Alfacip
Alfacip capsules contain alfacalcidol, a vitamin D analogue used for osteoporosis and rickets, and come in 0.25mcg and 0.5mcg strengths.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per capsule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25mcg | 30 capsules | $39.00 | $1.30 |
| 0.25mcg | 60 capsules | $58.80 | $0.98 |
| 0.25mcg | 90 capsules | $70.20 | $0.78 |
| 0.25mcg | 120 capsules | $84.00 | $0.70 |
| 0.25mcg | 180 capsules | $111.60 | $0.62 |
| 0.5mcg | 30 capsules | $41.70 | $1.39 |
| 0.5mcg | 60 capsules | $63.00 | $1.05 |
| 0.5mcg | 90 capsules | $84.60 | $0.94 |
| 0.5mcg | 120 capsules | $103.20 | $0.86 |
| 0.5mcg | 180 capsules | $140.40 | $0.78 |
- Category
- Bone Health
- Active ingredient
- Alfacalcidol
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Capsule, Drops
- Strengths
- 0.25/0.5mcg
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Osteoporosis · Rickets
- Therapeutic Class
- Vitamin D analogues
- Pharmacological Class
- Vitamin D supplement
- Minor Side Effects
- Nausea, dry mouth
- Moderate Side Effects
- Constipation, fatigue
- Dosage Forms
- Capsule, Drops
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Manufacturer
- Cipla
- Onset Time
- Several hours
- Duration
- 24 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store in a cool place away from light.
- Drug Interactions
- Digoxin, Thiazides
FAQ
Which Alfacip strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Alfacip capsules come in 0.25mcg and 0.5mcg, in packs of 30, 60, 90, 120 or 180. Larger packs cost less per capsule.
How can I pay for Alfacip delivery to Hong Kong?
Alfacip orders to Hong Kong can be paid by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted payment page, or with Bitcoin or Ethereum. You can cancel within 24 hours if your order has not yet been dispatched. Card details never reach the shop's servers.
What is another name for alfacalcidol?
Alfacip is a branded generic of alfacalcidol, the ingredient in One-Alpha. Alfacalcidol is also sold as Etalpha. Here, alfacalcidol can be bought online as Alfacip, and also as generic One-Alpha. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is Alfacip the same as alfacalcidol?
Yes — alfacalcidol is the ingredient and Alfacip is one brand name for it. One-Alpha is a second brand of the same ingredient. A pack may be labelled with the brand or with the ingredient name; the capsule inside holds alfacalcidol either way.
Can I take Alfacip with calcium tablets?
Alfacalcidol raises the amount of calcium you take in from food and drink, so adding a calcium supplement on top can send blood calcium higher than intended. Vitamin D supplements have a similar effect. Blood calcium is measured during treatment for this reason, and the alfacalcidol amount is set with that in mind.
What happens if I take too much Alfacip?
Alfacalcidol has a narrow margin, so more than the intended daily amount can push blood calcium too high. That shows up as sickness, thirst, passing more urine than usual, tiredness or confusion, and it is why the daily amount is kept small and calcium is checked during treatment.
How should I store Alfacip capsules?
Leave the capsules in their blister strip and keep the pack somewhere cool and away from direct light until you have finished it. If any are left over or past the date on the box, hand them in at a pharmacy rather than putting them in household rubbish.
What does mcg mean on an Alfacip pack?
mcg stands for microgram, which is one thousandth of a milligram. Vitamin D hormones act at very low levels in the body, so alfacalcidol is measured in these tiny units rather than milligrams; the number on the pack tells you how much is in each capsule.
About Alfacip
What Alfacip does in the body
Alfacip capsules contain alfacalcidol, a lab-made form of vitamin D that the body can switch on with the liver alone. Ordinary vitamin D needs two conversions, one in the liver and one in the kidneys, and the kidney step fails when the kidneys are damaged, so calcium and phosphate are poorly absorbed. Alfacalcidol skips that step and ends up as calcitriol, the active hormone, even when kidney function is low. Calcitriol helps the gut take up calcium and phosphate and helps bone lay those minerals down. That is why it is used for osteoporosis (thinning bone), rickets and osteomalacia (soft, poorly mineralised bone), low blood calcium and the overactive parathyroid glands of kidney failure.
Taking Alfacip
Swallow one capsule whole with water once a day, 0.25mcg or 0.5mcg depending on the strength you choose. Blood calcium is measured during treatment and the amount is tied to it, kept as low as still works, because the gap between enough and too much is narrow. Keep the blister strip cool and out of direct light, and use the pack before the expiry date printed on it.
Side effects
Nausea, stomach discomfort, constipation or diarrhoea, headache and a rash are the ones people notice, and they usually settle. The effect to know about is calcium rising too high. Feeling sick or vomiting, thirst, passing a lot of urine, tiredness, confusion or an uneven heartbeat need urgent treatment. Calcium that stays high for weeks or months can leave deposits in the kidneys and other soft tissues, and can form kidney stones. Levels come back down once the capsules are stopped.
Alfacip or One-Alpha?
Same ingredient, different name on the box. One-Alpha comes as 0.25mcg capsules; Alfacip covers 0.25mcg and 0.5mcg. Both are plain capsules taken once a day. For the ingredient itself — what it does, how it is taken, what forms it comes in — see the alfacalcidol page.
Other medicines to keep in mind
Thiazide water tablets slow the kidneys' handling of calcium and can add to the rise, as can calcium and vitamin D supplements taken alongside. Digoxin, used for the heart, is more likely to trigger a rhythm problem when blood calcium is high. Antacids matter too: magnesium-based ones can add to the calcium rise, and alfacalcidol increases how much aluminium is absorbed from aluminium-based ones. Cholestyramine or mineral oil can cut down how much alfacalcidol is absorbed, and some epilepsy medicines and steroids have an effect as well.
Sources
- About Osteoporosis — International Osteoporosis Foundation
- Alfacalcidol 0.25 microgram soft capsules — electronic medicines compendium (emc)