Calcium Gluconate Injection

Adult administration

Inject 0.4 to 2 g of calcium gluconate intravenously at a rate of 0.68 to 1.36 mEq per minute. Adjust according to age and symptoms.

Care must be taken to cut the ampule very carefully to ensure that no glass fragments are mixed in. Extra caution is needed when used by children or the elderly. This medication should not be administered with ceftriaxone, as it may produce precipitates, so different injection equipment should be used. If the same infusion line must be used, it should be thoroughly cleaned before and after use. This medication should not be administered to patients with coronary glycosides or those with a history of hypercalcemia or kidney stones. It is also advisable that patients with sarcoidosis or renal disease, as well as those with hypoproteinemia, refrain from using this drug. Repeated or prolonged intravenous administration should be avoided in patients with severe renal failure and in children under 18 years of age. It should not be used in newborns in conjunction with ceftriaxone. Patients taking active forms of vitamin D or those with hyperthyroidism, cardiac, and circulatory disorders should use this drug with caution. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as appetite loss, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain may occur with this medication. Blood pressure may decrease, heart rhythms may become irregular, and metabolic acidosis may develop. In cases of overdose, side effects may include muscle relaxation, weight loss, muscle pain, stones, and edema. Symptoms like hypercalcemia or kidney stones, skin rashes, drowsiness, and sweating may also appear, so caution is advised. When used for extended periods or in children, calcium levels in the blood and urine should be regularly monitored, and treatment should be stopped immediately if hypercalcemia occurs. Administering this medication rapidly via intravenous injection may lead to symptoms such as palpitations, blood pressure changes, sweating, and arrhythmia, hence it should be administered slowly. Co-administration with digitalis can cause excessive drug potency, posing risks to the heart, so it should not be combined. Caution is also advised for interactions with muscle relaxants, tetracyclines, oxytocics, and anti-aldosterone agents. This medication should only be administered to pregnant women in special circumstances, and caution should be exercised for the elderly due to potential declines in physical function. This drug is for intravenous injection only and care must be taken to avoid extravasation. When administering to children, it should not be given via the scalp vein. Using alcohol-disinfected syringes can create precipitates, so this should not be performed. Solutions that form crystals should not be used, and intramuscular injections should also be avoided. This medication should be stored out of reach of children and handled safely.

Serious side effects

Edema

Mild side effects

• Loss of appetite
• nausea and vomiting
• constipation
• stomach pain
• peripheral vascular relaxation
• hypotension
• irregular heartbeat
• acidosis
• skeletal muscle relaxation
• weight loss

This medication should be stored in a sealed container to avoid exposure to air and kept at room temperature, between 1 and 30 degrees Celsius. Storing this way helps maintain the drug's efficacy and prevent deterioration.

Appearance

A colorless and transparent ampule or a plastic (polypropylene or polyethylene) container filled with a colorless and transparent liquid injection.

Package unit

20mL x 50 ampules