COLECALCIFEROL = VITAMIN D3 oral

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    Prescription under medical supervision

     

    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 neonate in 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: 2 000 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 overdosage 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 
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