What is drisdol used for. Drisdol Capsules: Understanding the Uses, Warnings, and Side Effects

11.09.202321.06.2023 by alexxlab

What conditions are treated with Drisdol capsules? What should you know about warnings and potential side effects when taking Drisdol? Get the answers you need.

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The Importance of Drisdol Capsules

DrisdolÂ® (ergocalciferol, USP) capsules are a form of vitamin D that plays a crucial role in helping your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. These essential minerals are vital for building and maintaining strong bones. Drisdol capsules are typically prescribed to treat specific health conditions related to vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus deficiencies.

Conditions Treated with Drisdol Capsules

Drisdol capsules are primarily used to treat the following conditions:

Low levels of parathyroid hormone, which can cause calcium and phosphorus deficiencies
Refractory rickets, also known as vitamin D resistant rickets
Inherited phosphate deficiency

When Should You Avoid Taking Drisdol Capsules?

It’s important to avoid taking Drisdol capsules if you have any of the following conditions:

High levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia)
High levels of vitamin D in your body (hypervitaminosis)
Any condition that makes it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients from food (malabsorption)

Warnings and Precautions with Drisdol Capsules

When taking Drisdol capsules, be aware of the following important warnings and precautions:

Vitamin D should be strictly restricted in infants with excessive calcium levels from unknown causes.
Your doctor must carefully evaluate all sources of vitamin D, including from fortified foods, dietary supplements, and other prescription drugs, to determine the appropriate dosage of Drisdol capsules.
If you are taking Drisdol capsules for the treatment of vitamin D resistant rickets, there is a very narrow range in the dose you can receive where it will be effective without being toxic.
Your doctor may prescribe additional treatments, such as calcium injections, parathyroid hormone, and/or dihydrotachysterol, if you have low levels of parathyroid hormone.
Your doctor will monitor your phosphorus levels and may prescribe supplementation to maintain normal levels.
Excessive vitamin D during pregnancy has been shown to cause fetal abnormalities, so it should be avoided unless the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.
Your doctor will prescribe Drisdol capsules with caution if you are nursing, as large doses of vitamin D can pass through to breast milk.
The dose of vitamin D given to children must be individualized for the specific patient.
Older patients may absorb vitamin D more quickly than younger patients, so your doctor may start you on a low dose and slowly increase it based on your response.

Potential Side Effects of Drisdol Capsules

Seek medical attention if you experience any of the following side effects while taking Drisdol capsules:

Brittle bones
Chills
Diarrhea
Dry mouth
Excessive thirst or urination
Growth suppression in children
Headache
Mental retardation
Metallic taste in your mouth
Muscle or bone pain
Stomach cramps
Vomiting

Seek emergency medical help if you have a severe allergic reaction, such as a rash, hives, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue.

Overdose and Immediate Action

If you suspect an overdose of Drisdol capsules, contact the Poison Control Hotline at 1-800-222-1222 or go to the emergency room immediately. Vitamin D toxicity with high calcium levels in your blood requires prompt treatment, including immediately stopping vitamin D treatment and following a low-calcium diet.

Interactions and Medications to Discuss

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any other medications, herbal preparations, or dietary supplements you are taking, as some may interact with Drisdol capsules. Specifically, mineral oil can interfere with the absorption of Drisdol capsules, and diuretics containing thiazide to treat low levels of parathyroid hormone may cause an excessive increase in the amount of calcium in your body when taken with Drisdol capsules.

About Drisdol – Drisdol

Drisdol^® (ergocalciferol, USP) capsules are a form of vitamin D that helps your body absorb calcium and phosphorus. Having the right amount of vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus is critical to building and keeping strong bones.

WHAT CONDITIONS ARE TREATED WITH DRISDOL CAPSULES?

Drisdol capsules are filled with a form of vitamin D. Drisdol capsules are prescribed if you have:

Low levels of parathyroid hormone (which can cause calcium and phosphorus deficiencies)
Refractory rickets (vitamin D resistant rickets)
Inherited phosphate deficiency

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Download Full Prescribing Information

Drisdol^® (ergocalciferol, USP) Capsules

WHAT ARE DRISDOL CAPSULES USED FOR?

