Informational only — Not medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider.

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Community data Updated 2 months ago
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Indications

Calcium Deficiency

Viva-D is used in adult patients with chronic renal failure to help manage hypocalcemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and renal osteodystrophy.

⚠️ Always consult a registered physician before taking any medicine.

Pharmacology

Alfacalcidol helps the gut absorb more calcium and phosphorus. It also helps calcium move out of bone and, possibly, helps the kidneys hold on to calcium. Most patients find that bone pain and muscle weakness start to ease within 2 weeks to 3 months of starting treatment. Poor calcium absorption is usually corrected quickly.

People taking it by mouth every day will often see their plasma alkaline phosphatase and PTH levels begin to fall within 3 months. Plasma calcium can take several months to return to normal. This delay doesn't necessarily mean the medicine isn't working. It may simply mean the body is using the calcium to mineralize bone. PTH levels may fall faster in patients given it as intermittent intravenous therapy, with significant reductions reached within 3 months.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Alfacalcidol shouldn't be used during pregnancy unless it's clearly needed, since high calcium levels (hypercalcemia) in the mother can lead to congenital problems in the baby. Its safety in pregnant women hasn't been established, and animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity, including lower pregnancy rates, smaller litter sizes, and reduced birth weights. Because Alfacalcidol may pass into breast milk, breastfeeding should be avoided during treatment.

⚠️ Talk to your doctor before taking any medicine during pregnancy or while breastfeeding.

Dosage Reference

⚠️ Reference ranges from official sources only. Consult your doctor for personalized dosing.

Adults: Initial dosing for adults starts at 0.25 mcg per day for the first 2 months, unless hypercalcemia develops. If hypercalcemia occurs, the dose should be cut back to 0.25 mcg every other day. If serum calcium stays below the desired range, the dose may instead be increased in steps of 0.25 mcg/day every 2 months. Maintenance doses: most patients are maintained on 0.5 mcg/day, though doses as high as 1 mcg/day may be needed to keep serum calcium within the desired range. Serum calcium and phosphate levels should be checked monthly, or more often if hypercalcemia develops. If hypercalcemia develops at any point during treatment, the alfacalcidol dose should be cut by 50%, and all calcium supplements should be stopped until calcium levels return to normal. Pediatrics: the safety and efficacy of alfacalcidol in children have not been established.

Side Effects & Interactions

Side Effects

No side-effect data recorded yet.