Calcium carbonate for kidney disease
This leaflet is about the use of calcium carbonate for children with kidney disease.
This leaflet has been written specifically about the use of his medicine in children. The information may differ from that provided by the manufacturer. Please read this leaflet carefully. Keep it somewhere safe so that you can read it again.
Name of drug
Calcium carbonate
Brand names: Adcal®, Calcichew®, Calcichew Forte®, Rennie Soft Chews®, Remegel®, Tums®, Calcium-500, Phosex®
Why is it important for my child to take this medicine?
The kidneys remove excess phosphate from the blood. In children with kidney disease, phosphate levels may build up, putting your child at risk of bone problems. Calcium carbonate is given to children (and adults) with kidney disease to bind (mop up) phosphate from food in the gut. It forms calcium phosphate, which is then removed from the body in the stool (poo). It is important that your child takes this medicine regularly to prevent phosphate levels from building up in the blood.
What is calcium carbonate available as?
- Chewable tablets: Adcal® (1.5 g), Calcichew® (1.25 g), Calcichew Forte® (2.5 g), Rennie Soft Chews® (800 mg), Remegel® (800 mg), Tums® (500 mg), Calcium-500,
- Tablets: Phosex® (1 g, yellow)
- Liquid medicine (suspension): 600 mg calcium carbonate in 5 mL
When should I give calcium carbonate?
Your child must take calcium carbonate during every feed, meal or snack to bind any phosphate in that meal. They can take it just before starting the meal or during the meal. If your child has overnight feeds, the calcium carbonate should be added to the feed before starting the pump.
How much should I give?
Your doctor will measure the amount of phosphate in your child’s blood and from this work out how much calcium carbonate is right for your child. The dose may therefore change at each visit to your doctor. The dose will be shown on the medicine label.
It is important that you follow your doctor’s instructions about how much to give.
How should I give calcium carbonate?
Chewable tablets should be chewed and then swallowed.
Phosex® tablets should be swallowed with a glass of water, milk or juice. Your child should not chew Phosex® tablets. You can crush the tablet and mix it with a small amount of soft food such as yogurt, honey or jam. Make sure your child swallows it straight away, without chewing.
Liquid medicine: Measure out the right amount using a medicine spoon or oral syringe. You can get these from your pharmacist. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount
When should the medicine start working?
The calcium carbonate binds the phosphate in the food. It may take a while for blood phosphate levels to fall after your child first starts taking it. You won’t see any difference in your child.
What if my child is sick (vomits)?
If your child is sick, you do not need to give your child the dose again.
What if I forget to give it?
Calcium carbonate needs to be taken at the same time as a meal or snack. If your child has already finished eating when you remember, do not give the missed dose.
What if I give too much?
Calcium carbonate is unlikely to cause harm if your child takes too much. If you are worried you may have given your child too much calcium carbonate, contact your doctor or NHS Direct(0845 4647). Have the packet with you if you telephone for advice.
Are there any possible side-effects?
We use medicines to make our children better, but sometimes they have other effects that we don’t want (side-effects).
Side-effects you must do something about
If your child has muscle weakness, is more thirsty than normal, seems to pass urine more often than usual, feels sick or vomits or loses their appetite, contact your doctor, as the level of calcium in their blood may be too high.
Other side-effects you need to know about
If your child has a fever (temperature above 38°C), pain when passing urine (wee), cloudy urine, blood in the urine, or severe pain on either side of the lower back, they may have kidney stones. If this happens, contactyour doctor for advice. If the pain is severe, take your child to hospital.
- Your child may get constipation (difficulty doing a poo). If this happens, contact your doctor for advice.
Can other medicines be given at the same time as calcium carbonate?
- You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol unless your doctor has told you not to.
- Do not give your child ibuprofen unless your doctor has said that you can.
- Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any other medicines to your child. This includes herbal or complementary medicines.
General advice about medicines
Only give this medicine to your child. Never give it to anyone else, even if their condition appears to be the same, as this could do harm.
If you think someone else may have taken the medicine by accident, contact your doctor for advice.
Make sure that you always have enough medicine. Order a new prescription at least 2 weeks before you will run out.
Make sure that the medicine you have at home has not reached the ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date on the packaging. Give old medicines to your pharmacist to dispose of. Check the expiry date of any liquid medicine that you get from your pharmacist.
Where I should keep this medicine?
- Keep the medicine in a cupboard, away from heat and direct sunlight. It does not need to be kept in the fridge.
- The liquid medicine (suspension) should not be kept for more than 4 weeks once opened.
- Make sure that children cannot see or reach the medicine.
- Keep the medicine in the container it came in.
Who to contact for more information
Your child’s doctor, pharmacist, nurse or dietician will be able to give you more information about calcium carbonate and about other medicines used to treat high phosphate levels. You can also get useful information from:
You can also get useful information from:
- NHS Direct
0845 4647
Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk - NHS 24 (Scotland)
08454 24 24 24 - NHS Direct (Wales/Galw lechyd Cymru)
0845 4647 - NHS NI (Northern Ireland)
0845 4647 - The British Kidney Patient Association
01420 541 424
Website: www.britishkidney-pa.co.uk
Publication Date
8/12/2011