Therapeutic action
- Vitamin necessary for the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate and for normal bone calcification.
Indications
- Prevention and treatment of vitamin D deficiencies (rickets, osteomalacia)
Forms and strengths
- 10 000 IU/ml oral solution, in 10 ml vial
- 50 000 IU/ml oral solution, in 2 ml ampoule (100 000 IU)
Dosage and duration
Colecalciferol and ergocalciferol are used at the same doses:
Prevention of vitamin D deficiencies
- Term neonate: 400 to 800 IU once daily until 6 months of age
- Term neonatein contexts of high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency: 600 to 1200 IU once daily until 6 months of age
- Pregnant woman: 100 000 IU single dose (one 2 ml ampoule)in the 6th or 7th month of pregnancy
Treatment of vitamin D deficiencies
- Child < 3 months:2 000 IU once daily for 3 months
- Child from 3 to < 12 months: 2000 IU once daily for 3 months or 50 000 IU single dose
- Child from 12 months to < 12 years: 3 000 to 6 000 IU once daily for 3 months or 150 000 IU single dose
- Child ≥ 12 years and adult:6 000 IU once daily for 3 months or 300 000 IU single dose
Then continue with preventive dose, as long as the situation requires:
- Child < 12 months: 400 IU once daily
- Child ≥ 12 months and adult:600 IU once daily
Do not exceed 600 000 IU yearly.
Contra-indications,adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with hypercalcaemia, hypercalciuria, calcic lithiasis, severe renal impairment.
- Stop treatment if signs of over dosage occur: headache, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, increased thirst, polyuria.
- Avoid combination with thiazide diuretics, e.g. hydrochlorothiazide (decreased urinary calcium excretion).
- Monitor, if possible, calcaemia and calciuria during curative treatment.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication
- Breast-feeding: no contra-indication. When curative treatment is being administered to the mother, do not give vitamin D to the child.
Remarks
The number of IU per drop of oral solution varies according to manufacturers. Check instructions for use.
Preferably use the vials of oral solution that, once opened, keep for 6 months.
During the first 3 months of curative treatment, administer a supplement of 500 mg of calcium once daily.
Storage
– Below 25 °C