Drisdol^® (ergocalciferol, USP) capsules are used to treat hypoparathyroidism (low levels of parathyroid hormone), which result in calcium and phosphorus deficiencies, refractory rickets, also known as vitamin D resistant rickets, and inherited phosphate deficiency.

WHEN SHOULD I NOT TAKE THE DRUG?

Do not take Drisdol capsules if you have ever had an allergic reaction to vitamin D or, if you have:

High levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia)
High levels of vitamin D in your body (hypervitaminosis)
Any condition that makes it hard for your body to absorb nutrients from food (malabsorption)

WHAT WARNINGS SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT DRISDOL CAPSULES?

Vitamin D should be strictly restricted in infants that have excessive calcium levels from unknown causes.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

Care should be taken to consider all sources of vitamin D, including from fortified foods, dietary supplements, and prescription drugs. Too much vitamin D can result in vitamin D toxicity. Your doctor must evaluate you and determine your dosage of Drisdol capsules based on the total amount of vitamin D you are getting from all sources.

If you are taking Drisdol capsules for the treatment of vitamin D resistant rickets, you should be aware that there is a very narrow range in the dose you can receive where it will help you versus the dose that is toxic.

If you have low levels of parathyroid hormone, your doctor may prescribe other treatments, including calcium injection, parathyroid hormone, and/or dihydrotachysterol.

Your doctor will monitor the phosphorus levels in your body and may prescribe supplementation to maintain normal phosphorus levels.

Excessive vitamin D during pregnancy has been shown to cause fetal abnormalities. Therefore, use of vitamin D in doses above the recommended dietary amount should be avoided unless your doctor believes that the benefit clearly outweighs the risk of taking the medicine.

Your doctor will only prescribe Drisdol capsules with caution if you are nursing, as large doses of vitamin D have been shown to pass through to breast milk.

The dose of vitamin D given to children must be individualized for the specific patient.

Older patients may absorb vitamin D more quickly than younger patients. If you are older, your doctor may start you on a low dose of Drisdol capsules and slowly increase your dose based on your response.

WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY HEALTHCARE PROVIDER?

To make sure that you can safely take Drisdol capsules, tell your doctor if you have any of these conditions:

Heart disease
Coronary artery disease
Kidney disease
An electrolyte imbalance, including high phosphate levels
A calcium imbalance

You should also tell your doctor:

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast feeding
If you are taking prescription or nonprescription medicines, herbal preparations or dietary supplements
If you have allergies to medicines, foods or other substances

WHAT OTHER MEDICATIONS MIGHT INTERACT WITH DRISDOL CAPSULES?

Mineral oil interferes with the absorption of Drisdol capsules into your body

If you are taking diuretics containing thiazide to treat low levels of parathyroid hormone, Drisdol capsules may cause an excessive increase in the amount of calcium in your body.

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF DRISDOL CAPSULES?

Seek medical attention if you have any of these side effects:

Brittle bones
Chills
Diarrhea
Dry mouth
Excessive thirst
Excessive urination
Growth suppression in children
Headache
Mental retardation
Metallic taste in your mouth
Muscle or bone pain
Stomach cramps
Vomiting

SEEK EMERGENCY MEDICAL HELP IF YOU HAVE:

Severe allergic reactions (rash, hives, difficulty breathing, tightness in the chest, swelling of the mouth, face, lips or tongue)

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Validus Pharmaceuticals LLC at 1-866-982-5438.

WHAT IF I OVERDOSE?

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (Poison Control Hotline) or go to the emergency room immediately if you suspect that you have an overdose of Drisdol Capsules.

If you have vitamin D toxicity with high calcium levels in your blood, immediately stop vitamin D treatment, follow a low calcium diet, and drink a lot of fluids.

Excessive calcium levels can cause dehydration, stupor, coma, and high nitrogen levels in the blood. Treatment of excessive calcium is hydration (usually by IV) to increase calcium excretion through the urine.

