COLECALCIFEROL ALTER 25,000 IU HARD CAPSULES

Introduction

Package Leaflet: Information for the User

Colecalciferol Alter 25,000 IU Hard Capsules

Colecalciferol Alter 50,000 IU Hard Capsules

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.

• Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.

Contents of the Package Leaflet

1. What is Colecalciferol Alter and what is it used for
2. What you need to know before you take Colecalciferol Alter
3. How to take Colecalciferol Alter
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Colecalciferol Alter
6. Contents of the pack and other information

1. What is Colecalciferol Alter and what is it used for

Colecalciferol Alter contains the active substance colecalciferol (vitamin D3). Vitamin D3 can be found in some foods and is produced by the body when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium from the kidneys and intestines, which helps form bones. A lack of vitamin D is the main cause of rickets (softening of the bones in children) and osteomalacia (softening of the bones in adults).

Colecalciferol is used to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency in adults.

2. What you need to know before you take Colecalciferol Alter

Do not take Colecalciferol Alter:

• if you are allergic to vitamin D3 or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6);
• if you have high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia) or urine (hypercalciuria);
• if you have kidney stones (renal calculi) or severe kidney failure;
• if you have high levels of vitamin D3 in your blood (hypervitaminosis D)
• if you are allergic to peanuts or soybeans, as it contains soybean oil.

Warnings and Precautions

Consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse before taking colecalciferol if you:

• are being treated with certain heart medications (e.g., cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin).
• have sarcoidosis (an autoimmune disease that can cause increased levels of vitamin D in the body).
• are being treated with diuretics (e.g., benzothiadiazine)
• are immobilized
• have pseudohypoparathyroidism
• are being treated with medications that contain vitamin D3, or are taking foods or milk enriched with vitamin D3.
• are likely to be exposed to a lot of sunlight while taking colecalciferol
• are taking other supplements that contain calcium. Your doctor should monitor your blood calcium levels to ensure they are not too high during your treatment with colecalciferol.
• have kidney disease or tend to form kidney stones. Your doctor may want to monitor your blood and urine calcium levels.
• your doctor should monitor your blood calcium levels through laboratory tests if your daily intake of vitamin D3 exceeds 1,000 IU for an extended period.

Children and Adolescents

The use of Colecalciferol Alter is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Other Medicines and Colecalciferol Alter

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines. This is especially important if you are taking:

• medicines for heart or kidney disease, such as cardiac glycosides (e.g., digoxin) or diuretics (e.g., bendroflumethiazide). When these medicines are used at the same time as vitamin D3, they can cause a significant increase in blood and urine calcium levels.
• medicines that contain vitamin D3 or foods rich in vitamin D3, such as some types of milk enriched with vitamin D3.
• actinomycin (a medicine used to treat certain types of cancer) and imidazole antifungals (e.g., clotrimazole and ketoconazole, which are medicines used to treat fungal diseases). These medicines can interfere with the processing of vitamin D3 in the body.
• medicines for the treatment of tuberculosis, such as rifampicin and isoniazid
• the following medicines, as they may interfere with the effect or absorption of vitamin D3:
• • antiepileptic medicines (anticonvulsants), barbiturates;
  • glucocorticoids (steroid hormones such as hydrocortisone or prednisolone), as they may reduce the effect of vitamin D3;
  • medicines that lower cholesterol levels in the blood (such as cholestyramine or colestipol);
  • certain medicines used to lose weight by reducing fat absorption (e.g., orlistat);
  • certain laxatives (such as liquid paraffin).

Taking Colecalciferol Alter with Food, Drinks, and Alcohol

You should take colecalciferol preferably with food to help the absorption of vitamin D3.

Pregnancy, Breast-feeding, and Fertility

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

This high concentration is not recommended for use in pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Driving and Using Machines

Information on the possible effects of this medicine on the ability to drive is limited. However, it is not expected to affect your ability to drive or use machines.

Excipients

Sucrose

This medicine contains sucrose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, consult with them before taking this medicine.

Soybean Oil

This medicine contains soybean oil. Do not use this medicine if you are allergic to peanuts or soybeans.

