Introduction About GRETACAL 10% INJECTION

GRETACAL 10% INJECTIONcontains a combination of Calcium gluconate and Calcium lactobionate which belongs to the group of medicine called Minerals. It is used to manage acute symptomatic hypocalcemia (calcium deficiency). Calcium deficiency can be due to a variety of factors such as poor calcium intake in childhood, decreased calcium absorption and dietary tolerance, hormonal changes, and genetic factors.

There are no symptoms in the beginning, but as the condition progresses, symptoms such as confusion, memory loss, muscle spasms, cramps, hallucinations, an easy bone fracture, tingling and numbness of body parts, and depression may appear.

Before receiving GRETACAL 10% INJECTION, inform your doctor if you have kidney, heart, or parathyroid gland problems, cancer, or hypercalcemia (increased calcium levels). Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before receiving GRETACAL 10% INJECTION. GRETACAL 10% INJECTION is not recommended for use in children below 1 month of age receiving ceftriaxone.

The most common side effects of receiving GRETACAL 10% INJECTION are constipation and injection site reactions like pain, swelling, and redness. Contact your doctor if symptoms worsen.

Uses Of GRETACAL 10% INJECTION

• Manage calcium deficiency

How GRETACAL 10% INJECTION Works

GRETACAL 10% INJECTION works by strengthening the bones where calcium gluconate dissociates into ionised calcium in the blood, increasing serum ionised calcium levels. Ionized calcium and gluconate are normal constituents of body fluids, and calcium lactobionate works by replenishing the stores of calcium in the body.

How to use GRETACAL 10% INJECTION

GRETACAL 10% INJECTION will be given to you only by a doctor or a nurse into a vein as an intravenous infusion. Your doctor will determine the right dose and duration depending upon your age, body weight, and disease condition.

Side Effects Of GRETACAL 10% INJECTION

How To Manage Side Effects

Constipation

Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and cereals and drink plenty of water. Exercise more regularly. If the symptom doesn’t improve, consult your doctor.

Indigestion

Eat smaller and more frequent meals. Exercise regularly. If the symptom doesn’t improve, consult your doctor.

Warning & Precautions

Pregnancy

Consult your doctor

Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant as there in limited information on the safety of receiving GRETACAL 10% INJECTION. Consult your doctor before receiving it, it will be given to you after calculating the risk and benefit ratio.

Breastfeeding

Consult your doctor

Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding before receiving GRETACAL 10% INJECTIONas it is not known if it is excreted in breast milk. Consult your doctor before receiving it, it will be given to you after calculating the risk and benefit ratio.

Driving and Using Machines

Use with Caution

It is not known if GRETACAL 10% INJECTION affects the ability to drive or use machines, do not drive or use machines in case you experience unusual symptoms.

Kidney

Consult your doctor

GRETACAL 10% INJECTION should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease, and kidney stones. The dose will be adjusted by your doctor and regular serum calcium levels will be monitored. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

Allergy

Contraindicated

Inform your doctor before receiving GRETACAL 10% INJECTION if you are allergic to Calcium gluconate or Calcium lactobionate.

Heart Disease

Use with Caution

GRETACAL 10% INJECTION should be used with caution in patients with heart problems. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

Use In Pediatrics

Consult your doctor

GRETACAL 10% INJECTIONis not recommended for use in children below 28 days old receiving ceftriaxone. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

Use In Geriatrics

Consult your doctor

The doctor will adjust the dose for patients above 65 years of age receiving GRETACAL 10% INJECTION, depending on the disease condition. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

Interactions

A. Drug-Drug interactions:

Before receiving GRETACAL 10% INJECTION, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicine:

• ceftriaxone, minocycline (antibiotic to manage bacterial infection)
• fluids containing bicarbonate or phosphate
• cardiac glycosides like digoxin (to manage heart failure and irregular heartbeats)
• calcium channel blockers (Ex. amlodipine, diltiazem, to lower blood pressure)
• vitamin D, vitamin A
• thiazide diuretics (Ex. chlorothiazide, indapamide, to increase urine flow)
• estrogen
• calcipotriene (to manage psoriasis)
• teriparatide (to manage osteoporosis)
• baloxavir marboxil (to manage influenza)

Overdosage:

GRETACAL 10% INJECTION will be administered to you only by a doctor or a nurse in a hospital, and so it is unlikely to receive an overdose. However, consult your doctor or nurse if you experience any unusual symptoms of hypercalcemia (hallucinations, disorientation, hypotonicity, seizures, and coma)

Synopsis

More Information

• Keep GRETACAL 10% INJECTION out of reach of children
• Store at 20-25°C

FAQs About GRETACAL 10% INJECTION

Q: What is GRETACAL 10% INJECTION used for?

A: GRETACAL 10% INJECTION is used to manage acute symptomatic hypocalcemia (calcium deficiency). Calcium deficiency can be due to a variety of factors, such as poor calcium intake in childhood, decreased calcium absorption and dietary tolerance, hormonal changes, and genetic factors.

Q: Can pregnant women receive GRETACAL 10% INJECTION?

A: Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, as there is limited information on the safety of receiving GRETACAL 10% INJECTION. Consult your doctor before receiving it; it will be given to you after calculating the risk-to-benefit ratio.

Q: How does GRETACAL 10% INJECTION work?

A: GRETACAL 10% INJECTION works by strengthening the bones, where calcium gluconate dissociates into ionised calcium in the blood, which increases serum ionised calcium levels. Ionized calcium and gluconate are normal constituents of body fluids, and calcium lactobionate works by replenishing the stores of calcium in the body.

Q: Can children receive GRETACAL 10% INJECTION?

A: GRETACAL 10% INJECTION is not recommended for use in children below 28 days old receiving ceftriaxone as it can have fatal outcomes. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

Q: Can patients with kidney problems receive GRETACAL 10% INJECTION?

A: GRETACAL 10% INJECTION should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease or kidney stones. The dose will be adjusted by your doctor, and regular serum calcium levels will be monitored. Consult your doctor before receiving it.

References

1. KD Tripathi. Hormones and Drugs Affecting Calcium Balance. Essentials of medical pharmacology. Eighth Edition. 2019. Page –362.

2. Anumita Chakraborty; Ahmet S. Can. Calcium gluconate. [Revised in January 2022] [Accessed on 30th June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557463/

3. S.Sáez-Orviz, P.Camilleri, I.Marcet, M.Rendueles, M.Díaz. Microencapsulation of calcium lactobionate for protection from microorganisms in solid-phase food. [Revised in October 2019] [Accessed on 30th June 2022] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1369703X19302141

4. Fresenius kabi. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. [Revised in June 2017] [Accessed on 30th June 2022] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/208418s000lbl.pdf

5. Calcium gluconate. Drugs.com [Revised in June 2021] [Accessed on 30th June 2022] https://www.drugs.com/calcium-gluconate.html

6. Calcium lactobionate. Pubchem [Accessed on 30th June 2022] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Calcium-lactobionate

7. Calcium gluconate+calcium lactobionate. Healthline. [Revised in July 2019] [Accessed on 30th June 2022] https://www.healthline.com/health/calcium-deficiency-disease