With appropriate therapy, recovery from overdose is the usual outcome and no permanent damage will occur, although death via kidney and heart failure has occurred.

The effects of excessive vitamin D can last for 2 months after treatment.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Validus Pharmaceuticals, LLC at — VALIDUS (1-866-982-5438) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch

Ergocalciferol: MedlinePlus Drug Information

pronounced as (er” goe kal sif’ er ol)

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Ergocalciferol is used in the treatment of hypoparathyroidism (condition in which the body does not produce enough parathyroid hormone), refractory rickets (softening and weakening of bones that does not respond to treatment), and familial hypophosphatemia (rickets or osteomalacia caused by an inherited condition with a decreased ability to break down vitamin D in the body). Ergocalciferol is in a class of medications called vitamin D analogs. It works by helping the body to use more of the calcium found in foods or supplements.

Ergocalciferol comes as a capsule to take by mouth. It is usually taken once daily. Take ergocalciferol at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take ergocalciferol exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Swallow the capsules whole; do not chew or crush them.

Your doctor may change your dose depending on your body’s response to ergocalciferol.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Before taking ergocalciferol,

tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ergocalciferol, aspirin, tartrazine (a yellow dye in some processed foods and drugs), any other medications, or any of the ingredients in ergocalciferol capsules. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: calcium supplements; other vitamin D supplements and fortified foods; or thiazide diuretics (‘water pills’) such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (in many blood pressure medications), indapamide, and metolazone (Zaroxolyn). You and your caregiver should know that many nonprescription medications are not safe to take with ergocalciferol. Ask your doctor before you take any nonprescription medications while you are taking ergocalciferol. Your doctor may need to change the doses of your medications or monitor you carefully for side effects.
tell your doctor if you have high blood levels of calcium and vitamin D, an abnormal sensitivity to high levels of vitamin D, or if you have malabsorption syndrome (problems absorbing food). Your doctor will probably tell you not to take ergocalciferol.
tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease.
tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking ergocalciferol, call your doctor.

Ergocalciferol will work only if you also get the right amount of calcium from the foods you eat. If you get too much calcium from foods, you may experience serious side effects from taking ergocalciferol. If you do not get enough calcium from foods, ergocalciferol will not control your condition. Your doctor will tell you which foods are good sources of calcium and how many servings you need each day. If you find it difficult to eat enough of these foods, tell your doctor. In that case, your doctor can prescribe or recommend a calcium supplement.

Your doctor may also prescribe a low-phosphate diet during your treatment with ergocalciferol. Follow these directions carefully.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Ergocalciferol may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

pale skin
tiredness

Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

feeling tired, difficulty thinking clearly, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, constipation, increased thirst, increased urination, or weight loss
drowsiness
muscle aches, stiffness, and weakness

Ergocalciferol may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.

If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online (http://www. fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch) or by phone (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).

It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location – one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach. http://www.upandaway.org

Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website (http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p) for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.

In case of overdose, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222. Information is also available online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. If the victim has collapsed, had a seizure, has trouble breathing, or can’t be awakened, immediately call emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

loss of appetite
nausea
weakness
weight loss
muscle aches and stiffness
constipation
pale skin
increased urination (especially at night) or increased thirst
intellectual disability

Drisdol^®

Vitamin D₂

Last Revised – 08/15/2018

Browse Drugs and Medicines

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Adult Medication

This document, provided by Lexicomp ^® , contains all the information you need to know about this medicine, including indications, directions for use, side effects, and when your healthcare provider should be contacted.

Trade names: US

Calcidol [OTC]; Calciferol [OTC] [DSC]; Drisdol; Ergocal [DSC]

Trade names: Canada

D-Forte; SANDOZ D-Forte

What is this drug used for?

It is used to treat low thyroid function.
It is used to treat and prevent low phosphate levels.
Used to treat rickets.
This drug may also be used for other indications. Consult your doctor.

What should I tell my doctor BEFORE taking this drug?

If you have an allergy to this drug, any of its ingredients, other drugs, foods or substances. Tell your doctor about your allergies and how they have manifested.
In one of the following cases: elevated levels of calcium, vitamin D, or insufficient absorption.

