Calcium Acetate - Calcium Acetate capsule prescribing information
INDICATIONS & USAGE
Calcium acetate capsules are a phosphate binder indicated to reduce serum phosphorus in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).
DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION
The recommended initial dose of calcium acetate capsules for the adult dialysis patient is 2 capsules with each meal. Increase the dose gradually to lower serum phosphorus levels to the target range, as long as hypercalcemia does not develop. Most patients require 3-4 capsules with each meal.
DOSAGE FORMS & STRENGTHS
Capsule: 667 mg calcium acetate, USP per capsule.
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
PREGNANCY
Pregnancy Category C
Calcium acetate capsules contain calcium acetate. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with calcium acetate capsules, and there are no adequate and well controlled studies of calcium acetate capsules use in pregnant women. Patients with end stage renal disease may develop hypercalcemia with calcium acetate treatment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Maintenance of normal serum calcium levels is important for maternal and fetal well being. Hypercalcemia during pregnancy may increase the risk for maternal and neonatal complications such as stillbirth, preterm delivery, and neonatal hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism. Calcium acetate capsules treatment, as recommended, is not expected to harm a fetus if maternal calcium levels are properly monitored during and following treatment.
LABOR & DELIVERY
The effects of calcium acetate capsules on labor and delivery are unknown.
NURSING MOTHERS
Calcium acetate capsules contain calcium acetate and is excreted in human milk. Human milk feeding by a mother receiving calcium acetate capsules is not expected to harm an infant, provided maternal serum calcium levels are appropriately monitored.
PEDIATRIC USE
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
GERIATRIC USE
Clinical studies of calcium acetate did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Patients with hypercalcemia.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
Hypercalcemia
Patients with end stage renal disease may develop hypercalcemia when treated with calcium, including calcium acetate (calcium acetate capsules). Avoid the use of calcium supplements, including calcium-based nonprescription antacids, concurrently with calcium acetate capsules.
An overdose of calcium acetate capsules may lead to progressive hypercalcemia, which may require emergency measures. Therefore, early in the treatment phase during the dosage adjustment period, monitor serum calcium levels twice weekly. Should hypercalcemia develop, reduce the calcium acetate capsules dosage or discontinue the treatment, depending on the severity of hypercalcemia.
More severe hypercalcemia (Ca>12 mg/dL) is associated with confusion, delirium, stupor and coma. Severe hypercalcemia can be treated by acute hemodialysis and discontinuing calcium acetate capsules therapy.
Mild hypercalcemia (10.5 to 11.9 mg/dL) may be asymptomatic or manifest as constipation, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. Mild hypercalcemia is usually controlled by reducing the calcium acetate capsules dose or temporarily discontinuing therapy. Decreasing or discontinuing Vitamin D therapy is recommended as well.
Chronic hypercalcemia may lead to vascular calcification and other soft-tissue calcification. Radiographic evaluation of suspected anatomical regions may be helpful in early detection of soft tissue calcification. The long term effect of calcium acetate capsules on the progression of vascular or soft tissue calcification has not been determined.
Hypercalcemia (>11 mg/dL) was reported in 16% of patients in a 3-month study of solid dose formulation of calcium acetate; all cases resolved upon lowering the dose or discontinuing treatment.
Maintain the serum calcium-phosphorus (Ca × P) product below 55 mg2/dL2.
Concomitant Use with Medications
Hypercalcemia may aggravate digitalis toxicity.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
Hypercalcemia is discussed elsewhere [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
In clinical studies, calcium acetate has been generally well tolerated.
Calcium acetate capsules were studied in a 3-month, open-label, non-randomized study of 98 enrolled ESRD hemodialysis patients and in a two week double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study with 69 enrolled ESRD hemodialysis patients. Adverse reactions (>2% on treatment) from these trials are presented in Table 1.
| Preferred Term | Total adverse reactions reported for calcium acetate n=167 (n%) | 3-mo, open-label study of calcium acetate n=98 (n%) | Double blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of calcium acetate n=69 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium acetate (n%) | Placebo (n%) | |||
| Nausea | 6 (3.6) | 6 (6.1) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Vomiting | 4 (2.4) | 4 (4.1) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Hypercalcemia | 21 (12.6) | 16 (16.3) | 5 (7.2) | 0 (0.0) |
Mild hypercalcemia may be asymptomatic or manifest itself as constipation, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting. More severe hypercalcemia is associated with confusion, delirium, stupor, and coma. Decreasing dialysate calcium concentration could reduce the incidence and severity of calcium acetate capsules induced hypercalcemia. Isolated cases of pruritus have been reported, which may represent allergic reactions.
Postmarketing Experience
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
The following additional adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval of calcium acetate: dizziness, edema, and weakness.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
The drug interaction of calcium acetate capsules is characterized by the potential of calcium to bind to drugs with anionic functions (e.g., carboxyl and hydroxyl groups). Calcium acetate capsules may decrease the bioavailability of tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones via this mechanism.
There are no empirical data on avoiding drug interactions between calcium acetate or calcium acetate capsules and most concomitant drugs. When administering an oral medication with calcium acetate capsules where a reduction in the bioavailability of that medication would have a clinically significant effect on its safety or efficacy, administer the drug one hour before or three hours after calcium acetate capsules or calcium acetate. Monitor blood levels of the concomitant drugs that have a narrow therapeutic range. Patients taking anti-arrhythmic medications for the control of arrhythmias and anti-seizure medications for the control of seizure disorders were excluded from the clinical trials with all forms of calcium acetate.
Ciprofloxacin
In a study of 15 healthy subjects, a co-administered single dose of 4 calcium acetate tablets approximately 2.7 g decreased the bioavailability of ciprofloxacin by approximately 50%.
