Alfacip: Advanced Vitamin D Therapy for Optimal Bone Health
| Product dosage: 0.25 mcg | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Package (num) | Per cap | Price | Buy |
| 30 | $2.17 | $65.13 (0%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 60 | $1.99 | $130.26 $119.24 (8%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 120 | $1.88 | $260.52 $225.45 (13%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 240 | $1.83 | $521.04 $438.87 (16%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 300 | $1.82
Best per cap | $651.30 $545.08 (16%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| Product dosage: 0.5 mcg | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Package (num) | Per cap | Price | Buy |
| 30 | $2.24 | $67.13 (0%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 60 | $2.04 | $134.27 $122.24 (9%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 120 | $1.95 | $268.53 $233.46 (13%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 240 | $1.89 | $537.07 $453.90 (15%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
| 300 | $1.88
Best per cap | $671.34 $564.12 (16%) | 🛒 Add to cart |
Synonyms | |||
Alfacip is a high-potency, prescription-only vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplement formulated to effectively correct and prevent severe deficiencies. It is specifically indicated for patients with conditions leading to malabsorption or those requiring rapid repletion of vitamin D levels, such as in chronic kidney disease, hypoparathyroidism, and resistant rickets. Its active metabolite, calcitriol, is the hormonally active form of vitamin D, ensuring direct physiological action for superior calcium and phosphate homeostasis. Trusted by endocrinologists and nephrologists worldwide, Alfacip provides a targeted, potent solution for managing complex metabolic bone disorders.
Features
- Contains Alfacalcidol, a direct precursor to the active form of Vitamin D (1-alpha-hydroxycholecalciferol).
- Available in multiple potencies, including 0.25 mcg and 1 mcg soft gelatin capsules, allowing for precise dosage titration.
- Designed for enhanced bioavailability, bypassing the need for initial hepatic hydroxylation, which is crucial for patients with liver impairment.
- Manufactured under strict pharmaceutical GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards to ensure purity, potency, and consistency.
- Presented in blister packs to protect the product from moisture and light, preserving stability.
Benefits
- Promotes efficient intestinal absorption of dietary calcium, directly addressing hypocalcemia.
- Supports normal bone mineralization and remodeling, reducing the risk of fractures and osteomalacia.
- Helps regulate serum phosphate levels in conjunction with calcium, crucial for patients with renal osteodystrophy.
- Provides a predictable and potent therapeutic effect due to its direct action on vitamin D receptors.
- Aids in the suppression of elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in secondary hyperparathyroidism.
- Offers a critical therapeutic option for patients with conditions that impair the body’s natural activation of vitamin D.
Common use
Alfacip is primarily prescribed for the treatment of established vitamin D deficiency and related metabolic bone diseases. Its most frequent applications include the management of hypocalcemia and osteodystrophy in patients with chronic renal failure who are undergoing dialysis. It is also a standard treatment for hypoparathyroidism, both post-surgical and idiopathic, and for conditions like pseudohypoparathyroidism and vitamin D-dependent rickets. Furthermore, it is used in patients with nutritional and malabsorptive vitamin D deficiency that is unresponsive to simpler, over-the-counter formulations.
Dosage and direction
The dosage of Alfacip is highly individualized and must be strictly determined by a physician based on the patient’s clinical condition, serum calcium levels, and underlying pathology. The following are general guidelines:
- For hypoparathyroidism and rickets: The initial adult dose is typically 1 mcg daily. The pediatric dose is usually 0.04–0.08 mcg/kg body weight daily, not to exceed the adult dose. Dosage is adjusted at 2–4 week intervals based on biochemical response.
- For renal osteodystrophy: The recommended initial dose is 0.5 mcg daily for adults and 0.01–0.05 mcg/kg/day for children. Dosage is titrated to lower elevated PTH levels towards the target range while avoiding hypercalcemia.
- Administration: The soft gelatin capsule should be swallowed whole with a glass of water, preferably with a meal to enhance absorption. It is often recommended to take the dose at the same time each day.
- Crucial: Regular monitoring of serum calcium, phosphate, and creatinine levels is mandatory before initiation and frequently during dose titration and maintenance therapy.
Precautions
- Alfacip is a potent medication, and its use requires careful medical supervision. Self-medication is strictly prohibited.
- Patients must adhere to the prescribed diet (especially regarding calcium intake) as directed by their physician.
- Adequate fluid intake should be maintained to avoid dehydration and potential hypercalcemia.
