Calitrol

Calitrol

Active ingredient: calcitriol

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Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)

This leaflet provides important information about using Calitrol. You should also speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you would like further information or if you have any concerns or questions about using Calitrol.

Where to find information in this leaflet:

1. Why am I using Calitrol?
2. What should I know before I use Calitrol?
3. What if I am taking other medicines?
4. How do I use Calitrol?
5. What should I know while using Calitrol?
6. Are there any side effects?
7. Product details

1. Why am I using Calitrol?

Calitrol contains the active ingredient calcitriol. Calcitriol occurs naturally in humans and is a biologically active form of vitamin D.

There are many different types of medicines used to treat bone conditions. Calitrol belongs to a group of medicines known as vitamin D compounds.

Calitrol is used to treat people with osteoporosis and to prevent osteoporosis in people taking oral corticosteroids.

Calitrol capsules are also prescribed by doctors for the treatment of low blood calcium in patients with osteodystrophy (a form of bone disease), hypoparathyroidism (reduced function of the parathyroid glands) and rickets.

Calitrol works by improving absorption of calcium from the intestine and by stimulating growth of healthy bones.

2. What should I know before I use Calitrol?

Warnings

Do not use Calitrol if:

• you are allergic to calcitriol, other vitamin D compounds, or any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet.
• Always check the ingredients to make sure you can use this medicine.
• you have high levels of calcium in your blood (called hypercalcaemia)
• you have vitamin D toxicity.

Check with your doctor if you:

• have any other medical conditions, particularly if you have kidney problems
• take any medicines for any other condition
• you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you take any Calitrol.

During treatment, you may be at risk of developing certain side effects. It is important you understand these risks and how to monitor for them. See additional information under Section 6. Are there any side effects?

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Calitrol when pregnant.

Do not take Calitrol is you are breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed. Calitrol may pass into breast milk and have unwanted effects in the baby.

3. What if I am taking other medicines?

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Some medicines may interfere with Calitrol and affect how it works. These medicines include:

• medicines or vitamin tablets containing vitamin D or calcium
• cholestyramine, medicine used to lower cholesterol levels in the blood
• sevelamer, a medicine used to lower phosphorus levels in your body
• antacids containing magnesium
• digoxin, medicine used to treat heart conditions
• thiazide diuretics, medicines used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) and oedema (water retention)
• phenytoin and phenobarbital. medicines used to control epilepsy and/or seizures.

These medicines may be affected by Calitrol, or may affect how well it works. You may need to take different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor will advise you.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Calitrol.

4. How do I use Calitrol?

How much to take

Your doctor will tell you how many Calitrol capsules to take each day. This will vary depending on the nature of your illness, the calcium level in your blood and your individual response to Calitrol.

Calitrol is usually taken continuously for long term treatment.

Always tell your doctor if you want to stop taking Calitrol as stopping suddenly can lead to a rapid fall in calcium levels.

Osteoporosis patients

• Generally the daily dose for adults is 0.25 micrograms (one capsule) taken twice daily.
• Follow the instructions provided and use Calitrol until your doctor tells you to stop.

Osteodystrophy, hypoparathyroidism and rickets

• Generally the initial daily dose for adults is 0.25 micrograms (one capsule) given in the morning. If calcium levels have not improved significantly after 2 to 4 weeks treatment with Calitrol, your doctor may gradually increase the dose in 0.25 microgram steps until a satisfactory calcium level in your blood is achieved.
• Follow the instructions provided and use Calitrol until your doctor tells you to stop.

Paediatric Patients

• The safety and efficacy of Calitrol capsules in children has not been sufficiently investigated to enable dosing recommendations.

How to take

• Take Calitrol at the same time each day.
• Calitrol can be taken with or without food.
• Swallow capsules whole with a glass of water.
• Do not open the capsules and do not take any capsules that are damaged.

If you forget to use Calitrol

Calitrol should be used regularly at the same time each day. If you miss your dose at the usual time, do not take an extra dose. Wait until the next dose and take your normal dose then.

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed.

If you use too much Calitrol

If you think that you have used too much Calitrol, you may need urgent medical attention.

