EFFERVESCENT CALCIUM GLUCONATE TABLETS BP 1g

Each tablet contains 1g Calcium Gluconate BP equivalent to 2.23mmol of calcium (Ca²⁺)

White uncoated tablets.

White, circular, flat bevelled-edge uncoated tablets impressed “C” and the identifying letters “CN” on one face.

1) As an adjunct to conventional therapy in the arrest or slowing down of bone demineralisation in osteoporosis where other effective treatment is contraindicated.

2) In the arrest or slowing down of bone demineralisation in osteoporosis where other effective treatment is contraindicated.

3) Therapeutic supplementation in osteomalacia, rickets, post-gastrectomy malabsorption, pregnancy, lactation, malnutrition or dietary deficiency.

Posology

The tablets must be dissolved in one third to one half a tumblerful of water.

In health the concentration of calcium in serum is maintained close to 2.5mmol/l (normal range 2.25-2.75mmol or 4.5-5.5mEq/l).

Treatment or therapeutic supplementation should aim to restore or maintain this level.

Adults (including elderly):

Osteoporosis: A daily supplement of 800mg (20mmol) calcium or 8-9 tablets may reduce the rate of bone loss, but larger doses have not been shown to be more effective.

Children: Children require approximately half the adult dosage.

Infants: A more suitable dosage form should be used for this age group.

Method of Administration

To be dissolved in water for oral administration.

Severe hypercalcaemia and hypercalciuria (eg in hypervitaminosis D, hyperparathyroidism, severe renal failure and renal calculi, osteoporosis due to immobility and decalcifying tumours such as plasmocytoma and skeletal metastases).

Calcium salts should be given cautiously to patients with cardiac disease or sarcoidosis.

Careful monitoring of blood levels and urinary calcium excretion is necessary, particularly when high dose or parenteral calcium therapy has been used, especially in children.

In mild hypercalciuria (exceeding 300mg (7.5mmol)/24 hours) as well as in mild to moderate renal failure, or where there is evidence of stone formation in the urinary tract, adequate checks must be kept on urinary calcium excretion; if necessary the dosage should be reduced or calcium therapy discontinued. High vitamin D intake should be avoided during calcium therapy, unless especially indicated.

Effervescent Calcium Gluconate Tablets BP must be used with care in patients receiving alternative compound vitamin or mineral preparations, which often contain sources of additional calcium.

Treatment should be suspended if blood calcium levels exceed 2.625-2.75mmol/litre (105-110mg/litre) or if urinary calcium excretion exceeds 5mg/kg.

Thiazide diuretics reduce urinary calcium excretion so the risk of hypercalcaemia should be considered. Patients receiving therapy with cardiac glycosides such as digoxin must not be given calcium supplements.

Oral calcium administration may reduce the absorption of oral tetracycline or fluoride preparations. An interval of three hours should be observed if the two are to be given.

The likelihood of hypercalcaemia is increased in pregnant women in whom calcium and vitamin D are co-administered. Epidemiological studies with calcium have shown no increase in the teratogenic hazard to the foetus if used in the doses recommended. Although supplemental calcium may be excreted in breast milk, the concentration is unlikely to be sufficient to produce any adverse effect on the neonate.

None known.

Mild gastrointestinal disturbances have occurred rarely (eg constipation, diarrhoea). Cardiac arrhythmias and bradycardia may also occur.

Deliberate overdosage is unlikely due to the large size of the tablets and the necessity to dissolve the tablets in water. The symptoms of overdosage with calcium include anorexia, lassitude, nausea, vomiting, headache, extreme thirst, vertigo, and raised blood urea; calcium may be deposited in many tissues including the kidney and arteries and the plasma cholesterol level may become elevated.

Calcium intake should be reduced to a minimum and any dehydration and electrolyte imbalance corrected immediately. A loop diuretic such as furosemide may be given to increase urinary calcium excretion. Drugs (such as thiazides and vitamin D compounds) which promote hypercalcaemia should be discontinued and dietary calcium should be restricted.

If severe hypercalcaemia persists, drugs which inhibit mobilisation of calcium from the skeleton may be required. The biophosphonates are useful and disodium pamidronate is probably the most effective. Plicamycin is probably the most rapidly effective drug but cannot be given continuously for more than a few days because of marrow toxicity; the duration of its hypocalcaemic effect is unpredictable but can last several days. Corticosteroids may only be useful where hypercalcaemia is due to sarcoidosis or vitamin D intoxication; they often take several days to achieve the desired effect. Calcitonin is relatively non-toxic but its effect can wear off after a few days despite continuous use; it is rarely effective where biophosphonates have failed to reduce serum calcium adequately. In severe cases, significant amounts of calcium may be removed by peritoneal dialysis.

Patients with symptoms of overdosage should avoid exposure to direct sunlight.

Special care must be exercised when treating overdosage in patients with impaired renal or hepatic function.

Calcium gluconate is used in calcium deficiency.

Calcium is absorbed from the small intestine; about one third of ingested calcium is absorbed. Absorption decreases with age and may be more efficient when the body is deficient in calcium or from diets deficient in calcium. It is excreted in sweat, bile, pancreatic juice, saliva, urine, faeces and milk.

There are no pre-clinical data of relevance to the prescriber which are additional to that already included in other sections of the SPC.

Also contains: citric acid, magnesium stearate, povidone, saccharin sodium, sodium bicarbonate, stearic acid, tartaric acid.

None known.

Shelf-life

Three years from the date of manufacture.

Shelf-life after dilution/reconstitution

Not applicable.

Shelf-life after first opening

Not applicable.

Store below 25°C in a dry place.

The product containers are rigid injection moulded polypropylene or injection blow-moulded polyethylene containers and snap-on polyethylene lids; in case any supply difficulties should arise the alternative is amber glass containers with screw caps. An alternative closure for polyethylene containers is a polypropylene, twist on, push down and twist off child-resistant, tamper-evident lid.

Also included in each pack is a 2g silica gel capsule.

Pack sizes: 7s, 10s, 14s, 21s, 28s, 30s, 56s, 60s, 84s, 90s, 100s, 112s.

Product may also be supplied in bulk packs, for reassembly purposes only, in polybags contained in tins, skillets or polybuckets filled with suitable cushioning material. Also included are 5 x 50g silica gel bags.

Maximum size of bulk packs: 5,000.

Not applicable.

Name or style and permanent address of registered place of business of the holder of the Marketing Authorisation:

Actavis UK Limited

(Trading style: Actavis)

Whiddon Valley

BARNSTAPLE

N Devon EX32 8NS

PL 0142/5579 R

11.7.86 (Product Licence of Right: 26.4.73)

19.10.97 (19.10.92)

March 2007