Lack of vitamin D3 in the body threatens with serious troubles. For children, this deficiency is fraught with the development of rickets, and in adults, its lack may well cause the development of osteoporosis and similar problems.
The modern market of medicines offers its consumers a number of medicines to eliminate the deficiency of this vitamin. One of these medicines is Alfacalcidol. Instructions for use describe it as an effective tool for normalizing the vitamin and mineral balance in the body.
Pharmacodynamics
This medication is the active form of vitamin D3. The regulation of the metabolism of such important mineral compounds as phosphorus and calcium is also an important property of Alfacalcidol. The use of the drug effectively stimulates the formation of bone tissue. With its direct participation, the absorption of calcium and phosphorus in the intestines and kidneys increases. In addition, this medicationincreases the mineralization of bone tissues and at the same time lowers the level of parathyroid hormone in the blood. As a result, Alfacalcidol has an antirachitic effect and helps to reduce the number of bone fractures.
If the drug is taken in courses, then under its influence coordination of movements improves, bone and muscle pain decreases (which are the result of a violation of phosphorus-calcium metabolism).
When is the medication justified?
"Alfaklcidol" instructions for use and indications of medical specialists are recommended to be prescribed in cases where there is information in the anamnesis about osteodystrophy, renal failure in the chronic stage. Further it is used for hypoparathyroidism. The basis for its appointment is rickets, osteomalacia (decrease in bone tissue) and bone softening, the nature of which can be very different. Osteoporosis - steroid, senile, postmenopausal - is also successfully treated with Alfacalcidol.
This drug is used in cases where the patient suffers from renal acidosis, or has a history of Fanconi syndrome (a complex disease that includes renal acidosis, which is hereditary in nature, nephrocalcinosis, rickets, and possibly adiposogenital dystrophy).
For all these problems, Alfacalcidol can provide effective help.
When should I stop taking?
Listcontraindications contains for the drug "Alfacalcidol" instructions for use. Reviews of specialists prohibit taking the drug if there is a history of information about hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia (except for developing with hyperparathyroidism), hypermagnesemia. Do not use this drug in case of general intoxication of the body associated with an excessive content of vitamin D3. It is unacceptable to prescribe Alfacalcidol to nursing mothers.
Well, it goes without saying that people with individual hypersensitivity to the components of the medication should not be taken.
Usage and dosage options
The most complete information about the methods of application and dosing contains for the drug "Alfacalcidol" instructions for use. The release form (capsules of 0, 25 or 1 mcg), the dose and duration of the therapeutic course are selected by the doctor individually, depending on the severity of the patient's condition and the nature of the disease.
For example, adult patients suffering from rickets caused by vitamin D3 deficiency, problems with the gastrointestinal tract, should receive a daily dose of 1 to 3 micrograms. A positive result in therapy for hypoparathyroidism will be subject to receiving from 2 to 4 mcg of the drug per day. The daily volume in case of renal insufficiency and osteodystrophy should not exceed the volume of the drug in 2 μg. Fanconi syndrome and renal acidosis are effectively treated if the patient receives a daily dose of "Alfacalcidol" in the amount of 2-6 mcg. If patients haveosteomalacia and hypophosphatemic rickets, the amount of effective daily dosage can range from 4 to 20 mcg.
Doctors recommend starting treatment with the minimum dosages characteristic of each specific disease. During treatment, it is necessary to monitor the content of elements such as calcium and phosphorus in the blood plasma (at least 1 time per week). The dosage of Alfacalcidol can be increased by no more than 0.5 mcg per day. When the minimum effective dosage is found, the calcium content in the blood should be monitored at least every 3-5 weeks.
Unwanted manifestations
Like any medication, there is a list of side effects and the remedy "Alfacalcidol". Instructions for use (synonyms, by the way, also have the same effect) inform patients that the digestive system may react to the drug. In most cases, nausea, vomiting, pain in the epigastric region, constipation or diarrhea, heartburn, and dryness of the mucous membranes in the mouth appear. Anorexia may appear.
From the side of the central nervous system, there may be general weakness and drowsiness, increased fatigue, headaches and dizziness. Sometimes patients talk about the development of tachycardia (rapid heartbeat) and an increase in blood pressure. Perhaps the appearance of dermatological reactions in the form of itching and rashes on the skin, the development of not very intense bone, muscle and joint pain. May vary somewhatlaboratory indicators in the direction of increasing the number of high density lipoproteins. There is a possibility of developing hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia (in those suffering from abnormal kidney function).
