Elemental Calcium Content in Calcium Gluconate Ampule
A standard 10-mL ampule of 10% calcium gluconate contains 93 mg of elemental calcium, commonly rounded to 90 mg in clinical practice. 1
Detailed Composition
- Each mL of Calcium Gluconate Injection contains 9.3 mg (0.465 mEq) of elemental calcium 2, 3
- Therefore, a 10-mL ampule provides 93 mg of elemental calcium 1
- The FDA-approved labeling confirms that calcium gluconate contains 9.3 mg of elemental calcium per mL 2
Clinical Relevance of Elemental Calcium Content
- Understanding the elemental calcium content is crucial for proper dosing in clinical scenarios 1
- When treating hypocalcemia, calcium gluconate infusions are dosed based on elemental calcium content at 1-2 mg/kg/hour 1, 4
- In emergency situations such as hyperkalemia or hypermagnesemia, the American Heart Association recommends administration of 15-30 mL of 10% calcium gluconate IV over 2-5 minutes 1
Comparison with Other Calcium Salts
- Calcium gluconate contains 9% elemental calcium 1
- Other calcium salts contain different percentages of elemental calcium:
Important Clinical Considerations
- For dose equivalence calculations, each 10 mL vial of 10% calcium gluconate contains 2.2 mmol of calcium 6
- When treating hypocalcemia, the maximum dose of elemental calcium that should be taken at a time is 500 mg 7
- The individual response to calcium therapy is highly variable, requiring careful monitoring 8
- In post-parathyroidectomy management, calcium gluconate is preferred over calcium chloride in patients with abnormal liver function 1
Common Pitfalls
- Failure to distinguish between calcium gluconate salt weight and elemental calcium content can lead to dosing errors 1, 2
- Not accounting for pH changes when interpreting ionized calcium levels can affect treatment decisions 5
- Calcium chloride contains more elemental calcium than calcium gluconate but should be avoided in patients with CKD due to risk of metabolic acidosis 1