Calcitriol
Calcitriol is the active form of vitamin D, taken to correct low calcium and the bone changes that come with kidney disease. PockDose stocks Rocaltrol 0.25mcg capsules.
The active form of vitamin D
Someone with chronic kidney disease can eat well and spend time in the sun and still run short, because the last conversion step, the one that turns vitamin D into its working form, happens in the kidneys. Calcitriol is that working form made into a medicine, a vitamin D analogue, so the capsule skips the step that fails. It helps the gut take up more calcium from meals and steadies how much parathyroid hormone the body makes.
What calcitriol treats
The core use is low blood calcium and the bone problems that follow, especially when the kidneys or the parathyroid glands (small glands in the neck that control calcium in the blood) cannot keep it steady. In kidney disease that means renal osteodystrophy, the bone changes it brings, and an overactive parathyroid hormone. Calcitriol is also used for established osteoporosis after the menopause, and for rickets and osteomalacia, the soft, weak bones that come from a shortage of vitamin D.
Morning dose, food or not
One capsule a day is usual, and the morning suits most people; some conditions are treated with a capsule every other day instead. Swallow it with a little water, with breakfast or on an empty stomach, since food doesn't change how it works. Calcium in your meals is the part that matters: without enough, the capsules have little to work with, and with far too much, blood calcium can climb above the range it is meant to hold. Doses are worked out from the response rather than fixed from the start.
When calcium climbs too high
Too much calcium announces itself with nausea, constipation, tiredness, muddled thinking, unusual thirst and passing a lot of urine; when signs like these appear, the level has risen too far and needs treating promptly. Extra vitamin D products, calcium supplements, magnesium supplements, and antacids or laxatives containing magnesium can all interact with calcitriol, and a multivitamin with vitamin D counts towards the total as well.
Rocaltrol 0.25mcg capsules
The calcitriol sold here is Rocaltrol, soft capsules containing 0.25 micrograms each (0.25mcg) — micrograms, not milligrams. It sits with the other bone medicines in bone support. Keep the capsules in their blister, inside the carton, somewhere cool and dark.
Sources
- Calcitriol: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Calcitriol 0.25 microgram Capsule - Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) - (emc) — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
Where can I buy Calcitriol in Hong Kong?
You can order calcitriol online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Rocaltrol as 0.25mcg (microgram) capsules. Tracked courier delivery to Hong Kong takes 5 to 9 business days and comes with online tracking.
What is the price of Calcitriol?
The price depends on the strength and pack size you choose. The Rocaltrol page shows current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Calcitriol?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order calcitriol. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for calcitriol?
Calcijex, Rocaltrol and Silkis are brand names of calcitriol. Here, calcitriol can be bought online as generic Rocaltrol. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is calcitriol the same as vitamin D?
It is the finished, active form the body makes from vitamin D, ready to use without conversion by the kidneys. Vitamin D from food or supplements has to go through that step first, which is why the two are not dosed in the same way.
How often is calcitriol taken?
Most people take one capsule a day, in the morning. Some conditions are treated with a capsule every other day instead. The dose is small because it is meant to fine-tune calcium handling rather than top up your vitamin D intake.
Can I drink milk while taking calcitriol?
Yes. Calcium from ordinary food is part of how calcitriol works, and milk, yoghurt, cheese and tinned fish with bones are the usual sources. What tips the balance is adding calcium supplements on top of a diet that already supplies plenty.
Can I take calcitriol with magnesium antacids?
Magnesium-containing antacids, magnesium laxatives and magnesium supplements can interact with calcitriol, as can other vitamin D products and calcium supplements. It is easy to take two sources of the same mineral together without noticing.
Is calcitriol used for osteoporosis?
Yes — established osteoporosis after the menopause is one of its uses, alongside the bone changes that come with kidney disease. It is not the same as a calcium tablet: the capsules change how the body handles calcium rather than simply adding more of it.