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Other brands with the same active ingredient
These brands contain the same active ingredient (Calcium Acetate). Strength and form may differ — confirm substitution with your doctor or pharmacist before switching.
Indications & Uses
Lofos controls hyperphosphatemia in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) without promoting aluminum absorption.
Dosage Reference
Reference Information Only
Dosages shown are general references from official sources. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized dosing.
Adults:
The recommended starting dose of Calcium Acetate for adults on dialysis is 2 tablets with each meal. The dose may be raised gradually to bring the serum phosphate level below 6 mg/dl, provided hypercalcemia does not develop; most patients end up needing 3 to 4 tablets with each meal. Pediatric use: the safety and effectiveness of Calcium Acetate in children have not been established. Geriatric use: clinical studies found no overall differences in safety or effectiveness between elderly and younger patients, and other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in response between the two groups, though greater sensitivity in some older individuals cannot be ruled out.
Side Effects
Patients taking Lofos may occasionally feel nauseated. Hypercalcemia can also develop during treatment. Mild hypercalcemia (calcium above 10.5 mg/dl) may not cause any noticeable symptoms, or it may show up as constipation, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. More severe hypercalcemia (calcium above 12 mg/dl) can bring on confusion, delirium, stupor and coma. Mild hypercalcemia is usually easy to manage by lowering the Lofos dose or pausing treatment for a while. Severe hypercalcemia may require urgent hemodialysis along with stopping Lofos. Using a dialysate with a lower calcium concentration can help reduce how often this happens and how severe it gets. Whether long-term use of Lofos affects the progression of vascular or soft-tissue calcification is not yet known. There have also been isolated reports of itching, which may reflect an allergic reaction.
Cautions & Contraindications
Warnings & Precautions
Excessive doses of Lofos can raise blood calcium levels too high. For this reason, blood calcium should be checked twice a week early in treatment, while the dose is still being adjusted. If calcium levels do rise too high, the dose should be lowered or the medicine stopped right away, depending on how severe it is. Lofos should not be taken together with digitalis medicines, as high calcium levels combined with digitalis can trigger irregular heartbeats. Treatment should always begin at a low dose, and the dose should only be increased with careful monitoring of blood calcium levels. Patients should be reminded to follow their dosing instructions and dietary advice carefully, and to avoid taking over-the-counter antacids without medical advice. They should also be made aware of the symptoms of high blood calcium so these can be recognized early.
Contraindications
Calcium Acetate should not be used by patients with hypercalcemia.