Adcal D3 Chewable Tablets

What is Adcal D3 and how does it work?

Adcal D3 is a brand of medicine which contains the ingredients calcium and colecalciferol (otherwise known as vitamin D3) and is taken as a supplement by children and adults, over 12 years old, to help support strong bones and teeth in adults.

Vitamin D is naturally absorbed by the body through sunlight and also some foods such as oily fish. Vitamin D is essential to supporting strong bones as it is needed for the body to be able to absorb the calcium that we consume through food and drink.

Most adults will get enough calcium and vitamin D from their diet and sunlight that they do not need to take dietary supplements. However, if you suffer from conditions such as osteomalacia or osteoporosis and struggle to absorb enough vitamin D and calcium, taking Adcal D3 can prevent bones from becoming weaker and more brittle.

Adcal D3 is available at The Independent Pharmacy as flavoured chewable tablets but also comes in a caplet and soluble tablet preparation.

What is Adcal D3 used for?

Adcal D3 is used to increase your daily intake of calcium and vitamin D to help support healthier, stronger bones and teeth in those that are unable to absorb adequate calcium and vitamin D from their diet and lifestyle alone.

Adcal D3 may be a suitable supplement for the following:

• People with osteoporosis or osteomalacia
• The elderly
• Anyone that is restricted or has a disability that limits their exposure to sunlight
• Women going through the menopause

If you are unsure whether you are deficient in calcium and vitamin D you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Adcal D3 for osteoporosis

If you have a diagnosis of osteoporosis you may need to take calcium and vitamin D3 supplements such as Adcal D3 to help your body to absorb enough calcium to help improve your bone strength.

If you have osteoporosis or another bone disorder such as osteomalacia you should speak to your doctor or a pharmacist about your options before taking supplements.

Is Adcal D3 good for you?

Adcal D3 is a vitamin and mineral supplement to support healthy bones. Most people will get sufficient calcium and vitamin D from their diet and exposure to sunlight and so will not require Adcal D3.

However, for those that are at risk of calcium and vitamin D deficiency, Adcal D3, can be a quick and easy method of increasing the body’s absorption of these essential vitamins and minerals where lifestyle changes are not enough.

It is not advisable to take Adcal D3 unless you know that you have decreased levels of calcium and vitamin D3. Taking supplements when they are not needed can cause damage to your kidneys. You should speak to a doctor or pharmacist if you are concerned about your calcium or vitamin D intake and absorption before taking Adcal D3.

Adcal D3 alternatives

Adcal D3 is an approved calcium and vitamin D3 supplement for people who are at an increased risk of deficiency as they are unable to absorb enough calcium and vitamin D through diet and lifestyle alone.

First-line advice for all people who have reduced uptake of vitamin D and calcium should be to increase the amount of calcium and vitamin D in their diet and to safely get more exposure to natural sunlight. More information about vitamins and minerals can be found on the NHS website.

Adcal D3 is a brand of supplement that contains both calcium and vitamin D3 and the same medication can be bought under different brand names such as:

• Accrete D3
• Cacit D3
• Calfovit D3
• SunVit-D3

Sources

• https://www.axappphealthcare.co.uk/health-information/womens-health/adcal-d3-tablets/
• https://patient.info/medicine/calcium-with-colecalciferol
• https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-6152/cholecalciferol-vitamin-d3-oral/details
• https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/colecalciferol-with-calcium-carbonate.html
• https://theros.org.uk/information-and-support/osteoporosis/treatment/
• https://www.sth.nhs.uk/clientfiles/File/sheffield_vit_D_guidance_Dec 2012 master.pdf
• https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/oxalate-good-or-bad#section2
• Adcal D3 Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/401/pil

Adcal D3 warnings

Reading the following warnings carefully will help to ensure you are selecting an appropriate product.

Adcal D3 contains soya. Do not use this product if you are allergic to soya or any of the other constituent ingredients.

