Alfacalcidol
Alfacalcidol is a form of vitamin D that is used in the treatment of certain conditions such as osteoporosis, renal osteodystrophy, and hypocalcemia. It is a vitamin D analog that is hydroxylated in the liver for systemic and in kidney tissues for local DHT conversion.
Pharmacology[edit | edit source]
Alfacalcidol is a prodrug of calcitriol, the active form of vitamin D. It is hydroxylated in the liver to form calcitriol, which is then able to bind to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the intestines, bones, and kidneys. This binding to the VDR allows for the absorption of calcium and phosphate from the intestines and kidneys, and also promotes the release of calcium from bone into the bloodstream.
Clinical Use[edit | edit source]
Alfacalcidol is used in the treatment of several conditions that affect the bones and calcium levels in the body. These include:
- Osteoporosis: Alfacalcidol is used to increase bone density and decrease the risk of fractures in patients with osteoporosis.
- Renal Osteodystrophy: In patients with chronic kidney disease, alfacalcidol is used to prevent and treat renal osteodystrophy, a condition that causes bone abnormalities due to the kidneys' inability to maintain calcium and phosphate balance.
- Hypocalcemia: Alfacalcidol is used to increase calcium levels in patients with hypocalcemia, a condition characterized by low levels of calcium in the blood.
Side Effects[edit | edit source]
Like all medications, alfacalcidol can cause side effects. These may include:
- Hypercalcemia: High levels of calcium in the blood, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, and confusion.
- Hyperphosphatemia: High levels of phosphate in the blood, which can cause symptoms such as joint pain and muscle cramps.
- Nephrocalcinosis: A condition characterized by the accumulation of calcium in the kidneys, which can lead to kidney damage.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Alfacalcidol Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
