Calcium Acetate (Systemic)

Brand Names : PhosLo

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For calcium acetate, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to calcium acetate. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Studies on the effects of calcium acetate when taken during pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals.

Breast-feeding - It is not known whether calcium acetate passes into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are using this medicine and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Children - Studies on this medicine have been done only in adult patients and there is no specific information comparing use of calcium acetate in children with use in other age groups.

Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of calcium acetate in elderly patients with use in other adults.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking calcium acetate, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Calcium-containing medicines, other, including antacids - Taking excess calcium may cause too much calcium in the blood or urine, which may increase the chance of side effects

• Digitalis glycosides (heart medicine) - Use with calcium acetate may cause hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood), which could increase the chance of developing an irregular heartbeat

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of calcium acetate. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Hypercalcemia (too much calcium in the blood) - Calcium acetate may make this condition worse