From the Guidelines
Calcium gluconate should be administered at a dose of 50-100 mg/kg intravenously in patients with symptomatic hypocalcemia, with careful monitoring and cautious repetition if necessary. This recommendation is based on the guidelines for the management of tumor lysis syndrome, which suggest that asymptomatic hypocalcemia does not require treatment, but symptomatic patients may be treated with calcium gluconate 1. The dose and administration of calcium gluconate may vary depending on the clinical situation and individual patient needs.
Key Considerations
- Calcium gluconate is a calcium salt commonly used as a supplement to treat or prevent calcium deficiency.
- It's available in various forms including tablets, injections, and topical preparations.
- For oral supplementation, typical adult dosing ranges from 500-2000 mg taken 1-3 times daily, depending on the severity of deficiency and individual needs.
- Injectable calcium gluconate (10% solution) is used in emergency situations like severe hypocalcemia, hyperkalemia, or calcium channel blocker overdose, typically administered at 10-20 mL intravenously over 10 minutes with careful monitoring.
- Calcium is essential for numerous bodily functions including bone health, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and blood clotting.
- Calcium gluconate is preferred in some clinical situations because it's less irritating to veins than other calcium salts.
Potential Side Effects and Interactions
- Side effects may include digestive upset, constipation, or irritation at injection sites.
- Patients should be aware that calcium supplements can interact with certain medications including antibiotics, bisphosphonates, and some blood pressure medications, so timing of doses should be discussed with a healthcare provider 1.
- The safety and side-effect profile of calcium supplements are important considerations in clinical practice, and the decision to use supplements should be based on the adequacy of dietary calcium intake and the balance between potential benefits and harms 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Calcium Gluconate Uses
- Calcium gluconate is used to treat hypocalcemia, a condition where the blood calcium level is too low 2, 3, 4, 5.
- It is commonly used in critically ill patients, particularly those with multiple trauma, to prevent and treat hypocalcemia 2, 3.
- Calcium gluconate can be administered intravenously to rapidly increase blood calcium levels 2, 3, 6.
Dosage and Administration
- The dosage of calcium gluconate varies depending on the severity of hypocalcemia and the patient's response to treatment 2, 3.
- A common dosage is 1-4 grams of calcium gluconate infused at a rate of 1 gram per hour 2, 3.
- The infusion rate can be adjusted to maintain a stable blood calcium level and prevent hypocalcemic reactions 6.
Efficacy and Safety
- Calcium gluconate has been shown to be effective in increasing blood calcium levels and preventing hypocalcemic reactions in critically ill patients 2, 3, 6.
- However, it can cause mild hypercalcemia in some patients, and careful monitoring of blood calcium levels is necessary to avoid this complication 2, 3.
- Calcium gluconate is generally well-tolerated, but it can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and constipation 4.