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cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)
generic
Adult Dosing .
Dosage forms: CAP: 400 units, 1000 units, 2000 units, 5000 units, 10,000 units, 50,000 units; TAB: 400 units, 1000 units, 2000 units, 3000 units, 5000 units, ODT: 1000 units; CHEWABLE: 400 units, 1000 units; SOL: 400 units per mL, 5000 units per mL, 2000 units per 0.16 mL; SPRAY: 1000 units per actuation
Special Note
- [strength clarification]
- Info: doses expressed in units; 40 units = 1 mcg
osteoporosis, postmenopausal
- [800 units PO qd]
- Info: for prevention and tx; give w/ Ca
vitamin D deficiency
- [1500-2000 units PO qd]
- Start: 50,000 units PO qwk or 6000 units PO qd x8wk; Info: incr. dose 2-fold to 3-fold if obese, malabsorption syndrome, drug-induced vitamin D deficiency
dietary supplementation
- [individualize dose]
- Info: see Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamin D (calciferols) table
renal dosing
- [see below]
- renal impairment: no adjustment
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [not defined]
Peds Dosing .
- Dosage forms: CAP: 400 units, 1000 units, 2000 units, 5000 units, 10,000 units, 50,000 units; TAB: 400 units, 1000 units, 2000 units, 3000 units, 5000 units, ODT: 1000 units; CHEWABLE: 400 units, 1000 units; SOL: 400 units per mL, 5000 units per mL, 2000 units per 0.16 mL; SPRAY: 1000 units per actuation
Special Note
- [strength clarification]
- Info: doses expressed in units; 40 units = 1 mcg
vitamin D deficiency
- [<1 yo]
- Dose: 400-1000 units PO qd; Start: 2000 units PO qd or 50,000 units PO qwk x6wk
- [1-18 yo]
- Dose: 600-1000 units PO qd; Start: 2000 units PO qd or 50,000 units PO qwk x6wk
dietary supplementation
- [individualize dose]
- Info: see Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamin D (calciferols) table
renal dosing
- [not defined]
- renal impairment: consider adult renal dosing for guidance
- HD/PD: not defined
hepatic dosing
- [not defined]
Contraindications / Cautions .
- hypersensitivity to drug or ingredient
- hypercalcemia
- hypervitaminosis D
- renal osteodystrophy
- caution: malabsorption syndrome
- caution: hyperphosphatemia
- caution: renal stone
- caution: renal impairment
- caution: cardiovascular dz
- caution: leukemia
- caution: lymphoma
- caution: sarcoidosis
Drug Interactions .
Overview
cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)
herb/supplement
- CYP3A4 substrate
- affected by altered fat absorption
- hypercalcemia
- hyperphosphatemia
Avoid/Use Alternative
- calcitriol
- cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)
- doxercalciferol
- erdafitinib
- ergocalciferol (vitamin D2)
- mineral oil
- paricalcitol
Monitor/Modify Tx
- abaloparatide
- apalutamide
- bosentan
- butalbital
- calcipotriene topical
- calcitriol topical
- calcium acetate
- calcium carbonate
- calcium chloride
- calcium citrate
- calcium gluconate
- carbamazepine
- cenobamate
- chlorothiazide
- chlorthalidone
- cholestyramine
- colesevelam
- colestipol
- dabrafenib
- digoxin
- efavirenz
- encorafenib
- enzalutamide
- etravirine
- fexinidazole
- fosphenytoin
- hydrochlorothiazide
- indapamide
- ivosidenib
- lopinavir/ritonavir
- lorlatinib
- lumacaftor/ivacaftor
- maralixibat
- mavacamten
- methyltestosterone
- metolazone
- mitapivat
- mitotane
- modafinil
- nafcillin
- odevixibat
- orlistat
- pacritinib
- palopegteriparatide
- pentobarbital
- pexidartinib
- phenobarbital
- phenytoin
- primidone
- repotrectinib
- rifabutin
- rifampin
- rifapentine
- sevelamer
- sotorasib
- St. John's wort
- teriparatide
- testosterone
Adverse Reactions .
Serious Reactions
- hypervitaminosis D
- hypercalcemia
- hypercalciuria
- nephrotoxicity
- hyperphosphatemia
Common Reactions
- hypercalcemia
- Cr elevated
- hypercalciuria
- nausea
- vomiting
- anorexia
- polyuria
- anemia
- weakness
- renal impairment
Safety/Monitoring .
Monitoring Parameters
alk phos; BUN/Cr; Ca; Mg; PO4
Look/Sound-Alike Drug Names
vitamin D confused with: vitamin E
Pregnancy/Lactation .
Pregnancy
Clinical Summary
may use during pregnancy for dietary supplementation and vitamin D deficiency, otherwise weigh risk/benefit; give 1000-2000 units/day to pregnant pts w/ vitamin D deficiency; low risk of teratogenicity at doses greater than recommended dietary allowance based on human data
Lactation
Clinical Summary
may use while breastfeeding, consider monitoring infant calcium levels if high-dose use; inadequate human data available, though possible risk of infant hypercalcemia w/ supra-therapeutic doses; no human data available to assess effects on milk production
Pharmacology .
Metabolism: liver, kidney; CYP450: unknown; Info: active metabolites
Excretion: bile primarily, urine; Half-life: 14h (cholecalciferol), 10-21 days (25-hydroxyvitamin D3); Info: stored in fat deposits for prolonged periods
Subclass: Osteoporosis: Calcium/Vitamin D ; Vitamins/Nutritionals
Mechanism of Action
stimulates intestinal Ca and PO4 absorption; stimulates bone mineralization (vitamin D)
Formulary .
No Formulary Selected
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