Calcium Verla 600mg, 100 tablets

Vital Mineral. Prevention of calcium deficiency in case of increased calcium requirement

Calcium is responsible for a variety of different functions in the body.

Teeth and bones need calcium for strength and stability, calcium supports blood clotting, immune defense and the transmission of nerve impulses.

The body cannot produce calcium itself and is therefore dependent on a supply.

An increased intake of calcium is particularly necessary during growth phases, during pregnancy, while breastfeeding, during the menopause and in older people or in the case of osteoporosis.

Causes of a calcium deficiency are often also poor diet, calcium losses through taking certain medications, such as cortisone preparations and diuretics/laxatives.

- Calcium deficiency
- Supportive treatment of osteoporosis

active ingredients

• 1500 mg calcium carbonate

excipients

• stearic acid
• magnesium stearate
• hypromellose
• Carboxymethyl Starch, Sodium Type A
• Paraffin, thin liquid
• cellulose, microcrystalline
• Povidone K25
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
• titanium dioxide

indication

• The drug is a mineral supplement.
• It is applied
  • to prevent calcium deficiency when the calcium requirement cannot be met with food.
  • to treat calcium deficiency
  • for the supportive treatment of osteoporosis.

dosage

• Always take this medicine exactly as described or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• The recommended dose is
  • Adults: 1 film-coated tablet 1-2 times a day (equivalent to 600-1200 mg calcium).
• Use in children and adolescents
  • Adolescents from 12 years of age: 1 film-coated tablet once or twice a day (equivalent to 600-1200 mg calcium).
  • Children from 6 years: 1 film-coated tablet once a day (equivalent to 600 mg calcium).
  • Children under 6 years: Use in this age group is not recommended.
• renal dysfunction
  • In the case of impaired renal function, the warnings and precautionary measures listed in section 2 must be observed.
• liver dysfunction
  • There is insufficient data for specific dosage recommendations in the case of impaired liver function.
• duration of use
  • The medicine can also be taken permanently if necessary.
  • In particular, it should be taken long-term to treat calcium deficiency and osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor about how long to take it.
• If you take more than you should
  • this is usually without consequences. If symptoms occur, please contact your doctor.
• If you forget to take a dose
  • Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

way

• Please swallow the film-coated tablets whole with sufficient liquid (preferably a glass of water). You can take the preparation with food or between meals. Please see the information on taking with food and drink in the Interactions section.

side effects

• Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
• Rarely (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people) gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, flatulence, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea may occur.
• Hypersensitivity reactions of the skin such as itching, hives or rash are possible. The frequency cannot be estimated from the available data.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This also applies to side effects that are not specified.

interactions

• Taking together with other medicines
  • Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using, have recently used or might use any other medicines.
  • The following medicines affect the way this preparation works:
    • Vitamin D increases the absorption and thus the effect of this medicine.
    • Certain water tablets (thiazide-type diuretics) decrease calcium excretion. The calcium blood level should therefore be monitored if this preparation and such drugs are taken at the same time.
    • If you take corticosteroids, this can, among other things,
      reduce the absorption of calcium and increase calcium excretion. It may therefore be necessary to increase the calcium dose.
    • When taking proton pump inhibitors or antacids, the solubility of calcium carbonate can be impaired and the bioavailability of calcium reduced.
    • To ensure adequate absorption of calcium, the medicinal product should be taken with a meal in these cases.
  • The preparation affects the effects of other medicines as follows:
    • If the calcium blood level rises as a result of taking the preparation, the sensitivity to certain medicines that increase the strength of the heart (cardiac glycosides) increases and the risk of cardiac arrhythmias increases. Strict medical control including an ECG examination and control of the calcium concentration in the blood is therefore necessary.
    • The absorption and thus also the effectiveness of various other drugs (e.g. levothyroxine, tetracyclines, quinolones, some cephalosporins, ketoconazole, iron, zinc, sodium fluoride, estramustine and bisphosphonate preparations) can be reduced by taking the preparation at the same time be. A gap of at least 2 hours should therefore be maintained between taking this preparation and taking other preparations.
    • Calcium can reduce the absorption of phosphate by forming poorly soluble salts.
• Take with food and drink
  • Please note that dairy products have a high calcium content. A liter of milk can contain up to 1200 mg of calcium.
  • Foods high in phosphate (e.g. processed and hard cheese), phytic acid (e.g. whole grain products) or oxalic acid (e.g. spinach, rhubarb) can inhibit calcium absorption. After eating such foods, a gap of 2 hours should be observed before taking the preparation.

