calcium acetate

Do not use this medication if you have high levels of calcium in your blood, or if you are also taking digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps).

Do not take additional calcium supplements unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Many antacids contain calcium and you could be getting too much of this mineral if you take a calcium antacid with calcium acetate.

Calcium is a mineral that is needed for many functions of the body, especially bone formation and maintenance. Calcium can also bind to other minerals such as phosphate, and aid in their removal from the body.

Calcium acetate is used to control phosphate levels to keep them from getting to high in people with kidney failure.

Calcium acetate may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Do not use this medication if you have high levels of calcium in your blood, or if you are also taking digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps).

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether calcium acetate passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medication with each meal, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

You may need to keep a food diary to measure how much calcium you are getting in your diet.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition and not causing harmful side effects, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. You may also need x-rays to check for calcium deposits around your joints or other soft tissues. Do not miss any scheduled appointments.

Store calcium acetate at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Be sure to take the medicine with food. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include nausea, loss of appetite, dry mouth, increased thirst or urination, constipation, confusion, fainting, or coma.

Do not take additional calcium supplements unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid using antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of antacid your doctor recommends. Many antacids contain calcium and you could be getting too much of this mineral if you take a calcium antacid with calcium acetate.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite;
• constipation;
• dry mouth or increased thirst; or
• urinating more than usual.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

Before taking calcium acetate, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• demeclocycline (Declomycin);
• doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin);
• minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin); or
• tetracycline (Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with calcium acetate . Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Your pharmacist can provide more information about calcium acetate.