Effervescent Calcium Gluconate 1g tablets

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.

•    Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

•    If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

•    This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others.

It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

Index

H What Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets are and what they are used for "2 Before you take How to take _4| Possible side effects How to store _6| Further information

T| What Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets are and what they are used for

Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets may be used:

•    as treatment with or without other therapy to stop or slow down the breakdown of minerals in the bones of those with osteoporosis (brittle bones) where other effective treatment cannot be used.

•    as a calcium supplement if you:

-    have bone softening due to vitamin D deficiency (osteomalacia)

-    have bone disease due to vitamin D deficiency (rickets)

-    have reduced absorption of nutrients after surgery to remove all or part

of the stomach (post-gastrectomy malabsorption)

-    are pregnant or breast-feeding have poor nutrition due to an unbalanced diet or digestion problems (malnutrition)

-    do not have enough calcium in your diet.

"2 Before you take

Do not take Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets and tell your doctor if you:

•    are allergic (hypersensitive) to calcium gluconate or any of the other ingredients in Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets (see section 6).

•    have high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia) or urine (hypercalciuria)

•    have an overactive parathyroid

gland (hyperparathyroidism)

•    have severe kidney failure

•    have kidney stones

•    have osteoporosis (brittle bones) caused by immobility or tumours

•    have recently had a large intake of vitamin D. Large amounts of vitamin D should be avoided whilst you are taking Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Effervescent Calcium Gluconate if you:

•    have heart disease

•    have sarcoidosis (enlarged lymph nodes)

•    have kidney failure.

Taking other medicines

Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. Especially:

•    vitamin or mineral supplements

•    thiazide diuretics (water tablets)

•    corticosteroids (e.g. prednisolone)

•    cardiac glycosides such as digoxin (used for some heart conditions)

•    tetracycline or fluoride preparations, three hours should be left between taking these medicines and Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Blood and urine tests

Your doctor may want to monitor your blood and urine levels of calcium particularly if you have had high dose treatment or calcium by injection (especially in children).

Sodium warning

This medicinal product contains 102.8mg sodium per tablet. To be taken into consideration by patients on a controlled sodium diet.

How to take

Always take Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets exactly as your doctor has told you. If you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Dissolve the tablets in one third to half a tumbler of water before taking.

Doses:

Adults (including elderly) Osteoporosis:

Usual dose is between 8-20 tablets.

Bone softening or disease due to lack of vitamin D (osteomalacia or rickets), reduced absorption following surgery to remove all or part of the stomach or breast-feeding:

12-20 tablets a day.

Pregnancy supplement or cramps:

1-10 tablets a day.

Children:

Half the adult dose.

Infants:

Not recommended.

If you take more than you should

If you (or someone else) swallow a lot of tablets at the same time or you think a child may have swallowed any, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell your doctor immediately. Symptoms of an overdose include loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or weakness, feeling or being sick, headache, extreme thirst, feeling of dizziness or spinning, increased urea in the blood, depositing of calcium in tissues such as kidneys and arteries and an increased blood level of cholesterol. Individuals with symptoms of overdose should avoid exposure to direct sunlight.

If you forget to take the tablets

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. If you forget to take a dose take it as soon as you remember it and then take the next dose at the right time.

"4 Possible side effects

Like all medicines, Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following side effects, they get worse or you notice any other effects not listed:

•    stomach or intestinal disturbances such as constipation or diarrhoea

•    irregular or slow heart beat.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard

By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

How to store

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Store below 25°C in a dry place.

Do not use Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets after the expiry date stated on the label/carton/bottle. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste.

Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

"6 Further information What Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets contain

•    Each tablet contains the active substance (the ingredient that makes the tablets work) 1g calcium gluconate BP equivalent to 2.23mmol of calcium (Ca²⁺).

•    The other ingredients are citric acid, magnesium stearate, povidone, saccharin sodium, sodium bicarbonate, stearic acid, tartaric acid.

What Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets look like and contents of the pack

Effervescent Calcium Gluconate tablets are white, circular, flat bevelled-edge, uncoated tablets.

Pack size is 28.

Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer

Actavis, Barnstaple, EX32 8NS, UK.

This leaflet was last revised in July 2014.

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