This list of drugs and conditions that may interact with this drug is not exhaustive.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines you take (prescription and over-the-counter, natural products and vitamins) and any health problems you have. You need to make sure that this drug is safe for your conditions and in combination with other drugs you are already taking. Do not start or stop taking any drug or change the dosage without your doctor’s advice.

What do I need to know or do while taking this drug?

Tell all your health care workers that you are taking this drug. These are doctors, nurses, pharmacists and dentists.
If you are allergic to tartrazine (dye yellow #5), talk to your doctor. Some products contain tartrazine.
Perform blood tests as directed by your doctor. Consult with your doctor.
Too much vitamin D in the body can lead to health problems. Do not exceed the dose of this drug prescribed by your doctor. Make sure you know the symptoms of too much vitamin D in the body. If you have any questions, ask your doctor.
If you are taking other medications that are sources of vitamin D, you should consult your doctor.
Stick to the diet recommended by your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. The benefits and risks for you and your child will need to be discussed.

What side effects should I report to my doctor immediately?

WARNING. In rare cases, this drug can cause serious and sometimes deadly side effects in some patients. Call your doctor right away or get medical help if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that could be associated with serious side effects:

Signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, itching, red and swollen skin with blisters or peeling, possibly accompanied by fever, wheezing or wheezing, tightness in the chest or throat, difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking, unusual hoarseness, swelling in the mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

Any drug can cause side effects. However, for many people, side effects are either minor or non-existent. Contact your doctor or seek medical attention if you are concerned about any side effects or if the side effects persist.

This list of possible side effects is not exhaustive. If you have any questions about side effects, please contact your doctor. Talk to your doctor about side effects.

You can report side effects to the National Health Board.

You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You can also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

What is the best way to take this drug?

Use this drug as directed by your doctor. Read all the information provided to you. Strictly follow all instructions.

All forms:

Take with or without food. Take with food if medicine causes nausea.
Keep taking this drug as instructed by your doctor or other health care professional, even if you feel well.

Liquid:

Liquid doses should be measured with caution. Use the dispenser that comes with the medication. If the dispenser is not provided in the package, ask the pharmacist for a dosing agent for this drug.

What if I miss a dose of a drug?

Take the missed dose as soon as you can.
If it’s time for your next dose, don’t take the missed dose and then go back to your regular dosing schedule.
Do not take 2 doses or an additional dose at the same time.

How do I store and/or discard this drug?

Store at room temperature, protected from light. Store in a dry place. Do not store in the bathroom.
Keep all medicines in a safe place. Keep all medicines out of the reach of children and pets.
Dispose of unused or expired drugs. Do not empty into a toilet or sewer unless instructed to do so. If you have any questions about disposing of medicines, ask your pharmacist. Drug recycling programs may be in place in your area.

General information about medicines

If your health does not improve or even worsens, see your doctor.
Do not give your medicine to anyone and do not take other people’s medicines.
Some medicines may come with other patient information leaflets. If you have questions about this drug, talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care professional.
Some medicines may come with other patient information leaflets. Check with your pharmacist. If you have questions about this drug, talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care professional.
If you think you have overdosed, call a poison control center or get medical help right away. Be prepared to tell or show what drug you took, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Use of Information and Limitation of Liability

This summary information includes a summary of the diagnosis, treatment, and/or drug product. It is not intended to be a comprehensive source of data and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or evaluate potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a particular patient. It should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a physician based on a medical examination and assessment of the patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients should consult with their physician for full information about their health, medical issues, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding the use of medications. This information is not a guarantee that a treatment or drug is safe, effective, or approved for a particular patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its subsidiaries disclaim any warranties or liabilities related to this information or its use. The use of this information is subject to the Terms of Use found at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last revision date

2021-07-01

Copyright

Date last updated

Monday, December 12, 2022

Ergocalciferol: Pediatric Medication | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Pediatric Medicine

This document provided by Lexicomp ^® contains all the information you need to know about the drug, including indications, directions for use, side effects, and when you should contact your healthcare provider.