Calcium Salts

Class: Replacement Preparations
- Antidotes
VA Class: TN420
CAS Number: 543-90-8
Brands: Alka-Mints, Calci-Chew, Calci-Mix, Caltrate, Chooz, Citracal, Liqui-Cal, Os-Cal, PhosLo, Posture, Posture-D, Titralac, Tums

Introduction

Calcium salts are used as a source of calcium, an essential nutrient cation.

Uses for Calcium Salts

Dietary Requirements (oral therapy)

For maintaining an adequate intake of calcium to support the development and preservation of bone mass at a level sufficient to prevent fractures associated with osteopenia or osteoporosis in later life and of other calcified tissues (e.g., teeth).

Life long intake of adequate calcium is necessary for good bone health at any age; calcium requirements may increase among older individuals.

Adequate intakes of calcium can be accomplished through changes in food consumption behaviors, consumption of nutrient-fortified foodstuffs, use of dietary supplements, or a combination of these.

In the US and Canada, calcium principally is obtained from dairy products. Other principal sources include fruits, vegetables, and grain products. In addition, many healthy individuals take dietary supplements containing calcium.

For specific information on currently recommended Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) of calcium for various life-stage and gender groups, see Dosage under Dosage and Administration.

Hypocalcemia (parenteral and oral therapy)

Calcium salts are used as a source of calcium cation for the treatment or prevention of calcium depletion when dietary measures are inadequate. Conditions associated with calcium deficiency include hypoparathyroidism, achlorhydria, chronic diarrhea, vitamin D deficiency, steatorrhea, sprue, pregnancy and lactation, menopause, pancreatitis, renal failure, alkalosis, and hyperphosphatemia.

Some clinicians consider IV calcium chloride the calcium salt of choice to prevent hypocalcemia during transfusions with citrated blood. In addition to being irritating, however, the chloride salt is acidifying and generally should not be used when acidosis coincides with hypocalcemia (e.g., renal failure).

The calcium glycerophosphate and calcium lactate fixed-combination injection is used IM to increase serum calcium concentrations.

Administration of certain drugs (e.g., some diuretics, anticonvulsants) may sometimes result in hypocalcemia, which may warrant calcium replacement therapy.

Calcium is administered in long-term electrolyte replacement regimens.

Use of calcium salts should not preclude the use of other measures intended to correct the underlying cause of calcium depletion.

Vitamin D analogs may be administered concomitantly with oral calcium salts for the treatment of chronic hypocalcemia, especially when caused by vitamin D deficiency.

Calcium salts may be used orally for the treatment of hypocalcemia secondary to the administration of anticonvulsant drugs.

Hypocalcemic Tetany (IV therapy)

IV calcium gluconate is considered the salt of choice for the treatment of acute hypocalcemia.

Calcium salts are used to treat acute hypocalcemic tetany secondary to renal failure, hypoparathyroidism, premature delivery, and/or maternal.