Orange Yellow S

This medicine may cause allergic reactions.

3. How to Take Colecalciferol Alter

Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The capsule should be swallowed whole (e.g., with water)

Colecalciferol should be taken preferably with food.

For patients with difficulty swallowing, the capsule can be opened and the dispersible granules poured into a half glass of water to facilitate administration.

Use in Adults

The recommended dose is one 25,000 IU capsule per week for the first month. After the first month, the dose may be reduced.

High doses may be required:

50,000 IU/week for 6-8 weeks.

This initial treatment may be followed by maintenance therapy, as directed by your doctor.

Your doctor will adjust the dose for you.

Pediatric Population

Colecalciferol is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Pregnancy and Breast-feeding

Colecalciferol is not recommended.

If You Take More Colecalciferol Alter Than You Should

If you take more than the prescribed dose, stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor. If you cannot contact your doctor, go to the emergency department of the nearest hospital and take the medicine package with you.

You can also contact the Toxicology Information Service, phone 915620420, indicating the medicine and the amount taken.

The most common symptoms of overdose are: nausea, vomiting, excessive thirst, excessive urine production for 24 hours, constipation, dehydration, and high levels of calcium in the blood and urine (hypercalcemia and hypercalciuria) determined in clinical tests.

If You Forget to Take Colecalciferol Alter

If you forget to take a dose of colecalciferol, take the next missed dose as soon as possible. Then, take the next dose at the usual time. However, if it is close to the time of the next dose, do not take the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual time.

If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible Side Effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

The possible side effects associated with the use of colecalciferol may be:

Uncommon(affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• Excess calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia)
• Excess calcium in the urine (hypercalciuria)

Rare(affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):

• Skin rash (rash or skin eruption)
• Itching (pruritus)
• Urticaria

Reporting of Side Effects

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly through the Spanish Medicines Monitoring System for Human Use: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Colecalciferol Alter

Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.

Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the carton after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month shown.

Store below 25°C.

Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.

6. Contents of the Pack and Other Information

Composition of Colecalciferol Alter

The active substance is colecalciferol (vitamin D3)

One capsule contains:

25,000 IU (0.625 mg) of colecalciferol in the form of concentrated colecalciferol powder.

50,000 IU (1.250 mg) of colecalciferol in the form of concentrated colecalciferol powder.

The other excipients are:

Colecalciferol Alter 25,000 IU Hard Capsules:

Contents of the hard capsule:

Gelatin, sucrose, cornstarch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, all-rac-α-tocopherol, silicon dioxide.

Composition of the capsule

Body of the capsule: quinoline yellow (E-104), orange yellow S (E-110), titanium dioxide (E-171), gelatin.

Cap of the capsule: iron oxide red (E-172), orange yellow S (E-110), titanium dioxide (E-171), gelatin.

Colecalciferol Alter 50,000 IU Hard Capsules:

Contents of the hard capsule

Gelatin, sucrose, cornstarch, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, all-rac-α-tocopherol, silicon dioxide.

Composition of the capsule

Body of the capsule: quinoline yellow (E-104), orange yellow S (E-110), titanium dioxide (E-171), gelatin.

Cap of the capsule: iron oxide black (E-172), titanium dioxide (E-171), gelatin.

Appearance of the Product and Contents of the Pack

Colecalciferol Alter 25,000 IU is a hard capsule with a yellow body and an orange cap. The capsule size is 18 mm. It contains a white-yellowish powder and is supplied in blisters of Polyamide/Aluminum/PVC - Aluminum in cardboard boxes.

Each box may contain 4 and 8 capsules.

Colecalciferol Alter 50,000 IU is a hard capsule with a yellow body and a black cap. The capsule size is 24 mm. It contains a white-yellowish powder and is supplied in blisters of Polyamide/Aluminum/PVC - Aluminum in cardboard boxes.

Each box may contain 4 capsules.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Laboratorios Alter, S.A.

Mateo Inurria, 30

28036 Madrid

Spain

Date of the Last Revision of this Leaflet: February 2024

Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/.