Inform your GP if you plan on taking Adcal D3 tablets and suffer from any of the following conditions:

• Hypercalcaemia (high calcium levels in the blood)
• Hypercalciuria (high calcium levels in urine)
• Kidney problems
• Sarcoidosis
• An intolerance to certain sugars

Adcal D3 may interact with foods rich in certain compounds. This includes phosphate or phytic acid (both found in some cereals) and oxalic acid (found in vegetables such as rhubarb or spinach). Leave a gap of at least two hours between using Adcal D3 and eating foods such as these.

Inform your GP or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following:

• Corticosteroids
• Calcium supplements
• Antacids
• Diruetics
• Digitalis drugs

If you are taking any of these medicines, you will need to wait roughly four hours before having an Adcal D3 tablet:

• Bisphosphontates
• Tetracycline antibiotics
• Quinolone antibiotics
• Medicines containing iron or fluoride

For a full list of warnings and precautions please read the Patient Information Leaflet.

Adcal D3 & food

Do not take Adcal D3 within 2 hours of eating food that has high levels of oxalic acid (e.g. spinach and rhubarb), phosphate (e.g. bran), or phytic acid (e.g. whole cereals).

Foods that are high in these substances can further inhibit the body from being able to absorb calcium and may, therefore, increase deficiency.

Adcal D3 & Pregnancy

A woman that is pregnant or breastfeeding is more likely to be deficient in vitamin D and calcium. If you are pregnant you should discuss dietary supplement options with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist.

Adcal D3 dose

Adcal D3 chewable tablets can be taken by children and adults over 12 years old. Adcal D£ is for oral use only and should always be chewed and not swallowed whole.

Before taking Adcal D3 please read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly.

Children and adults over 12 years old, take 2 tablets daily. Chew 1 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening.

If you take too much Adcal D3 you should not take your next dose, speak to a doctor or pharmacist or go to your nearest emergency department straight away. Taking too much Adcal D3 can cause damage to your kidneys.

How long should you take Adcal D3 for?

There is no set amount of time in which you should take Adcal D3 but as with all medicine, it is not advisable to take it for longer than it is needed. You should only take Adcal D3 as a dietary supplement for as long as you are unable to get enough calcium and vitamin D3 from your diet or lifestyle alone.

If you continue to be unable to get enough calcium and vitamin D from your diet and lifestyle you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Adcal D3 ingredients

Before taking Adcal D3 you must read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly. Please make sure you have familiarised yourself with a full list of ingredients.

Do not take Adcal D3 if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.

Adcal D3 chewable tablets contain the active ingredients:

• Calcium carbonate (1500mg, equivalent to 600mg calcium)
• Vitamin D3 (400iu, equivalent to 10µg colecalciferol).

Adcal D3 chewable tablets also contain:

• Soya oil
• Gelatin
• Sucrose

Adcal D3 side effects

In the same way as other medicines, Adcal D3 can cause some unwanted side effects but may not be experienced by everyone.

For full information about the side effects associated with Adcal D3 please see the Patient Information Leaflet.

If you experience a severe allergic reaction to Adcal D3, stop taking it straight away and seek medical help from your nearest emergency department.

If you are worried about side effects when taking Adcal D3 or they do not go away once you have stopped taking it, speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

The most common side effects associated with Adcal D3 are:

• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Excess wind and stomach pain,
• Feeling sick
• Hypercalcaemia (excess calcium in the blood) or hypercalciuria (excess calcium in the urine)

Is Adcal D3 safe?

Adcal D3 is a dietary supplement and is safe to use by people that are unable to absorb enough calcium and vitamin D through diet and lifestyle alone.

Adcal D3 should only be taken if you know that you have a calcium and vitamin D3 deficiency.

Taking too much calcium and vitamin D3 can lead to an excess of calcium in your blood, hypercalcaemia and an excess of calcium in your urine, hypercalciuria which can cause damage to your kidneys.

Adcal D3 and nausea

A side effect of Adcal D3 is nausea. Feeling nauseous while taking Adcal D3 is not dangerous but can be unpleasant. If you are unable to take Adcal D3 due to side effects you should speak to a doctor or pharmacist to discuss your options.