Alfacalcidol
Alfacalcidol is a vitamin D medicine for weak or soft bones, taken once a day as capsules in 0.25mcg and 0.5mcg strengths from Alfacip and One-Alpha.
A vitamin D that works without the kidneys
Alfacalcidol is a man-made form of vitamin D3 that starts one conversion step ahead. Ordinary vitamin D has to be activated twice, by the liver and then by the kidneys; alfacalcidol needs only the liver, which is why it keeps working when kidney disease has shut the second step down. Once active, it helps the gut absorb calcium and phosphate from food and lets bone take those minerals up.
What alfacalcidol is used for
It is given when bones have lost minerals or blood calcium has fallen too low. That covers osteoporosis, osteomalacia (soft, weak bones), rickets, low calcium caused by kidney failure, the bone changes that follow long-term kidney disease, and an underactive parathyroid gland. Because the medicine raises calcium, it is a common choice for people whose kidneys can no longer activate vitamin D themselves.
Taking a capsule
Swallow the capsule whole with water, once a day at a steady time. Adults commonly start on 0.25mcg; blood calcium is measured during treatment so the amount can be kept in the right range, because taking more than the body needs only pushes calcium up. Some people take alfacalcidol for a few months to correct a shortage, while others stay on it for years when the kidney or parathyroid problem behind it is ongoing. Keep the blister strips somewhere cool and dry, out of direct sunlight.
Side effects and other medicines
Most people notice very little. Nausea, diarrhoea or constipation, stomach ache, headache and tiredness are the effects reported most often. The one that matters is too much calcium in the blood: unusual thirst, passing a lot of urine, weakness, confusion or bone pain. Extra vitamin D or calcium supplements push calcium up, and so do thiazide diuretics (water tablets). High calcium also makes digoxin more likely to disturb the heart rhythm. Corticosteroids can reduce alfacalcidol's effect.
Alfacip and One-Alpha
Alfacip is stocked as 0.25mcg and 0.5mcg capsules; One-Alpha comes as the 0.25mcg capsule. Both contain the same ingredient in the same form, so the difference is the brand name on the pack and the strength you need. If you are looking at other medicines for weak or thinning bones, the bone health category gathers them together.
Sources
- About Osteoporosis — International Osteoporosis Foundation
- Alfacalcidol 0.25 microgram soft capsules — electronic medicines compendium (emc)
Where can I order Alfacalcidol for delivery in Hong Kong?
Yes, Alfacalcidol can be ordered online from PockDose with delivery to Hong Kong. The range is Alfacip, also sold as Alfacalcidol capsules, in 0.25mcg and 0.5mcg capsules, plus generic One-Alpha in 0.25mcg capsules. Orders arrive in plain, unbranded packaging that says nothing on the outside about the contents.
How much does Alfacalcidol cost?
Each of the two alfacalcidol products has its own price per pack, shown on its page in HKD or your selected currency; larger packs usually cost less per unit.
Do I need a prescription to order Alfacalcidol?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order alfacalcidol. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for alfacalcidol?
One-Alpha is a brand name of alfacalcidol, which is also sold as Etalpha. Here, alfacalcidol can be bought online as Alfacip and generic One-Alpha. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is alfacalcidol the same as vitamin D3?
Not quite. Alfacalcidol is a man-made analogue of vitamin D3 that the liver turns into calcitriol, the hormone that moves calcium into the blood. Ordinary vitamin D3 needs the liver and the kidneys, so alfacalcidol suits people whose kidneys cannot complete that second step.
Can alfacalcidol raise my calcium too much?
It can, and that is the main risk of the medicine. Early signs are unusual thirst, passing more urine than usual, tiredness, confusion, nausea or aching bones. Regular blood tests pick the rise up early, and the calcium level comes back down once the amount taken is reduced.
Can I take calcium or vitamin D supplements with alfacalcidol?
Only when the amounts are worked out together, because alfacalcidol already increases how much calcium the gut absorbs, so an extra supplement on top can tip the blood level too high. The same goes for a second vitamin D product, and thiazide water tablets add to the risk as well.
Alfacip or One-Alpha: which alfacalcidol should I choose?
Both carry the same ingredient, so the choice comes down to strength. One-Alpha is the 0.25mcg capsule; Alfacip is sold in 0.25mcg and 0.5mcg, which makes it the only listing here with the 0.5mcg capsule.