What is the most important information I should know about 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.
What is 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.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking 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).
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.
How should I take calcium acetate?
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.
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