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Hectorol® (doxercalciferol capsules and injection) is a prescription vitamin D medication for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism or SHPT.
What is vitamin D and why is it important?
Vitamin D is important for strong bones. You get vitamin D from some of the foods you eat, from sunlight being absorbed into your skin, and by taking vitamin supplements. Vitamin D is made “active” by passing through the liver and kidneys, where it is turned into a hormone. Active vitamin D helps balance minerals within your body, such as calcium and phosphorus, and keeps your bones strong.
What is Hectorol®?
Hectorol is a prescription vitamin D. It is different from the vitamin D supplements sold in places such as health-food stores and supermarkets because it works without having to go through the kidneys. This is important because when you have CKD, your kidneys may have trouble activating vitamin D.
Hectorol has a unique mechanism of activation. It is activated in the liver, similar to the body’s natural metabolism of vitamin D. This provides consistent levels of vitamin D.
Hectorol helps your body control parathyroid hormone (PTH), balance calcium and phosphorus, and keep your bones strong.
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Important Information About Hectorol®
Hectorol is indicated for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in patients with Stage 3 or Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease (capsules) and in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease on dialysis (capsules and injection). Important Treatment Considerations
- Hectorol is contraindicated in patients with a tendency towards hypercalcemia or current evidence of vitamin D toxicity.
- Overdosage of any form of vitamin D is dangerous.
- Acute hypercalcemia may exacerbate tendencies for cardiac arrhythmias and seizures and may potentiate the action of digitalis drugs.
- Chronic hypercalcemia can lead to generalized vascular and soft tissue calcification.
- Pharmacologic doses of vitamin D and its derivatives should be withheld during Hectorol treatment to avoid possible additive effects and hypercalcemia.
- Magnesium-containing antacids and Hectorol should not be administered concomitantly.
- Adverse effects of Hectorol treatment are: hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, hypercalciuria, and oversuppression of iPTH.
- Adverse events reported by ≥ 5% of the Hectorol-treated predialysis patients included: infection, chest pain, constipation, dyspepsia, anemia, dehydration, depression, hypertonia, insomnia, paresthesia, increased cough, dyspnea, and rhinitis.
- Adverse events reported by ≥ 5% of the Hectorol-treated dialysis patients included: headache, malaise, bradycardia, nausea/vomiting, edema, dizziness, dyspnea, and pruritus.
- See
Hectorol Capsules Full Prescribing Information or Hectorol Injection Full Prescribing Information or call Genzyme Medical Information at 1-800-847-0069.
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Genzyme Corporation
500 Kendall Street
Cambridge, MA 02142
T: 800 847 0069
F: 617 252 7600
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