Rocaltrol : Uses, Side Effects, Interactions & More

Why is this medication prescribed?

Rocaltrol (Calcitriol) is used to treat and prevent low calcium levels and bone disease in patients whose kidneys or parathyroid glands (glands in the neck that release natural substances to control the amount of calcium in the blood) do not function normally. It is also used to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism (a condition in which the body makes too much parathyroid hormone [PTH; a natural substance needed to control the amount of calcium in the blood]) and metabolic bone disease in people with kidney disease. Rocaltrol is in a class of medications called vitamin D analogs. It works by helping the body use more calcium found in food or supplements and by regulating the production of parathyroid hormone.

How should this medicine be used?

Rocaltrol (Calcitriol) comes as a capsule and a solution (liquid) to take by mouth. It is usually taken once a day or once every other day in the morning with or without food. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any parts you do not understand. Take Rocaltrol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less, or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Your doctor will likely prescribe a low dose of Rocaltrol and gradually increase it depending on your body’s response to Rocaltrol.

Other uses for this medicine

Rocaltrol is also sometimes used to treat rickets (softening and weakening of the bones in children caused by a lack of vitamin D), osteomalacia (softening and weakening of the bones in adults caused by a lack of vitamin D), and Familial hypophosphatemia (rickets or osteomalacia caused by a decreased ability to break down vitamin D in the body). Rocaltrol is also sometimes used to increase the amount of calcium in the blood of premature babies. Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this drug for your condition.

This medicine may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

What special precautions should I follow?

Before taking Rocaltrol,

  • Tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking, especially antacids that contain calcium or magnesium; calcium supplements; cholestyramine (Cholybar, Prevalite, Questran); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics (‘water pills’); ketoconazole; Lanthanum (Phosrenol); laxatives containing magnesium; oral steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos); other forms of vitamin D; phenobarbital; phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); and sevelamer (Renagel, Renvela). Also tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking ergocalciferol (Deltalin, Drisdol) or have stopped taking it in the past few months. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you closely for side effects.
  • Tell your doctor if you have high calcium levels. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take Rocaltrol.
  • Tell your doctor if you recently had surgery or are unable to move for any reason, and if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease.
  • Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while taking Rocaltrol, call your doctor. You should not breastfeed while you are taking Rocaltrol.

What special dietary instructions should I follow?

Rocaltrol will work only if you get the correct amount of calcium from the foods you eat. If you get too much calcium from food, you can experience serious side effects from Rocaltrol, and if you don’t get enough calcium from food, Rocaltrol will not control your condition. Your doctor will tell you which foods are good sources of these nutrients and how many servings you need each day. If you find it difficult to eat enough of these foods, tell your doctor. In that case, your doctor may prescribe or recommend a supplement.

If you are being treated with dialysis (a process of cleaning the blood by running it through a machine), your doctor may also prescribe a low-phosphate diet. Follow these instructions carefully.

If you do not have kidney disease, you should drink plenty of fluids while taking Rocaltrol. If you have kidney disease, talk to your doctor about how much liquid to drink each day.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for the one you forgot.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Some side effects can be serious. The following symptoms are uncommon, but if you experience any of them, call your doctor immediately:

  • feeling tired, difficulty thinking clearly, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst, increased urination, or weight loss
  • weakness
  • headache
  • upset stomach
  • dry mouth
  • muscle pain
  • bone pain
  • metallic taste in mouth
  • difficult or painful urination
  • changes in vision
  • lack of interest in the things around you
  • hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
  • fever or chills
  • stomach pain
  • pale, fatty stools
  • yellowing of the skin or eyes
  • runny nose
  • decreased sexual desire
  • irregular heartbeat
  • rash
  • hives
  • itching
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor can submit a report online to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program (http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?

Keep this medicine in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of the reach of children. Store at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Protect this medicine from light.

Unnecessary medications must be disposed of in special ways to ensure they cannot be consumed by pets, children, and others. However, you should not flush this medicine down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medications is through a drug take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage / recycling department to find out about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA Safe Drug Disposal website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

It is important to keep all medicines out of the sight and reach of children, since many containers (such as those containing weekly pills and those for eye drops, creams, patches and inhalers) are not resistant to children and small children can easily open them. To protect young children from poisoning, always close the safety caps and immediately place the medicine in a safe place, one that is upright and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

In case of emergency/overdose

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim collapsed, had a seizure, is having trouble breathing, or is unable to wake up, immediately call 911 for emergency services.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

  • feeling tired, difficulty thinking clearly, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst, increased urination, or weight loss
  • weakness
  • headache
  • upset stomach
  • dry mouth
  • muscle or bone pain
  • metallic taste in mouth
  • difficult or painful urination
  • changes in vision
  • hallucination (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
  • fever or chills
  • stomach pain
  • pale, fatty stools
  • yellowing of the skin or eyes
  • runny nose
  • decreased sexual desire
  • irregular heartbeat

What other information should I know?

Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain laboratory tests to check your response to Rocaltrol.

Do not let anyone else take your medicine. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.

It is important that you keep a written list of all prescription and over-the-counter (over-the-counter) medications you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should take this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you go into hospital. It is also important information to take with you in case of emergencies.

Brand Names

  • Rocaltrol®

Disclaimer: DrLinex has made every effort to ensure that all information is factually accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date. However, this article should not be used as a licensed health care professional’s choice of knowledge and expertise. You should always consult your doctor or other health care professional before taking any medication. The information given here is subject to change and it has not been used to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions or adverse effects. The lack of warning or other information for any drug does not indicate that the combination of medicine or medication is safe, effective or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *