Zemplar Dosage
Generic name: PARICALCITOL 2ug
Dosage form: capsule, liquid filled
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Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 3 and 4
Zemplar Capsules may be administered daily or three times a week. When dosing three times weekly, the dose should be administered not more frequently than every other day. The total weekly doses for both daily and three times a week dosage regimens are similar [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].
Zemplar Capsules may be taken without regard to food. No dosing adjustment is required in patients with mild and moderate hepatic impairment.
The initial dose of Zemplar Capsules for CKD Stages 3 and 4 patients is based on baseline intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels.
| Baseline iPTH Level | Daily Dose | Three Times a Week Dose* |
| ≤ 500 pg/mL | 1 mcg | 2 mcg |
| > 500 pg/mL | 2 mcg | 4 mcg |
| * To be administered not more often than every other day | ||
Dosing must be individualized and based on serum or plasma iPTH levels, with monitoring of serum calcium and serum phosphorus. The following is a suggested approach to dose titration.
| Dose Adjustment at 2 to 4 Week Intervals | |||
| iPTH Level Relative to Baseline | Zemplar Capsule Dose | Daily Dosage | Three Times a Week Dosage* |
| The same, increased or decreased by < 30% |
Increase dose by | 1 mcg | 2 mcg |
| Decreased by ≥ 30% and ≤ 60% | Maintain dose | - | - |
| Decreased by > 60% or iPTH < 60 pg/mL |
Decrease dose by | 1 mcg | 2 mcg |
| * To be administered not more often than every other day | |||
If a patient is taking the lowest dose, 1 mcg, on the daily regimen and a dose reduction is needed, the dose can be decreased to 1 mcg three times a week. If a further dose reduction is required, the drug should be withheld as needed and restarted at a lower dosing frequency. If a patient is on a calcium-based phosphate binder, the phosphate-binder dose may be decreased or withheld, or the patient may be switched to a non-calcium-based phosphate binder. If hypercalcemia is observed, the dose of Zemplar should be reduced or withheld until these parameters are normalized.
Serum calcium and phosphorus levels should be closely monitored after initiation of Zemplar Capsules, during dose titration periods and during co-administration with strong CYP3A inhibitors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3), Drug Interactions (7) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Chronic Kidney Disease Stage 5
Zemplar Capsules are to be administered three times a week, not more frequently than every other day.
Zemplar Capsules may be taken without regard to food. No dosing adjustment is required in patients with mild and moderate hepatic impairment.
The initial dose of Zemplar Capsules in micrograms is based on a baseline iPTH level (pg/mL)/80. To minimize the risk of hypercalcemia patients should be treated only after their baseline serum calcium has been adjusted to 9.5 mg/dL or lower [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) and Clinical Studies (14.2)].
Subsequent dosing should be individualized and based on iPTH, serum calcium and phosphorus levels. A suggested dose titration of Zemplar Capsules is based on the following formula:
Titration dose (micrograms) = most recent iPTH level (pg/ml)/80
Serum calcium and phosphorus levels should be closely monitored after initiation, during dose titration periods, and with co-administration of strong P450 3A inhibitors. If an elevated serum calcium is observed and the patient is on a calcium-based phosphate binder, the binder dose may be decreased or withheld, or the patient may be switched to a non-calcium-based phosphate binder. If serum calcium is elevated, the dose should be decreased by 2 to 4 micrograms lower than that calculated by the most recent iPTH/80. If further adjustment is required, the dose of paricalcitol capsules should be reduced or withheld until these parameters are normalized.
As iPTH approaches the target range, small, individualized dose adjustments may be necessary in order to achieve a stable iPTH. In situations where monitoring of iPTH, Ca or P occurs less frequently than once per week, a more modest initial and dose titration ratio (e.g., iPTH/100) may be warranted.