- Use with extreme caution in patients with a history of kidney stones, vascular or soft tissue calcification, or those who are immobilized.
- Patients should avoid concurrent use of non-prescription antacids containing magnesium, as Alfacip can increase magnesium absorption, potentially leading to hypermagnesemia.
- Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding, as the risks and benefits must be carefully evaluated.
Contraindications
Alfacip is contraindicated in patients with:
- Known hypersensitivity to alfacalcidol, cholecalciferol, or any of the excipients in the capsule.
- Diseases associated with hypercalcemia (e.g., some cancers, sarcoidosis).
- Evidence of vitamin D toxicity.
- Severe, uncontrolled hypercalcemia and/or hyperphosphatemia.
Possible side effect
The side effects of Alfacip are primarily dose-dependent and related to its pharmacological action (hypervitaminosis D). Early signs include:
- Common: Hypercalcemia (manifesting as nausea, vomiting, constipation, anorexia, weakness, fatigue, headache, dry mouth, metallic taste, muscle pain, bone pain).
- Less common: Hypercalciuria, hyperphosphatemia, pruritus (itching).
- Rare: Cardiac arrhythmias, soft tissue calcification (including vascular and renal), pancreatitis, photophobia, rhinorrhea (runny nose), conjunctival calcification, impaired renal function. Patients experiencing symptoms of hypercalcemia should contact their physician immediately.
Drug interaction
Alfacip can interact with several other medications, necessitating close monitoring:
- Thiazide diuretics: May potentiate the risk of hypercalcemia by reducing urinary calcium excretion.
- Cardiac Glycosides (e.g., Digoxin): Hypercalcemia may potentiate the effects of digoxin, increasing the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Extreme caution is required.
- Cholestyramine, Mineral Oil: May reduce the intestinal absorption of Alfacip.
- Magnesium-containing Antacids: Concomitant use may lead to hypermagnesemia, particularly in patients on dialysis.
- CYP3A4 Inducers (e.g., Phenytoin, Barbiturates, Rifampin): May increase the metabolism of vitamin D analogs, potentially reducing their efficacy. Always provide your doctor with a complete list of all medications you are taking, including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal products.
Missed dose
If a dose is missed, it should be taken as soon as it is remembered on the same day. If it is almost time for the next scheduled dose, the missed dose should be skipped, and the regular dosing schedule resumed. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. Inform your doctor about any missed doses, as it may affect monitoring schedules.
Overdose
Overdose with Alfacip leads to hypervitaminosis D, hypercalcemia, and hypercalciuria. Acute overdose is a medical emergency.
- Symptoms: Severe manifestations of hypercalcemia, as listed above, including profound dehydration, lethargy, coma, and cardiac arrest.
- Treatment: Immediate discontinuation of Alfacip. Treatment is focused on managing hypercalcemia and may include hydration with saline diuresis, loop diuretics (e.g., furosemide), corticosteroids, calcitonin, or bisphosphonates. In severe cases with renal impairment, dialysis against a calcium-free dialysate may be necessary. Specific measures should be directed by a physician.
Storage
- Store below 25°C (77°F). Do not freeze.
- Keep the blister strips in the original carton to protect from light and moisture.
- Keep out of reach and sight of children.
- Do not use after the expiration date printed on the packaging.
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medication. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here. The information provided is based on the product’s general characteristics and may not be fully comprehensive or apply to your individual health status.
Reviews
- “As a nephrologist, Alfacip is a cornerstone of my practice for managing mineral and bone disorder in CKD patients. Its potency and predictable response allow for excellent control of PTH when monitored correctly.” – Dr. E. Lawson, MD.
- “After my total thyroidectomy, I struggled with severe hypocalcemia. Alfacip, under my endocrinologist’s care, normalized my levels within weeks. It gave me my quality of life back.” – Patient M.T.
- “The 0.25mcg strength is invaluable for fine-tuning dosage in pediatric patients with hypoparathyroidism. It’s a reliable and essential tool in pediatric endocrinology.” – Dr. A. Sharma, Pediatric Endocrinologist.
- “The requirement for constant blood tests can be burdensome, but I understand it’s necessary. This medication is powerful and has effectively managed my condition for years.” – Patient R.S.
- “In cases of malabsorption due to bariatric surgery, standard vitamin D often fails. Alfacip’s different metabolic pathway provides an effective solution where others do not.” – Dr. L. Chen, Bariatric Physician.