Before taking Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or to other vitamin D products; or if you have any other allergies.
Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: high levels of calcium (hypercalcemia), high levels of vitamin D (hypervitaminosis D).
Before using Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: heart disease (e.g., irregular heartbeat, coronary artery disease), seizures.
During pregnancy, Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg should be used only when clearly needed. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.
Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg may pass into breast milk and could have undesirable effects on a nursing infant. Therefore, breast-feeding is not recommended while using Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Store at room temperature at 77 degrees F (25 degrees C) away from light and moisture. Brief storage between 59-86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) is permitted. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Take Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg by mouth with or without food, usually once daily or 3 times a week or as directed by your doctor. If you are taking Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg 3 times a week, do not take it more often than every other day.
Dosage of Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg is based on your laboratory tests and response to treatment.
Use Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time each day. If you are taking Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg on a schedule other than every day (e.g., 3 times a week), it may help to mark your calendar with a reminder.
It is very important to follow the diet recommended by your doctor to get the most benefit from Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg and to prevent serious side effects. Do not take other supplements/vitamins (e.g., calcium, vitamin D) unless ordered by your doctor.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Remember that your doctor has prescribed Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg do not have serious side effects.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fast/slow/irregular heartbeat, seizures, weakness, loss of appetite, back/bone/joint/muscle pain, constipation, dry mouth, eye pain/redness/sensitivity to light, headache, nausea/vomiting, drowsiness, stomach/abdominal pain, increased thirst, change in the amount of urine.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: mental/mood changes (e.g., psychosis).
A very serious allergic reaction to Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Contact your doctor for medical advice about side effects. The following numbers do not provide medical advice, but in the US you may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you may call Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.
Click HERE to learn more about Zemplar side effects.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
If you miss a dose of Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.
Your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg should not be used with the following medications because a very serious interaction may occur: other vitamin D products (e.g., ergocalciferol).
If you are currently using any of the medications listed above, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg.
Before using Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products you may use, especially: corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone), digoxin, drugs affecting liver enzymes that remove Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg from your body (such as azole antifungals including ketoconazole/itraconazole, macrolide antibiotics including clarithromycin, nefazodone, HIV protease inhibitors including indinavir/ritonavir), phosphate binders, thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide).
Check the labels on all your prescription and nonprescription/herbal products (e.g., antacids, vitamins) because they may contain calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.
Certain medications can decrease the absorption of vitamin D (bile acid sequestrants such as cholestyramine/colestipol, mineral oil, orlistat). Therefore, separate your doses of these medications as far as possible from your doses of vitamin D (at least 2 hours apart, longer if possible). It may be easiest to take vitamin D at bedtime if you are also taking these other medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about how long you should wait between doses and for help finding a dosing schedule that will work with all your medications.
Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg may interfere with certain laboratory tests (including cholesterol tests), possibly causing false test results. Make sure laboratory personnel and all your doctors know you use Zemplar (paricalcitol) 4mcg.
This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The preceding information is intended to heighten awareness of health information and does not suggest diagnosis or treatment. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.