ERGOCALCIFEROL (VITAMIN D2)

(ER goe kal SIF e role) Brand: Calcidol, Calciferol, Drisdol, Vitamin D2

What is the most significant information I must know about ergocalciferol?

• Do not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have tall levels of calcium or vitamin D in your blood, or if you have any condition that makes it heavy for your body to absorb nutrients from food (malabsorption).

• Till you take this medicine, speak your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs or dyes, or if you have heart malady, coronary artery malady, kidney malady, or an electrolyte imbalance.

• Do not take another vitamin or mineral supplements unless your doctor has told you to.

• Avoid using calcium supplements or antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of supplement or antacid your doctor recommends. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

• Search abnormal medical attention if you think you have used too many of this medication. An overdose of vitamin D can reason serious or life-threatening side effects.

• Overdose symptoms may include headache, weakness, drowsiness, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, constipation, muscle or bone pain, metallic taste in the mouth, weight loss, itchy skin, changes in heart course, loss of interest in sex, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior, feeling unusually hot, severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, or fainting.

What is ergocalciferol?

• Ergocalciferol is vitamin D2. Vitamin D is significant for the absorption of calcium from the stomach and for the functioning of calcium in the body.

• Ergocalciferol is used to treat hypoparathyroidism (decreased functioning of the parathyroid glands).

• Ergocalciferol is also used to treat rickets (softening of the bones caused by vitamin D deficiency) or low levels of phosphate in the blood (hypophosphatemia).

• Ergocalciferol may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking ergocalciferol?

• Do not use this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to vitamin D, or if you have:

· tall levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia);

· tall levels of vitamin D in your body (hypervitaminosis D); or

· any condition that makes it heavy for your body to absorb nutrients from food (malabsorption).

• To create certain you can safely take ergocalciferol, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· heart disease;

· coronary artery disease;

· kidney malady; or

· an electrolyte imbalance.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether ergocalciferol will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• Ergocalciferol can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take ergocalciferol?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.

• Measure liquid medication with a particular dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• To be certain this medicine is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested often. You may also need x-rays. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Ergocalciferol is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include another medications and a particular diet. It is very significant to follow the medicine and diet plan created for you by your doctor or nutrition counselor. You must become very familiar with the list of foods you should ate or avoid to help control your condition.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222. An overdose of vitamin D can reason serious or life-threatening side effects.

What must I avoid while taking ergocalciferol?

• Do not take another vitamin or mineral supplements unless your doctor has told you to.

• Avoid using calcium supplements or antacids without your doctor's advice. Use only the specific type of supplement or antacid your doctor recommends.

What are the possible side effects of ergocalciferol?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· thinking problems, changes in behavior, feeling irritable;

· urinating more than usual;

· chest pain, feeling short of breath; or

· early signs of vitamin D overdose (weakness, metallic taste in your mouth, weight loss, muscle or bone pain, constipation, nausea, and vomiting).

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect ergocalciferol?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· sucralfate (Carafate);

· mineral oil (sometimes taken as a laxative);

· seizure medication;

· steroids (prednisone and others);

· digoxin (digitalis, Lanoxin); or

· a diuretic (water pill) such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Lopressor HCT, Vasoretic, Zestoretic), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn), and others.

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with ergocalciferol. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about ergocalciferol.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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