Important Safety Information
You should not take Hectorol if you have a history of abnormally high calcium blood levels (hypercalcemia) or if you have very high vitamin D levels. Overdosage of any form of vitamin D is dangerous. View additional Important Safety Information.

About the Disease

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

When you have chronic kidney disease, your kidneys aren’t healthy. As a result, they are less able to filter waste products, maintain the right balance of fluids and minerals in your body, and activate certain hormones.

What Are The Different Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease?

There are 5 stages of chronic kidney disease that your doctor may discuss with you. In Stages 3 and 4, the kidneys are not fully working like they normally should and need some help to provide the body with a healthy balance of fluids and minerals. Diet changes and medicines might be recommended. In Stage 5, kidneys will need the support of dialysis.

What Is Parathyroid Hormone?

The parathyroid gland, part of the thyroid gland, checks the level of calcium and phosphorus in your body and sends out a hormone to control those levels. This hormone is called parathyroid hormone.

When your kidneys aren’t healthy, they are not able to activate vitamin D, so your body can get the wrong signals about maintaining the right balance of calcium and phosphorus. Low calcium levels will cause the parathyroid gland to send out too much parathyroid hormone. When you have too much parathyroid hormone, you may have secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Why Is Secondary Hyperparathyrodism Bad for Me?

Over time, hyperparathyroidism can cause serious problems with your bones, lungs, and heart. It can result in too much calcium being taken from your bones, leaving them weak. Secondary hyperparathyroidism can also contribute to calcium buildup in your heart or other areas where it doesn’t belong.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism may become hard to manage if left untreated. If you have been diagnosed with secondary hyperparathyroidism as a result of chronic kidney disease, ask your doctor to help you manage these conditions early.