BETERCAL

BETERCAL
Calcitrol 0.25 mcg + Cal. Carbonate 500 mg + Zinc 7.5 mg

INDICATIONS
Betercal is indicated in

-> Management of hypocalcaemia in patients undergoing dialysis for chronic renal failure. It has been shown
to significantly reduce elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Reduction of PTH has been shown to
result in an improvement in renal osteodystrophy
-> Post-menopausal osteoporosis.
-> Hypocalcaemia in hypoparathyroidism
-> Parathyroidectomy
-> Vitamin D dependent rickets
-> Renal tubular osteocalcaemia
-> Sporadic and oncogenic hypophosphatemic osteomalacia
-> X-linked hypophosphatemic osteomalacia
-> Osteomalacia in Malabsorption syndrome
-> Hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia after small bowel resection
-> Osteoporosis in males
-> Psoriasis

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

The optimal dose must be carefully determined for each patient. The recommended initial dose is one capsule
of Betercal daily. If a satisfactory response in the biochemical parameters and clinical manifestations of the
disease state is not observed, the dose may be increased by an increment of 1-2 caps at two to four week
intervals. In patients undergoing dialysis, the dose may be increased by an increment of 1 cap at 4 to 8 – week
intervals. During this titration period, serum calcium and phosphorus levels should be obtained at least twice
weekly and if hypercalcaemia is noted, the drug should be immediately discontinued until normocalcaemia
ensues. In patients undergoing dialysis, phosphorus magnesium and alkaline phosphatase should be
determined periodically. Patients should be informed the symptoms of hypercalcaemia.