Patient/caregiver was educated on how to take Calcitriol as follows:

1. Take this medication as ordered by your physician. Do not change the dose and frequency on this medication without consulting your doctor. Take the medication dose for the duration prescribed without fail.
2. Take the medication dose at the same time, every day, to avoid forgetting the intake of medication.
3. Calcitriol must be taken with some food, for better absorption and action. Also, taking the medication with some food can help avoid the unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
4. Take the calcitriol capsule as a whole, using a glass of water. Do not chew on this or crush on this capsule, which can compromise the therapeutic benefit of the medication.
5. Calcitriol could also be prescribed as an oral liquid/suspension. When taking calcitriol as an oral liquid/suspension, use a measuring spoon/cup to measure the correct dose being taken, in order to avoid risk for over/under dosing. Also, do not forgot to shake the suspension bottle well before you use it.
6. Calcitriol can take some time to fairly adjust to your body, before any restoration of body calcium is accomplished and relief with skeletal pain and discomfort is experienced. So, do not discontinue taking the medication without your physician’s consult, as you failed to see the desired result immediately after taking the medication.
7. Observe compliance with intake of calcium supplements ordered by your physician, if any. Do not change the dose of calcium supplements ordered, without consulting your physician.
8. Both low and high levels of blood calcium can have serious side-effects. While taking calcitriol, the blood levels of calcium must be closely monitored, as calcium in the blood plays a significant role in the optimal function of many organ systems, such as, heart, muscle, brain and nerves. Observe compliance with periodical lab draws ordered on blood calcium and phosphorus levels, to accommodate any changes in the dose of calcitriol accordingly.
9. Discuss with your physician regarding your history of any grossly altered blood calcium levels, heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, neuropathy, mood disorders, and renal stone formation, if any, to be evaluated on your safety with calcitriol use.
10. Low levels of calcium in the blood can lead to/exacerbate neuropathy and weakening of skeletal framework with brittle bones, prone for easy fractures at slightest injury. Individuals can also present with mood disturbances, memory loss, muscle cramps and weakness. Report any signs and symptoms of neuropathy, such as, complaint/exacerbation of tingling and numbness in the extremities. Notify your physician of any unusual bone pain, to be investigated for any fractures. Early reporting of these complaints, with corrective measures adopted accordingly, can help avoid serious complications from developing.
11. Be aware of symptoms of early symptoms of mildly elevated calcium levels in the blood, such as, generalized weakness and exhaustion, dry mouth, increased frequency of urination, and constipation. Report these findings to your physician immediately for any appropriate interventions to be taken and to prevent serious side-effects due to grossly elevated calcium levels from developing. Observe compliance with recommendations made for fluid intake, if any, to prevent dehydration from developing due to fluid loss from increased urination. Compliance with fluid resuscitation measures can also help towards relief of dry mouth and constipation.
12. Continued elevation of calcium levels in the blood can lead to/exacerbate serious complications, such as, seizures and cardiac arrhythmias, resulting in pounding heartbeat, episodes of confusion and dizziness, and falls. High calcium levels in the blood can also result in muscle spasms and overactive reflexes, contributing to muscle pain, discomfort, falls and accidents. Report to your physician immediately regarding any fresh episodes or exacerbation of these symptoms, for any change in the dose of calcitriol or plan of care to be considered.
13. Highly elevated calcium levels in the blood can also contribute to development of calcium stones in the kidneys, development of abdominal/flank pain, blockage in the urine flow, retention of urine and recurrent urinary tract infections. Individuals with highly elevated calcium levels in the blood can also present with deposition of calcium in various body sites, resulting in ectopic calcification, irregular bone surfaces from calcium deposition, bone pain, and discomfort. Report to your physician immediately regarding any fresh episodes or exacerbation of these symptoms, for any change in the dose of calcitriol or plan of care to be considered.
14. Your physician could change the dose of calcitriol, based on the relief obtained or side-effects developed. So, maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments, to update on the relief from symptoms. Be accommodative to the plan of dose changes, if need be, until you show an optimum response.
15. Calcitriol can interact with a lot of other medications, such as, diuretics, calcium supplements, antacids, anti-seizure medications, many antibacterial and antifungal antibiotics, steroids, and phosphate-binding medications. These interactions can vary widely and result in compromised therapeutic benefit/dangerous side-effects/toxicity with calcitriol. If you are being newly started on calcitriol, discuss with your physician regarding all your current medications and their safety with calcitriol. Also, notify your physician regarding any current calcitriol intake, if you are being started on any new medications and discuss their safety with calcitriol.
16. Avoid using calcitriol with mineral oil or with medications used for binding bile acids to lower cholesterol, such as, cholestyramine. Mineral oils and cholestyramine can bind calcitriol in the intestines, thus preventing the absorption of calcitriol, which can compromise the therapeutic benefit of calcitriol intake. If you are using any of these medications, try to observe a 2 hour window with intake of calcitriol.
17. Individuals with chronic renal failure, who are placed on dialysis, must observe compliance with doctor visits and dialysis schedule, without fail. Also, individuals on dialysis must observe compliance with recommendations made regarding renal diet, phosphate binders, and fluid limitations, if any.
18. If you miss a dose, try taking it at the earliest notice of noncompliance. If it is time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the dose scheduled. Do not take an extra dose to try making up for the missed dose. Notify your doctor and other health care personnel regarding your dose noncompliance.