DESCRIPTION
Calcium acetate capsules, USP act as a phosphate binder. Its chemical name is calcium acetate. Its molecular formula is C 4 H 6 CaO 4 , and its molecular weight is 158.17. Its structural formula is:
Each capsule for oral administration contains 667 mg of calcium acetate, USP (anhydrous; Ca(CH 3 COO) 2 ; MW=158.17 grams) equivalent to 169 mg (8.45 mEq) of calcium and the inactive ingredients magnesium stearate and polyethylene glycol.
The capsules are size 00EL with light green opaque cap and white opaque body with black imprint on cap "NC" above "667". The gelatin capsules contain D&C Yellow #10, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, titanium dioxide and gelatin.
The imprinting ink contains the following: black iron oxide, D&C Yellow # 10 Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #1/ Brilliant Blue FCF Aluminum Lake, FD&C Blue #2/ Indigo Carmine Aluminum Lake, FD&C Red # 40/ Allura Red AC Aluminum Lake, propylene glycol and shellac glaze.
USP dissolution test is pending.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Patients with ESRD retain phosphorus and can develop hyperphosphatemia. High serum phosphorus can precipitate serum calcium resulting in ectopic calcification.
Hyperphosphatemia also plays a role in the development of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with ESRD.
MECHANISM OF ACTION
Calcium acetate (calcium acetate capsules) when taken with meals, combines with dietary phosphate to form an insoluble calcium phosphate complex, which is excreted in the feces, resulting in decreased serum phosphorus concentration.
PHARMACODYNAMICS
Orally administered calcium acetate from pharmaceutical dosage forms is systemically absorbed up to approximately 40% under fasting conditions and up to approximately 30% under non-fasting conditions. This range represents data from both healthy subjects and renal dialysis patients under various conditions.
NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY
CARCINOGENESIS & MUTAGENESIS & IMPAIRMENT OF FERTILITY
No carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, or fertility studies have been conducted with calcium acetate.
CLINICAL STUDIES
Effectiveness of calcium acetate in decreasing serum phosphorus has been demonstrated in two studies of the calcium acetate solid oral dosage form.
Ninety-one patients with end-stage renal disease who were undergoing hemodialysis and were hyperphosphatemic (serum phosphorus >5.5 mg/dL) following a 1-week phosphate binder washout period contributed efficacy data to an open-label, non-randomized study.
The patients received calcium acetate 667 mg tablets at each meal for a period of 12 weeks. The initial starting dose was 2 tablets per meal for 3 meals a day, and the dose was adjusted as necessary to control serum phosphorus levels. The average final dose after 12 weeks of treatment was 3.4 tablets per meal. Although there was a decrease in serum phosphorus, in the absence of a control group the true magnitude of effect is uncertain.
The data presented in Table 2 demonstrate the efficacy of calcium acetate in the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in end-stage renal disease patients. The effects on serum calcium levels are also presented.
| Parameter | Pre-Study | Week 4 Ninety-one patients completed at least 6 weeks of the study. | Week 8 | Week 12 | p-value ANOVA of difference in values at pre-study and study completion. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorous (mg/dL) Values expressed as mean ± SE. | 7.4 ± 0.17 | 5.9 ± 0.16 | 5.6 ± 0.17 | 5.2 ± 0.17 | ≤0.01 |
| Calcium (mg/dL) | 8.9 ± 0.09 | 9.5 ± 0.10 | 9.7 ± 0.10 | 9.7 ± 0.10 | ≤0.01 |
There was a 30% decrease in serum phosphorus levels during the 12 week study period (p<0.01). Two-thirds of the decline occurred in the first month of the study. Serum calcium increased 9% during the study mostly in the first month of the study.
Treatment with the phosphate binder was discontinued for patients from the open-label study, and those patients whose serum phosphorus exceeded 5.5 mg/dL were eligible for entry into a doubleblind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Patients were randomized to receive calcium acetate or placebo, and each continued to receive the same number of tablets as had been individually established during the previous study. Following 2 weeks of treatment, patients switched to the alternative therapy for an additional 2 weeks.
The phosphate binding effect of calcium acetate is shown in the Table 3.
| Post-Treatment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parameter | Pre-Study | Calcium Acetate | Placebo | p-value ANOVA of calcium acetate vs. placebo after 2 weeks of treatment. |
| Phosphorous (mg/dL) Values expressed as mean ± SE. | 7.3 ± 0.18 | 5.9 ± 0.24 | 7.8 ± 0.22 | <0.01 |
| Calcium (mg/dL) | 8.9 ± 0.11 | 9.5 ± 0.13 | 8.8 ± 0.12 | <0.01 |
Overall, 2 weeks of treatment with calcium acetate statistically significantally (p<0.01) decreased serum phosphorus by a mean of 19% and increased serum calcium by a statistically significant (p<0.01) but clinically unimportant mean of 7%.
HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING
Each calcium acetate capsule USP, for oral administration, contains 667 mg of Calcium Acetate, USP (anhydrous Ca (CH 3 COO) 2 ; MW=158.17 grams) equivalent to 169 mg (8.45 mEq) of calcium. The capsules are size 00EL with light green opaque cap and white opaque body with black imprint on cap "NC" above "667".
NDC 69367-411-02 Bottles of 200
STORAGE: Store at 20-25°C (68-77°F); excursions permitted to 15-30°C (59-86°F) [See USP "Controlled Room Temperature"].
MECHANISM OF ACTION
Calcium acetate (calcium acetate capsules) when taken with meals, combines with dietary phosphate to form an insoluble calcium phosphate complex, which is excreted in the feces, resulting in decreased serum phosphorus concentration.
