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.