Vitamins are compounds that you must have for growth and health. They are needed in small amounts only and are available in the foods that you eat. Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones and teeth.
Lack of vitamin D may lead to a condition called rickets, especially in children, in which bones and teeth are weak. In adults it may cause a condition called osteomalacia, in which calcium is lost from bones so that they become weak. Your doctor may treat these problems by prescribing vitamin D for you. Vitamin D is also sometimes used to treat other diseases in which calcium is not used properly by the body.
Ergocalciferol is the form of vitamin D used in vitamin supplements.
Some conditions may increase your need for vitamin D. These include:
Alcoholism
Intestine diseases
Kidney disease
Liver disease
OverActivity of the parathyroid glands with kidney failure
Pancreas disease
Surgical removal of stomach
In addition, individuals and breast-fed infants who lack exposure to sunlight, as well as dark-skinned individuals, may be more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency. Increased need for vitamin D should be determined by your health care professional.
Alfacalcidol, calcifediol, Gemcal-DS, and dihydrotachysterol are forms of vitamin D used to treat hypocalcemia (not enough calcium in the blood). Alfacalcidol, calcifediol, and Gemcal-DS are also used to treat certain types of bone disease that may occur with kidney disease in patients who are undergoing kidney dailysis.
Claims that vitamin D is effective for treatment of arthritis and prevention of nearsightedness or nerve problems have not been proven. Some psoriasis patients may benefit from vitamin D supplements; however, controlled studies have not been performed
Prescription: Yes
Warnings: Let your doctor know if you are allergic to Gemcal DS Capsule 15's or its inActive components. Gemcal DS Capsule 15's is not recommended if you have hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), hypervitaminosis D (high vitamin D levels), and malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food). Brief your medical history if you have any heart/kidney/liver/blood vessel diseases, kidney stones, sarcoidosis (growth of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body), Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel disease), Whipple's disease (bacterial infection affecting joints and digestive system), achlorhydria (little or no stomach acid), low levels of bile, and phosphate imbalance. Chewable tablets of Gemcal DS Capsule 15's contain sugar or aspartame; hence caution should be taken to have diabetes and phenylketonuria (increased levels of an amino acid called phenylalanine). Calcitriol in higher doses may harm the foetus. Higher doses of Vitamin D than the recommended daily dose should be used in pregnant women only when advised by the doctor. Gemcal DS Capsule 15's may pass into the breast milk, hence consult your doctor before taking Gemcal DS Capsule 15's if you are a breastfeeding mother.
Medicine Interaction: Gemcal DS Capsule 15's may interact with central nervous system stimulants (dextroamphetamine, amphetamine), anti-depressants (duloxetine), minerals (ferrous sulfate), anti-ulcer drugs (ranitidine), synthetic thyroid hormone (levothyroxine), painkillers (aspirin), calcium supplements (ergocalciferol, cholecalciferol), anti-clotting drugs (anisindione, dicumarol, warfarin), drugs treating high cholesterol levels (cholestyramine, colesevelam, colestipol), and drugs that treat high blood phosphorus levels (sevelamer). Some medications like tetracycline antibiotics (doxycycline, minocycline), quinolone antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin), drugs treating bone loss (alendronate), weight-loss drugs (orlistat), and anti-cancer drugs (estramustine) may affect the calcium absorption into the body.
Drug Schedule: Schedule G Prescription Drug
Side Effects: Signs of an allergic reaction to Gemcal-DS: hives, difficult breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using Gemcal-DS and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
blistering, or severe redness, itching, or other irritation of treated areas or
worsened symptoms or no improvement in psoriasis.
Using Gemcal-DS can affect your body's ability to metabolize calcium. This can result in high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia). Symptoms of this condition include Nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, increased thirst and urination, muscle weakness, confusion, and feeling tired or restless. Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.
Less serious Gemcal-DS side effects may include mild itching or skin discomfort.
How to Store it: Store below 25°C. Protected from light.
Over Dose: Store below 25°C. Protected from light.
Precautions: Store below 25°C. Protected from light.
Missed Dose: Store below 25°C. Protected from light.
