Calcitriol
También conocido como: Rocaltrol, Calcijex, Active Vitamin D3
Calcitriol is a potent form of vitamin D used to help balance your pet's calcium levels or manage kidney disease complications. Because the doses required for pets are extremely small, the medication often needs to be specially compounded by a pharmacy. * **Administration Timing:** If using lower doses (<3.5 nanograms/kg/day), give with the morning meal. If using higher doses (>5 nanograms/kg/day), administer at bedtime on an empty stomach to reduce the chance of calcium spiking. * **Watch for Hypercalcemia (High Calcium):** Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice increased thirst (polydipsia), increased urination (polyuria), or loss of appetite (anorexia). * **Watch for Hypocalcemia (Low Calcium):** If treating for low calcium, watch for muscle tremors, facial twitching, stiffness, weakness, uncoordinated walking (ataxia), behavioral changes, or seizures. * **Dietary Supplements:** Do not give your pet any over-the-counter calcium or vitamin D supplements without explicit instructions from your veterinarian.
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
- To suppress secondary hyperparathyroidism in CRF
- Long-term maintenance in animals with hypoparathyroidism
- To suppress secondary hyperparathyroidism in CRF
- Subacute and chronic maintenance treatment of hypocalcemia
- Long-term maintenance in animals with hypoparathyroidism
- Primary idiopathic seborrhea (especially in spaniel breeds)
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Hypercalcemia
- Hypercalciuria
- Hyperphosphatemia
- Polydipsia
- Polyuria
- Anorexia
- Tissue mineralization (if given with hyperphosphatemia)
Cautions & contraindications
- Hypercalcemia
- Hyperphosphatemia (Calcium x Phosphorus product > 70)
- Vitamin D toxicity
- Malabsorption syndromes
- Abnormal sensitivity to vitamin D effects
- Use with extreme caution in patients with hyperphosphatemia; calcium and phosphorus levels should be in the low-normal range before beginning treatment to prevent soft tissue mineralization. Use with caution in animals susceptible to calcium oxalate uroliths due to the risk of hypercalciuria. Calcitriol is teratogenic at high doses (FDA Category C). Serum cholesterol levels may be falsely elevated by vitamin D analogs when using the Zlatkis-Zak reaction.
Drug interactions
- Calcium-containing phosphorus binding agents (e.g., calcium carbonate): Use with calcitriol may induce hypercalcemia.
- Corticosteroids: Can nullify the effects of vitamin D analogs.
- 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.
- Phenytoin, Barbiturates, Primidone: May induce hepatic enzyme systems and increase the metabolism of Vitamin D analogs, thus decreasing their activity.
- Thiazide diuretics: May cause hypercalcemia when given in conjunction with Vitamin D analogs.
Preguntas frecuentes
What is Calcitriol used for in pets?
Calcitriol is a potent form of vitamin D used to help balance your pet's calcium levels or manage kidney disease complications. Because the doses required for pets are extremely small, the medication often needs to be specially compounded by a pharmacy. • Administration Timing: If using lower doses (<3.5 nanograms/kg/day), give with the morning meal. If using higher doses (>5 nanograms/kg/day), administer at bedtime on an empty stomach to reduce the chance of calcium spiking. • Watch for Hypercalcemia (High Calcium): Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice increased thirst (polydipsia), increased urination (polyuria), or loss of appetite (anorexia). • Watch for Hypocalcemia (Low Calcium): If treating for low calcium, watch for muscle tremors, facial twitching, stiffness, weakness, uncoordinated walking (ataxia), behavioral changes, or seizures. • Dietary Supplements: Do not give your pet any over-the-counter calcium or vitamin D supplements without explicit instructions from your veterinarian.
Is Calcitriol 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.
Este artículo es educación general y no sustituye el consejo veterinario profesional. Si tu mascota está mal, consulta a un veterinario.
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