Details about  Calcichew 500mg chewable tablets

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

CALCICHEW* 500mg CHEWABLE TABLETS

calcium carbonate

equivalent to 500mg Calcium

1. WHAT CALCICHEW 500mg ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE USED FOR

Calcichew 500mg are orange flavoured chewable tablets. They contain the active ingredients:

• Calcium (1250mg calcium carbonate: equivalent to 500mg calcium)

Calcium is found in the diet.

Calcichew 500mg may be prescribed by doctors or recommended by pharmacists to treat and prevent calcium deficiency, or when the diet or lifestyle does not provide enough, or when body requirements are increased. This medicine may also be prescribed or recommended for certain bone conditions, for example osteoporosis, or in pregnancy. It may also be given to patients receiving renal dialysis to remove the phosphate from food that cannot be removed by dialysis.

2. BEFORE YOU TAKE CALCICHEW 500mg

The following are ingredients in this product:

• Sorbitol and isomalt: if you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
• Aspartame contains a source of phenylalanine and may be harmful for people with phenylketonuria (a deficiency in the enzyme which breaks down phenylalanine).

3. HOW TO TAKE CALCICHEW 500MG

Always take Calcichew 500mg exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

For use as additional osteoporosis therapy:

Adults and the elderly: Chew or suck one tablet 2 or 3 times a day.

For calcium deficiency:

Adults, the elderly and children: Chew or suck one tablet 2 or 3 times a day.

For osteomalacia (a softening of the bones):

Adults and the elderly: Chew or suck two to six chewable tablets a day.

As a phosphate binder (for kidney failure patients on dialysis):

When Calcichew 500mg Chewable Tablets are given to patients on kidney dialysis, the dose will be different for each patient. Your doctor will decide how many Calcichew 500mg Chewable Tablets you need.

The tablets should be taken just before, during or just after each meal to make sure that the calcium binds to the phosphate in the stomach.

4. POSSIBLE SIDE-EFFECTS

Like all medicines, Calcichew 500mg can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Side effects with Calcichew 500mg may include:

Uncommon side effects (affecting less than 1 in 100 people):

• too much calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia) – the symptoms include nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, constipation, stomach ache, bone pain, extreme thirst, a need to pass more water than usual, muscle weakness, drowsiness and confusion.
• too much calcium in your urine (hypercalciuria)

Rare side effects (affecting less than 1 in 1000 people):

• nausea
• stomach ache
• constipation
• diarrhoea
• wind (flatulence)
• rash
• hives
• itching

Very rare side-effects (affecting less than 1 in 10000 people):

• Milk alkali syndrome –(usually only seen in overdose see “if you take more than you should”)

If you are taking Calcichew 500mg Chewable Tablets because you are having kidney dialysis, tell your doctor if you notice any white deposits on your skin.

If any of these side-effects become serious, or if you notice any side-effect(s) not listed in this leaflet, please talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

5. HOW TO STORE CALCICHEW 500mg

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Store in the original package to protect from moisture. Do not store above 30°C.

Do not use Calcichew 500mg after the expiry date which is stated on the label after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. If the tablets have changed shape or colour do not use.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. FURTHER INFORMATION

This leaflet was last revised in March 2013.

Calcichew 500mg contains calcium designed to keep bones healthy. Calcium is an essential component of bones.

Requirements for calcium increase with age and, although many people obtain enough calcium from their diet, some people may require a supplement in order that their body has all the calcium it needs to maintain healthy bones.

People with diets and lifestyles that mean they will obtain less than the recommended intake of calcium are at risk of weakened bones. Prolonged lack of adequate calcium intake can lead to the development of osteoporosis, a condition where bones become weak to a level that minimal trauma (for example, a fall) can result in a fracture, most typically at the hip, spine or wrist.

Calcichew 500mg have been designed to give people, whose intake of calcium is low, a boost to the recommended amounts.

Maintaining healthy bones and helping to avoid osteoporosis is an important issue for many people. There are many ways that people can help themselves: regular exercise, a balanced diet with an adequate intake of calcium and, for some people, advice on how to prevent falls which may lead to fracture.

For patients in the UK, the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) is a national charity dedicated to improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The NOS offers support to people with osteoporosis and raises awareness of the importance of healthy bones.