Contraindications

• The drug must not be taken
  • if you are allergic to calcium carbonate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
  • if the calcium concentration in the blood (hypercalcaemia) or in the urine (hypercalciuria) is too high
  • if you have calcium-containing kidney stones or calcium deposits in the kidneys (nephrocalcinosis).

pregnancy and breast feeding period

• The medicine can be taken in the usual dose recommended for adults during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

patient notes

• Warnings and Precautions
  • Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine.
  • Particular caution is required when taking:
    • impaired kidney function (the application should only be carried out with ongoing medical monitoring of the calcium and phosphate concentrations in the blood and urine as well as the kidney function).
    • Diseases or under conditions that favor the occurrence of hypercalcaemia (e.g. primary hyperparathyroidism, certain tumor diseases, sarcoidosis, immobilisation). In such cases, calcium levels should be monitored while using this medicine.
    • reduced phosphate concentration in the blood (in the case of hypophosphataemia, the phosphate concentration in the blood should be monitored by the doctor treating you).
  • Ask your doctor for advice if you have a family history of calcium-containing kidney stones.
  • Taking the preparation increases the excretion of calcium in the urine. In the first few months after starting intake, this also increases the tendency to precipitate calcium salts and, under certain circumstances, to form stones in the kidneys and urinary bladder. This can be avoided by drinking plenty of fluids.
  • A magnesium deficiency can lead to a reduced release and effect of parathyroid hormone and thus cause a secondary calcium deficiency. Therefore, the magnesium status should be checked before starting calcium therapy and magnesium should be administered if necessary.
  • When using the preparation preventively, all sources of calcium in the diet must be taken into account in order to avoid overdoses. This should be checked regularly.
  • Please note that taking this medicine with high doses of calcium and alkaline agents (such as the carbonates commonly used in antacids) from other sources (e.g. foods, dietary supplements or other medicines) may result in milk-alkaline syndrome (Burnett's syndrome) with increased blood calcium levels, hypoacidity of the blood (metabolic alkalosis), kidney failure and soft tissue calcification. If high doses are taken, the calcium level in the serum and urine should be checked.
  • High doses of calcium, especially when vitamin D is taken in addition, can lead to increased calcium levels in the blood and, as a result, to kidney dysfunction. In such cases, serum calcium and renal function should be monitored.
  • If the gastric acid production is too low (achlorhydria), the solubility of calcium carbonate can be impaired and the bioavailability of calcium reduced. To ensure adequate absorption of calcium, the drug should be taken with a meal in these cases.
  • children and young people
    • The preparation should not be used in children under 6 years of age, since there is a risk of choking if the film-coated tablets are taken.
• Ability to drive and use machines
  • There are no special precautions required.

The total dose should not be exceeded without consulting a doctor or pharmacist.

Type of application?
Take the medicine with liquid (e.g. 1 glass of water).

Duration of use?
The duration of use depends on the type of complaint and/or duration of the illness and is therefore only determined by your doctor.

overdose?
Overdose can cause hypercalcaemia with muscle weakness, abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, and vomiting. If you suspect an overdose, contact a doctor immediately.

Forgot to take?
Continue taking it as normal (i.e. not double the amount) at the next prescribed time.

In general, pay attention to a conscientious dosage, especially for babies, small children and the elderly. If in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist about any effects or precautions.

A dosage prescribed by the doctor may deviate from the information on the package leaflet. Therefore, since the doctor adjusts them individually, you should use the medicine according to his instructions.

What speaks against an application?

- Hypersensitivity to the ingredients
- Increased calcium levels
- Increased calcium excretion in the urine
- Calcium deposits in the kidneys
- Kidney stones

Which age group should be considered?
- Children under 6 years of age: The medicine should not normally be used in this age group.

What about pregnancy and lactation?
- Pregnancy: consult your doctor. Various considerations play a role in whether and how the drug can be used during pregnancy.
- Breast-feeding: consult your doctor or pharmacist. He will examine your particular starting position and advise you accordingly as to whether and how you can continue breastfeeding.

If you have been prescribed the drug despite a contraindication, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. The therapeutic benefit can be higher than the risk that the use involves in the event of a contraindication.

What adverse effects may occur?

- Increased calcium levels
- Increased calcium excretion in the urine
- Constipation
- Flatulence
- Abdominal
pain - Nausea -
Dizziness
- Hives
- Itching
- Skin rash

If you notice any discomfort or change during treatment, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

For the information at this point, side effects are primarily taken into account that occur in at least one in 1,000 patients treated.

How does the ingredient of the medicine work?

Calcium ions are of crucial importance in the activation of biological systems. A lack of calcium in the blood increases neuromuscular excitability, while an excess reduces it. Oral calcium intake promotes the remineralization of the skeleton in calcium deficiency. In addition, the active ingredient binds and neutralizes gastric acid. The calcium forms poorly soluble salts with gastric acid, which are excreted in the stool. This is how the substance works against heartburn, belching and other acid-related stomach problems. In addition, the risk of ulcers occurring in the gastrointestinal tract as a result of hyperacidity is reduced.

What is included in medicines?

Manufacture: Verla-Pharm Arzneimittel GmbH & Co. KG