One-Alpha
One-Alpha is generic alfacalcidol 0.25mcg capsules, a vitamin D analogue used for low calcium and soft, weak bones, sold in packs of 30 to 180.
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 | $69.30 | $0.77 |
| 0.25mcg | 120 capsules | $81.60 | $0.68 |
| 0.25mcg | 180 capsules | $111.60 | $0.62 |
- Category
- Bone Health
- Active ingredient
- Alfacalcidol
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Capsule, Drops
- Strengths
- 0.25mcg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Hypocalcemia · Osteomalacia
- Therapeutic Class
- Vitamin D Analog
- Pharmacological Class
- Vitamin D
- Minor Side Effects
- Digestive discomfort
- Moderate Side Effects
- High calcium levels
- Dosage Forms
- Capsule, Drops
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Leo Pharma
- Onset Time
- Several days
- Duration
- Ongoing
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature.
- Drug Interactions
- Calcium supplements, Digoxin
What you will receive
One-Alpha is the originator brand name, made by Leo Pharma. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original One-Alpha.
- The same active ingredient (Alfacalcidol) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which One-Alpha strengths and pack sizes can I order?
One-Alpha pages list 0.25mcg capsules in packs of 30, 60, 90, 120 or 180. It is generic alfacalcidol, not the original One-Alpha. Larger packs cost less per capsule.
How is One-Alpha delivered to Hong Kong?
One-Alpha parcels can be sent by standard airmail, which takes 14 to 21 business days, or 30 at most, and is untracked. Every order arrives in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing outside about the contents. You can pay by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted payment page.
What is another name for alfacalcidol?
One-Alpha is a brand name of alfacalcidol, which is also sold as Etalpha. Here, alfacalcidol can be bought online as generic One-Alpha, and also as Alfacip. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does One-Alpha take to work?
Calcium in the blood is the quick part, shifting within a few days, so the first blood test often shows a change. Bone lags well behind. Mineral builds up gradually, and stronger bone is a matter of months on steady capsules.
Can I take One-Alpha with calcium tablets?
Often, yes. Alfacalcidol helps the gut take up calcium and a supplement adds to what food supplies, so the pair are commonly combined. Both feed one total, which is why blood calcium is checked along the way.
Is alfacalcidol the same as vitamin D3?
Not quite. Vitamin D3 is converted first by the liver and then by the kidneys before it can act, while alfacalcidol skips the kidney step, which is why it is used when the kidneys no longer do that work. Its strength is measured in micrograms, not the international units used for plain vitamin D.
Can I drink alcohol with One-Alpha?
There is no direct clash with alfacalcidol, and the odd drink is fine. Regular heavy drinking is a known cause of weaker bones and of falls, which cuts against what the capsules are for.
What does 0.25mcg mean in One-Alpha?
Mcg stands for microgram, one millionth of a gram. Alfacalcidol is active in tiny amounts, so its strength is measured in micrograms rather than milligrams — 0.25mcg per capsule here, with 0.5mcg capsules available as Alfacip.
About One-Alpha
What alfacalcidol capsules are used for
One-Alpha is a brand of alfacalcidol, a vitamin D analogue that comes as 0.25mcg capsules. It is used when calcium and bone mineral levels need correcting: the bone disease that follows long-term kidney failure, an underactive parathyroid gland (the small glands that control calcium), rickets in children, and osteomalacia — soft, poorly mineralised bones — in adults. Thinning bones are treated with it too, and that matters: about one in three women and one in five men over fifty break a bone because of it.
Why alfacalcidol and not ordinary vitamin D
Vitamin D from sun and food is inactive until the body converts it twice — first in the liver, then in the kidneys. Alfacalcidol arrives with the second step already done, so it needs only the liver's conversion to become active. That is the point of it in kidney disease: the kidneys can no longer finish the job, but the gut can still be told to take up calcium from food, and bone can still be given the mineral it needs. Because the active form goes straight to work, calcium can climb too high, so blood calcium and phosphate are checked from time to time.
One-Alpha 0.25mcg, and Alfacip alongside it
Each capsule holds 0.25mcg of alfacalcidol, swallowed whole with water once a day, at a time you can keep to. Packs run from 30 to 180 capsules. Alfacip is the other alfacalcidol product here — same active ingredient under a different brand name, and it offers 0.25mcg and 0.5mcg capsules, so there is a higher strength when one 0.25mcg capsule is not the dose. Both are described on the alfacalcidol page.
Other medicines, and when calcium overshoots
Four things change the picture. Calcium supplements and thiazide water tablets push calcium up on their own. Digoxin, a heart medicine, is riskier when calcium runs high. Carbamazepine and phenytoin do the opposite to alfacalcidol and weaken its effect.
If calcium does overshoot, a dry mouth, thirst and a metallic taste usually show first, then nausea, constipation and a flat, tired feeling. Confusion, weak muscles or an irregular heartbeat are the stage that needs urgent treatment.
Sources
- About Osteoporosis — International Osteoporosis Foundation
- Alfacalcidol 0.25 microgram soft capsules — electronic medicines compendium (emc)