Dihydrotachysterol

About dihydrotachysterol

Dihydrotachysterol is a form of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps you to absorb calcium from the foods you eat. You need calcium to keep your bones strong, and to help your muscles and nerves work properly. If you have a low level of calcium in your blood, it can cause a number of different symptoms, including muscle cramps, pain and twitching. Low levels of calcium can be caused by a problem with your parathyroid glands, called hypoparathyroidism. Dihydrotachysterol is used to treat low blood levels of calcium when caused by hypoparathyroidism.

Before taking dihydrotachysterol

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking dihydrotachysterol it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you are allergic to peanuts or soya. If so, you must not take this medicine.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• If you have sarcoidosis. This is a condition causing inflammation, particularly in your lungs and lymph system. Sarcoidosis may make you more sensitive to dihydrotachysterol than normal.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.

How to take dihydrotachysterol

• Before you start this treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. The leaflet will give you more information about dihydrotachysterol and a full list of side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take dihydrotachysterol exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is likely you will be asked to take 3-5 ml for the first three days, and then your dose will be adjusted depending on the results of a blood test. You could then be asked to take a dose each day, on alternate days, or several times a week. Your doctor will tell you what is right for you, and how much to take for each of your doses.

• Make sure you understand how to measure out your doses using the dropper. You can ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to explain this to you again if you are uncertain.

• You can take dihydrotachysterol before or after meals.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Keep your regular doctor's appointments so your progress can be monitored. You will need to have regular blood tests while you are taking this medicine to make sure that the dose you are taking is correct for you.

• You should consider wearing a MedicAlert® bracelet (or similar), or carry some kind of ID with you, to identify yourself as having hypoparathyroidism. This is so that if you collapse, are confused or are injured, doctors will know that you need prompt treatment with calcium.

• Eating foods rich in vitamin D and calcium may help, such as oily fish (sardine, herring, salmon and tuna), liver, dairy products and eggs.

• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with dihydrotachysterol.

• Treatment with dihydrotachysterol is usually long-term. Continue to take it regularly unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

• If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking dihydrotachysterol.

Can dihydrotachysterol cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. Any side-effects caused by dihydrotachysterol are likely to be due to too much calcium in your blood, which means that your dose will need adjusting.

The first signs of too much calcium are:

• Loss of appetite.

• Tiredness.

• Feeling sick (nausea).

This could then lead on to:

• Being sick (vomiting).

• Stomach cramps.

• Feeling thirsty.

• Needing to pass urine more often.

• Sweating.

• Dizziness.

• Headache.

If you experience these symptoms, it is important that you make an appointment to see your doctor straightaway.

How to store dihydrotachysterol

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

• Keep the bottle tightly closed and store in the original carton to protect it from light.

• Discard any remaining contents four months after first opening the bottle. Write the date of opening on the label to remind you.

Important information about all medicines