Zemplar Compared to Alternatives
| Zemplar Remove Zemplar from your drug comparison | Sensipar Remove Sensipar from your drug comparison | Calcitriol Remove Calcitriol from your drug comparison |
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| Zemplar paricalcitol Remove Zemplar from your drug comparison | Sensipar cinacalcet Remove Sensipar from your drug comparison | Calcitriol Remove Calcitriol from your drug comparison | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Prescribed for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism. Zemplar may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. |
Prescribed for Primary Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary Hyperparathyroidism, Hypercalcemia of Malignancy. Sensipar may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide. |
Prescribed for Hypoparathyroidism, Hypocalcemia, Renal Osteodystrophy, Rickets. May also be prescribed off label for Secondary Hyperparathyroidism. |
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Secondary Hyperparathyroidism
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Prescription only |
Prescription only |
Prescription only |
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Ratings & ReviewsRecent helpful reviews |
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N/A |
5.7
For Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: Seems to lower CA but the side effects are somewhat hard to deal with. Leg cramps, and twitching seems to be the worst of it. But there is only surgery as the other option. |
7.6
For Hypoparathyroidism: I have been taking calcitriol for 8 months now. We eventually built it up until I am taking 1.25 mcg a day with 1500 - 2000 mg of calcium. It has worked very well compared to when I started out with only 25 mcg a day. I still have minor tetany problems but nothing and extra dose of calcium once in a while won't fix. The reason I didn't give it a 10 is because a lot of other medicines that different doctors gave me completely screwed me up. I see an endocrinologist for my thyroid and hypocalcemia...an ENT prescribed prilosec for reflux which messed me up and I had to stop taking it. My Gyn gave me a drug one dose one time before a uterine biopsy and plummedted my blood calcium levels for over a week... For Hypoparathyroidism: I have surgically induced Hypoparathyroidism. I was not monitored for many years. By the time I saw my ENT, my vitamin D level was 780. I really thought I was dying. My Dr. said I had been suffering from vitamin D toxicity. She stopped the vitamin D and started me on calcitroil. It is a synthetic vitamin D and absorbs differently then vitamin D. It took a while for the toxicity to get better. I now take my meds differently. Prilosec 7 to 8am. Calcium/magnesium/zinc combo and calcitriol at noon, 5pm heart medicines, 9pm levothyroxine. This has worked so far great for me. Still occasional tetany. Overall better. |
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Drug Class |
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Side Effects |
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See the full Zemplar side effects document. |
Common side effects include: decreased plasma testosterone, diarrhea, dizziness, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, hypoparathyroidism. See the full Sensipar side effects document. |
Commonly reported side effects include: hypercalcemia, hypercalciuria, increased serum creatinine. See the full calcitriol side effects document. |
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Pricing and Coupons* Prices are without insurance |
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View all Zemplar prices and generic prices |
View all Sensipar prices and generic prices |
View all calcitriol prices |
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Generic Availability |
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Yes (this medicine) |
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Dosage Form(s) Available |
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Brand Names |
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N/A |
N/A |
Rocaltrol | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Half LifeThe half-life of a drug is the time taken for the plasma concentration of a drug to reduce to half its original value. |
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15 hours |
40 hours |
8 hours |
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CSA Schedule**View glossary of terms. |
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Not a controlled drug
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act. |
Not a controlled drug
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act. |
Not a controlled drug
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act. |
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Pregnancy Category |
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Category C
Risk cannot be ruled out
See the full Pregnancy Warnings document. |
Category C
Risk cannot be ruled out
See the full Pregnancy Warnings document. |
Category C
Risk cannot be ruled out
See the full Pregnancy Warnings document. |
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FDA Alerts |
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N/A |
N/A |
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Drug Interactions |
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A total of 94 drugs are known to interact with Zemplar:
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A total of 114 drugs are known to interact with Sensipar:
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A total of 62 drugs are known to interact with calcitriol:
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Alcohol/Food/Lifestyle Interactions |
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No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider. |
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No known alcohol/food interactions. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider. |
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Disease Interactions |
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First Approval Date |
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May 26, 2005 |
March 08, 2004 |
August 17, 1978 |
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WADA ClassView World Anti-Doping Agency classifications. |
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N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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More Information |
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Consumer Resources |
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Professional Resources |
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Related Treatment Guide |
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** The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) schedule information displayed applies to substances regulated under federal law. There may be variations in CSA schedules between individual states.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
For Secondary Hyperparathyroidism: I took this drug and had no side effects. On the other hand, it didn't reduce my blood calcium levels.