Rocaltrol is used for the treatment of osteoporosis and as a preventative for people taking oral corticosteroids. It works by improving the absorption of calcium from the intestine and by stimulating growth of healthy bones. Rocaltrol contains Calcitriol which occurs naturally in the body and is a biologically active form of Vitamin D.
Dosage
A typical prescribed dose is for 1 capsule taken daily. However you should only use Rocaltrol as directed by your doctor or medical professional and a precise dose will depend on the nature of your condition.
Swallow the Rocaltrol capsule whole and drink a glass water. This medication can be taken with or without food.
Side Effects
In most people, taking Roclatrol results in no adverse side effects. However, some people may experience one or more of the following:
- loss of appetite
- nausea
- headache
- fever
- vomit
- stomach ache
- constipation
- weakness or genral fatigue
- dry mouth
- irregular or rapid heart beat
- unrinary tract infection
These side effects are likely to lessen with continued use of the medication, or disappear completely if you cease taking medication.
Precautions
Before taking Rocaltrol:
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to calcitriol, other forms of vitamin D such as calcifediol (Calderol), dihydrotachysterol (Hytakerol, DHT), doxercalciferol (Hectorol), ergocalciferol (Drisdol, Calciferol), paricalcitol (Zemplar) or any othermedications or vitamins.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications. vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking, especially antacids; calcium supplements; cholestyramine (Questran); colestipol (Colestid); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics ('water pills')ketoconazole (Nizoral); lanthanum (Fosrenol); laxatives; oral steroids such as dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Deltasone); other forms of vitamin D; phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton); phenytoin (Dilantin);and sevelamer (Renagel).Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking ergocalciferol (Drisdol, Calciferol) or have stopped taking it in the past few months. Your doctor may change the doses of your medications or monitor you more carefully for side effects.
- you should know that many non-prescription medications are not safe to take with calcitriol. Ask your doctor or medical professional before you take any non-prescription medications while you are taking Rocaltrol.
- tell your doctor or medical professional if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking calcitriol, call your doctor . You should not breastfeed while you are taking Rocaltrol.
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