You should immediately:

• phone the Poisons Information Centre
  (by calling 13 11 26), or
• contact your doctor, or
• go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital.

You should do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

The following are some symptoms which may or may not occur:

• loss of appetite
• headache
• excessive thirst
• feeling sick
• vomiting
• constipation

If you are not sure what to do, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

5. What should I know while using Calitrol?

Things you should do

• Do not take any other medicines whether they require a prescription or not without first telling your doctor.
• Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed. Otherwise, your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
• Tell your doctor if you feel the capsules are not helping your condition.
• Be sure to keep all of your appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be checked.
• Always discuss with your doctor any problems or difficulties during or after taking Calitrol capsules.
• Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are using Calitrol.
• Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while taking Calitrol.

Things you should not do

• Do not suddenly stop taking Calitrol or change the dose without first checking with your doctor. Your doctor will tell you the best way to slowly reduce the amount of Calitrol you are taking before stopping completely.
• Do not let yourself run out of medicine over the weekend or on holidays.
• Do not give CALITROL to anyone else even if their symptoms seem similar to yours.
• Do not use Calitrol to treat other complaints unless your doctor says to.

Calitrol and diet

You should discuss your diet with your doctor and adhere strictly to your dietary recommendations.

Sudden changes in diet, particularly the amount of dairy products, may lead to increased calcium in your blood. If this happens, you may experience weakness, feeling sick, vomiting, constipation, confusion and increased urination.

Calitrol and laboratory tests

Make sure that you keep all blood test appointments with your doctor.

These are to check your blood calcium levels while you are taking Calitrol. Your doctor will discuss your specific needs with you.

Driving or using machines

Your ability to drive a car or operate machinery will not normally be affected by Calitrol.

Looking after your medicine

• Store below 25°C.
• Keep your capsules in the blister pack until it is time to take them.

Store it in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight; for example, do not store it:

• in the bathroom or near a sink, or
• in the car or on window sills.

Keep it where young children cannot reach it.

Getting rid of any unwanted medicine

If you no longer need to use this medicine or it is out of date, take it to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

Do not take Calitrol if the package is torn or shows sign of tampering.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date. If you take this medicine after the expiry date was passed, it may not work as well.

6. Are there any side effects?

All medicines can have side effects. If you do experience any side effects, most of them are minor and temporary. However, some side effects may need medical attention.

See the information below and, if you need to, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any further questions about side effects.

Less serious side effects

Less serious side effects	What to do
Skin related rash, itching or hives on the skin	Speak to your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects and they worry you.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects	What to do
Gastrointestinal related: loss of appetite feeling sick vomiting or stomach ache constipation dry mouth or thirst Neurological or brain related: headache feeling tired, sleepy or drowsy Musculoskeletal or muscle related: weakness or muscle weakness Cardiovascular or heart related: irregular and/or rapid heart beat Urinary related: urinary tract infection Other side effects: fever	Call your doctor straight away, or go straight to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of these serious side effects. These are all symptoms of high levels of calcium in the blood.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything else that may be making you feel unwell.

Other side effects not listed here may occur in some people.

Reporting side effects

After you have received medical advice for any side effects you experience, you can report side effects to the Therapeutic Goods Administration online at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

Always make sure you speak to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to stop taking any of your medicines.

7. Product details

This medicine is only available with a doctor’s prescription.

What Calitrol contains

Active ingredient (main ingredient)	Calcitriol 0.25 micrograms
Other ingredients (inactive ingredients)	butylated hydroxyanisole butylated hydroxytoluene fractionated coconut oil gelatin glycerol sorbitol titanium dioxide iron oxide red iron oxide yellow
Potential allergens	Calitrol does not contain sucrose, gluten, tartrazine or any other azo dyes. May contain traces of sulfites (from gelatin caps)

Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to any of these ingredients.

What Calitrol looks like

Calitrol 0.25 microgram capsules are red coloured, oval soft gelatin capsules containing a clear oily liquid.

CALITROL is available in blisters (AUST R 232770) of 100 capsules.

Who distributes Calitrol

Arrotex Pharmaceuticals Pty. Ltd
15-17 Chapel St
Cremorne. VIC 3121
www.arrotex.com.au

This leaflet was prepared in September 2023.