Ergocalciferol
Také známé jako: Drisdol, Calciferol Drops
* **Cost vs. Efficacy**: While ergocalciferol is less expensive than other vitamin D medications (like calcitriol), it is usually not the first choice because it takes longer to start working and stays in the body much longer. * **Lifelong Commitment**: Using vitamin D products for parathyroid issues usually requires lifelong treatment and regular veterinary visits for blood tests. * **Risk of High Calcium**: While this medication treats low calcium, an overdose can cause blood calcium levels to become dangerously high. Because the drug is stored in body fat, this toxic effect can last for many weeks, even after you stop giving the medication. * **Watch for Signs**: Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet shows signs of high calcium, such as increased thirst, increased urination, vomiting, or extreme tiredness.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
Veterinary professional? See the full dosing-by-species reference on VetSheet →
What it is used for
- Maintenance therapy of parathyroid failure after using parenteral calcium to control hypocalcemic tetany
- Maintenance therapy of parathyroid failure after using parenteral calcium to control hypocalcemic tetany
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Hypercalcemia
- Hyperphosphatemia
- Nephrocalcinosis
- Soft tissue mineralization
Cautions & contraindications
- Hypercalcemia
- Vitamin D toxicity
- Malabsorption syndrome
- Abnormal sensitivity to the effects of vitamin D
- ### Important Warnings * **Renal Impairment**: Patients with kidney dysfunction may not convert ergocalciferol into the primary active metabolite. Calcitriol or DHT is preferred as they bypass renal activation. * **Hyperphosphatemia**: Use with extreme caution. Elevated calcium and phosphorus simultaneously can lead to severe metastatic soft tissue mineralization (monitor calcium x phosphorus product). * **Monitoring Commitment**: Chronic therapy should not be initiated unless owners are willing to commit to ongoing, rigorous patient monitoring. * **Pregnancy**: Hypervitaminosis D has been implicated in causing teratogenic effects. Weigh potential benefits against risks. * **Nursing**: Large doses of vitamin D are excreted into milk. Consider using milk replacer for offspring of dams receiving therapeutic dosages.
Drug interactions
- Corticosteroids: Can reduce the effects of vitamin D analogs by decreasing calcium absorption and increasing renal excretion.
- Digoxin: Patients are highly sensitive to the arrhythmogenic effects of hypercalcemia; intensified monitoring is required.
- Verapamil: Patients are sensitive to the effects of hypercalcemia; intensified monitoring is required.
- Mineral Oil: May reduce the amount of orally administered ergocalciferol absorbed from the GI tract.
- Thiazide Diuretics: May cause hypercalcemia when given in conjunction with Vitamin D analogs due to decreased renal calcium excretion.
Časté otázky
What is Ergocalciferol used for in pets?
• Cost vs. Efficacy: While ergocalciferol is less expensive than other vitamin D medications (like calcitriol), it is usually not the first choice because it takes longer to start working and stays in the body much longer. • Lifelong Commitment: Using vitamin D products for parathyroid issues usually requires lifelong treatment and regular veterinary visits for blood tests. • Risk of High Calcium: While this medication treats low calcium, an overdose can cause blood calcium levels to become dangerously high. Because the drug is stored in body fat, this toxic effect can last for many weeks, even after you stop giving the medication. • Watch for Signs: Contact your veterinarian immediately if your pet shows signs of high calcium, such as increased thirst, increased urination, vomiting, or extreme tiredness.
Is Ergocalciferol safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
Článek je obecná edukace a nenahrazuje veterinární radu. Pokud je zvíře nemocné, kontaktujte veterináře.
Máte obavy o zvíře?
AI Peqaboo pomáhá sledovat příznaky, pochopit výsledky laboratoře a vědět, kdy jít k veterináři.
Stáhnout aplikaci Peqaboo