home > drugs a-z list > calciferol (ergocalciferol) drug center > calciferol (ergocalciferol) drug - warnings and precautions

Hypersensitivity to vitamin D may be one etiologic factor in infants with idiopathic hypercalcemia. In these cases vitamin D must be strictly restricted.

Keep out of the reach of children.

General

Vitamin D administration from fortified foods, dietary supplements, self-administered and prescription drug sources should be evaluated. Therapeutic dosage should be readjusted as soon as there is clinical improvement. Dosage levels must be individualized and great care exercised to prevent serious toxic effects. IN VITAMIN D RESISTANT RICKETS THE RANGE BETWEEN THERAPEUTIC AND TOXIC DOSES IS NARROW. When high therapeutic doses are used progress should be followed with frequent blood calcium determinations.

In the treatment of hypoparathyroidism, intravenous calcium, parathyroid hormone, and/or dihy-drotachysterol may be required.

Maintenance of a normal serum phosphorous level by dietary phosphate restriction and/or administration of aluminum gels as intestinal phosphate binders in those patients with hyperphosphatemia as frequently seen in renal osteodystrophy is essential to prevent metastatis calcification.

Adequate dietary calcium is necessary for clinical response to vitamin D therapy.

Protect from light.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

No long-term animal studies have been performed to evaluate the drug's potential in these areas.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C

Animal reproduction studies have shown fetal abnormalities in several species associated with hypervitaminosis D. These are similar to the supravalvular aortic stenosis syndrome described in infants by Black in England (1963). This syndrome was characterized by supravalvular aortic stenosis, elfin facies, and mental retardation. For the protection of the fetus, therefore, the use of vitamin D in excess of the recommended dietary allowance during normal pregnancy should be avoided unless, in the judgment of the physician, potential benefits in a specific, unique case outweigh the significant hazards involved. The safety in excess of 400 USP units of vitamin D daily during pregnancy has not been established.

Nursing Mothers

Caution should be exercised when ergocalciferol (ergocalciferol) is administered to a nursing woman. In a mother given large doses of vitamin D, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (ergocalciferol) appeared in the milk and caused hypercalcemia in her child. Monitoring of the infants serum calcium concentration is required in that case (Goldberg, 1972).

Pediatric Use

Pediatric doses must be individualized (see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION).

Last reviewed on RxList: 12/29/2008
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.