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Alfacalcidol: Indications, Dosages and Side Effects

Nov 11，2024

Alfacalcidol is a vitamin D analog that can be used to treat vitamin D deficiency, renal osteodystrophy, hyperparathyroidism, hypoparathyroidism, hypocalcemia in patients with chronic renal failure, rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis (OP), etc.

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Dosage

Usual adult dose for hypocalcemia, osteoporosis or osteoporotic rickets, hypoparathyroidism, hypophosphatemia, renal osteodystrophy: usually starts with 1 μg per day orally or intravenously, and the maintenance dose is 0.25~1μg per day. If hypercalcemia occurs, the drug may need to be discontinued. Elderly people are 0.5 μg per day. Usual pediatric dose: For premature infants or newborns, the dose is 0.05-0.1 μg/kg per day, and for children weighing less than 20 kg, 0.05 μg/kg per day. However, the dosage varies for the elderly and newborns due to individual differences. It is recommended to use it according to the doctor's advice.

Side effects

Common side effects of Alfacalcidol include:

Weakness
Fatigue
Drowsiness
Headache
Loss of appetite
Dry mouth
Metallic taste
Nausea
Vomiting
Kidney damage

Excessive or long-term use may cause hypercalcemia (long-term use may lead to systemic vascular and soft tissue calcification, as well as kidney stones, arteriosclerosis or aggravated heart valve sclerosis); headache, dizziness, excessive suppression of PTH, hypercalciuria, hyperphosphatemia, adynamic bone disease; transient or persistent renal function decline.

References:

[1] N. TOROPTSOVA O. D O Nikitinskaya. Place of alfacalcidol in treatment of osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures[J]. Medical alphabet, 2022. DOI:10.33667/2078-5631-2022-29-8-12

[2] OSAMU UEMURA. Alfacalcidol-Induced Kidney Injury in Patients with Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities.[J]. Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology, 2024. DOI:10.3177/jnsv.70.365.

[3] EL-ELLISY D, EWAIS M, EL-AWADY E, et al. Effect of Alfacalcidol on Anemia in Renal Failure Patients[C]. 2011. DOI:10.21608/scumj.2011.56014.

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