Ergocalciferol is a form of Vitamin D, which is synthetic oral calcium regulator. It is a white, colorless crystal which is soluble in organic solvents and in vegetable oils but is insoluble in water. Air and light affects the metabolism of ergocalciferol. Provitamin D2 is mainly found in plants and yeasts, and has been found to have no known antirachitic activity.
Ergocalciferol, marketed under the brand names Deltalin, Drisdol, Calcidol and Calciferol, is indicated for the treatment of patients with the following ailments: hypoparathyroidism (decrease in the levels of the parathyroid hormone because of inactivity of the parathyroid gland), refractory rickets (vitamin D insufficiency), and familial hypophosphotemia (abnormally low phosphate levels in the bloodstream).
Ergocalciferol is available as oral medication, supplied in soft gel capsules. Each capsule contains 1.25mg of ergocalciferol (50,000 USP units of Vitamin D) available in bottles of 100 or 1000 capsules.
The recommended dosage for treatment of Vitamin D resistant rickets is usually from 12,000 to 15,000 USP of ergocalciferol daily. For the treatment of hypoparathyroidism, the dosage ranges from 50,000 to 200,000 USP units daily. It is concomitantly taken with 4g of calcium lactate, six times per day.
Known side effects caused by ergocalciferol administration include damage/impairment in the renal system. This may include polyuria, polydipsia, reversible azotemia, generalized vascular calcification, which may result to sever kidney damage or even death.
Ergocalciferol may also affect the central nervous system, causing mental retardation. Widespread calcification of internal organs may also occur as a side effect of drug intake. Osteoporosis may occur in adults, and dwarfism may occur in infants and children due to the degradation of the bone structure.
Less serious side effects include nausea, stomach pains, constipation, mild acidosis, weight loss, and anemia.
Ergocalciferol is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to vitamin D or any of the drugs components. Patients experiencing elevated levels of phosphorus and calcium are not allowed to take ergocalciferol, as this may result in severe side effects which may result in death of the patient.
Ergocalciferol administration must be given caution when a patient is also being administered thiazide diuretics as the co-administration of the two drugs may result in hypercalcemia.
The administration of ergocalciferol, or Vitamin D in excess of the recommended dietary allowance is potentially dangerous during pregnancy and should be avoided, unless absolutely necessary. The safety of the mother and the fetus has to be given importance.
Caution must be exercised when administering ergocalciferol to nursing mothers. Large doses of ergocalciferol administered in nursing mothers have shown to cause hypercalcemia to the nursing infant. No known studies have shown whether ergocalciferol has mutagenic capability, nor if it affects the fertility of patients taking the drug.
Dosage of ergocalciferol to be administered to pediatric patients must be individualized. The dosage selection for geriatric patients should also be as cautious, starting from the lower end of the dose range, and must be readjusted depending on the patient’s present condition and co-administered drugs.
Ergocalciferol must be kept out of reach of children, and must be protected from direct contact with light.
Ergocalciferol has the following structural formula:
• Molecular formula of ergocalciferol is C28H44O
• Chemical IUPAC Name is 3-[2-[1-(5,6-dimethylhept-3-en-2-yl)-7a- methyl-2,3,3a,5,6,7-hexahydro-1H-inden- 4-ylidene]ethylidene]-4-methylidene-cyclohexan-1-ol
• Molecular weight is 396.648 g/mol
• Ergocalciferol available : 1.25mg capsules
Brand name(s): Calciferol, Condacaps, Condocaps, Condol, Crtron, Crystallina, D-Arthin, D-Tracetten, Daral, Davitamon D, Davitin, Decaps, Dee-Osterol, Dee-Ron, Dee-Ronal, Dee-Roual, Deltalin, Deratol, Detalup, Diactol, Divit Urto, Doral, Drisdol, Ercalciol, Ergorone, Ertron, Fortodyl, Geltabs, Hi-Deratol, Infron, Metadee, Mulsiferol, Mykostin, Novovitamin-D, Oleovitamin D, Ostelin, Radiostol, Radstein, Radsterin, Rodine C, Shock-Ferol, Sterogyl, Uvesterol-D, Vigantol, Viostdrol, Viosterol, Vitamin D, Vitavel-D
Review published on: 28 July 2009
 Your Ergocalciferol review
| .: Add date: 2009-09-29 22:36:34 |
.: Score: 10 |
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The drug has maximum side effects Why?
Added by Dr.S.S.Rindhe
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