• Loss of appetite
• Coma
• Confusion
• Delirium
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Serious side effects of calcium acetate include:

• Stomach or abdominal pain
• Confusion

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Severe interactions of calcium acetate include:
  • ceftriaxone
• Serious interactions of calcium acetate include:
  • demeclocycline
  • dolutegravir
  • doxycycline
  • eltrombopag
  • lymecycline
  • minocycline
  • oxytetracycline
  • tetracycline
• Calcium acetate has moderate interactions with at least 48 different drugs.
• Calcium acetate has mild interactions with at least 52 different drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

• This medication contains calcium acetate. Do not take Eliphos, PhosLo, Phoslyra, or Calphron if you are allergic to calcium acetate or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity, renal calculi, hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia, concurrent calcium supplements

Effects of Drug Abuse

• No information available

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Calcium Acetate?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Calcium Acetate?"

Cautions

• Pregnancy.
• Constipation may occur.
• Cardiac glycosides; hypercalcemia may aggravate digitalis toxicity.
• Advise patients to limit intake of oxalate-rich foods (soy, green leafy vegetables, animal protein) to avoid Ca-Oxalate formation.

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use calcium acetate with caution during pregnancy if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies are not available or neither animal nor human studies were done.
• Maintenance of normal serum calcium levels is important for maternal and fetal well-being. Hypercalcemia during pregnancy may increase risk for maternal and neonatal complications (e.g., stillbirth, preterm delivery, neonatal hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism). Calcium acetate treatment, as recommended, is not expected to harm a fetus if maternal calcium levels are properly monitored during and following treatment.
• It is unknown how calcium acetate may affect a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.