Overdosing
A number of negative manifestations will be observed if the dosage allowed for Alfacalcidol is exceeded. Instructions for use warns patients about the risk of developing hypervitaminosis D. Early symptoms of overdose are due to hypercalcemia. Among the most striking are any reactions of the gastrointestinal tract, muscle pain, metallic taste in the mouth, fatigue.
With chronic intoxication, patients report drowsiness and headaches, there may be general weakness, irritability, insomnia, memory impairment and a slight increase in blood pressure. Residual amounts of nitrogen and creatinine are sometimes present in the blood. There is a risk of developing conjunctival hyperemia, calcification of the kidneys, lungs, soft tissues and blood vessels, and the formation of stones in the kidneys. Voice problems (hoarseness) may occur.
To eliminate the consequences of an overdose, it is necessary to cancel the medication, wash the stomach, prescribe loop diuretics, bisphofonates, and hemodialysis using low concentrated calcium solutions, depending on the symptoms.
Restrictions for the use of the drug
There are a number of diseases in which Alfacalcidol should be taken with caution. Instructions for use recommends to be more attentive tothe state of their he alth to patients suffering from atherosclerosis, sarcoidosis (or any other types of granulomatosis), pulmonary tuberculosis (active stage), heart failure and renal insufficiency (chronic form). Alfacalcidol is prescribed with caution if the patient has symptoms of nephrourolithiasis. Children and elderly patients are also at risk (in the latter, the medication can give impetus to the development of atherosclerosis).
Pregnancy and lactation
As for pregnant women and nursing mothers, the "Alfacalcidol" instruction allows you to use only in cases where the expected positive result for the mother outweighs the risk to the development and he alth of the baby.
Hypercalcemia in an expectant mother, provoked by long-term use of Alfacalcidol, can give impetus to the development of a number of problems in the fetus. Among the most serious diseases in an unborn child are hypersensitivity to vitamin D, depression of the functioning of the parathyroid gland, aortic stenosis, mental retardation, syndrome of a specific elf-like appearance.
In addition, "Alfacalcidol" in small volumes can be excreted in breast milk during lactation. To avoid the risk of symptoms of hypercalcemia in a child, the drug should be taken systemically with great care.
Interaction with other substances
"Alfacalcidol" instructions for userecommends not to take in parallel with anticonvulsants (barbiturates, phenitonite, etc.) due to an increase in its ("Alfacalcidol") metabolism. Inhibitors have the opposite effect. The use of the drug in conjunction with products containing foxglove can provoke the development of arrhythmias.
The absorption of "Alfacalcidol" will significantly decrease when it is taken in parallel with albumin, antacids, mineral oil, colestipol, cholestyramine, sucralfate.
Combination with laxatives or magnesium-containing antacids increases the likelihood of developing hypermagnesemia or hyperaluminemia. When using Alfacalcidol with medications containing vitamin D or any of its derivatives, the risk of developing hypercalcemia increases.
The toxic effect of "Alfacalcidol" is significantly reduced with the parallel use of tocopherol, ascorbic and pantothenic acids, thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin A. The effect of the effects of "Alfacalcidol" is less pronounced in the presence of derivatives of pamidronic and etindronic acids, glucocorticoids, calciton. In addition, this medication stimulates the absorption of phosphorus-containing substances, which increases the risk of developing hyperphosphatemia.
Similar drugs
Alfacalcidol analogues are widely represented on the country's pharmaceutical market. Instructions for use contains information about the most effective of them. These include drugs "Etalfa", "Alpha D3-teva",Alfadol-Sa, Van-alpha, Oksidevit, Tevabon.
Manufacturers offer these medicines to consumers in a variety of forms: tablets and gelatin capsules, drops and powder, solutions for intravenous infusion.
Reviews about the drug "Alfacalcidol"
Any medicine has adherents and opponents, the same is the case with Alfacalcidol. Instructions for use, photos of patients who are satisfied with the effect on the body, make it clear to consumers that this medication can significantly improve the quality of human life in a number of diseases associated with a deficiency of vitamins and minerals, a violation of calcium-phosphorus metabolism. In addition, Alfacalcidol can simply improve the condition of nails and hair, which is also important.
Some patients are unhappy with the fact that Alfacalcidol cannot be purchased over the counter as it requires a prescription from a doctor. However, he alth professionals are of the opinion that such serious drugs should not be available to everyone.
