Summary of medicine characteristics - DELTIUS 25 000 I.U./2.5 ML ORAL SOLUTION
1 NAME OF THE MEDICINAL PRODUCT
DELTIUS 25 000 I.U./2.5 ml oral solution
2 QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE COMPOSITION
A single-dose bottle of 2.5 ml oral solution contains: 25 000 I.U. colecalciferol (vitamin D3), equivalent to 0.625 mg.
1 ml oral solution contains 10 000 I.U. colecalciferol (vitamin D3), equivalent to 0.25 mg
For the full list of excipients, see section 6.1.
3 PHARMACEUTICAL FORM
Oral Solution in single dose bottle
Clear and colourless to greenish-yellow oily solution without visible solid particles and/or precipitate
4 CLINICAL PARTICULARS
4.1 Therapeutic indications
Initial treatment of clinically relevant vitamin D deficiency in adults.
4.2 Posology and method of administration
Posology
Recommended dose: One bottle (25 000 IU) weekly.
After first month, lower doses may be considered, dependent upon desirable serum levels of 25-hydroxycolecalciferol (25(OH)D), the severity of the disease and the patient's response to treatment.
Alternatively, national posology recommendations in treatment of vitamin D deficiency can be followed.
Special population
Dosage in hepatic impairment
No dose adjustment is required.
Dosage in renal impairment
Patients with mild or moderate renal impairment: no specific adjustment is required Colecalciferol must not be used in patients with severe renal impairment.
Paediatric population
DELTIUS 25000 I.U./2.5 ml oral solution is not recommended in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
DELTIUS 25000 I.U /2.5 ml is not recommended
Method of administration
Patients should be advised to take DELTIUS preferably with meal (see section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties – “Absorption”).
The product should be shaken before use.
DELTIUS has a taste of olive oil. DELTIUS can be taken as is from the bottle or to facilitate intake it can also mixed with a small amount of cold or lukewarm food immediately prior to use. The patient should be sure to take the entire dose.
See also section 6.6 Special precautions for handling and disposal.
4.3 Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient, colecalciferol (vitamin D3), or to any of the excipients listed in section 6.1.
Hypercalcaemia, hypercalciuria
Hypervitaminosis D
Kidney stones (nephrolithiasis, nephrocalcinosis) in patients with current chronic hypercalcaemia
Severe renal impairment
4.4 Special warnings and precautions for use
Vitamin D3 should be used with caution in patients with impairment of renal function and the effect on calcium and phosphate levels should be monitored. The risk of soft tissue calcification should be taken into account. In patients with severe renal insufficiency, vitamin D in the form of cholecalciferol is not metabolised normally and other forms of vitamin D have to be used.
Caution is required in patients receiving treatment for cardiovascular disease (see section 4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction -cardiac glycosides including digitalis).
DELTIUS should be prescribed with caution in patients with sarcoidosis, due to a possible increase in the metabolism of vitamin D3 in its active form. In these patients the serum and urinary calcium levels should be monitored.
Allowances should be made for the total dose of vitamin D3 in cases associated with treatments already containing vitamin D, foods enriched with vitamin D3, cases using milk enriched with vitamin D, and the patient’s level of sun exposure.
There is no clear evidence for causation between vitamin D3 supplementation and renal stones, but the risk is plausible, especially in the context of concomitant calcium supplementation. The need for additional calcium supplementation should be considered for individual patients. Calcium supplements should be given under close medical supervision.
During long-term treatment with a daily dose exceeding 1,000 IU vitamin D3 the serum calcium values must be monitored.
4.5 Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction
Concomitant use of anticonvulsants (such as phenytoin) or barbiturates (and possibly other drugs that induce hepatic enzymes) may reduce the effect of vitamin D3 by metabolic inactivation.
In cases of treatment with thiazide diuretics, which decrease urinary elimination of calcium, monitoring of serum calcium concentration is recommended.
Concomitant use of glucocorticoids can decrease the effect of vitamin D3.
In cases of treatment with drugs containing digitalis and other cardiac glycosides, the administration of vitamin D3 may increases the risk of digitalis toxicity (arrhythmia). Strict medical supervision is needed, together with serum calcium concentration and electrocardiographic monitoring if necessary.
Simultaneous treatment with ion exchange resin such as cholestyramine, colestipol hydrochloride, orlistat or laxative such as paraffin oil may reduce the gastrointestinal absorption of vitamin D3.
The cytotoxic agent actinomycin and imidazole antifungal agents interfere with vitamin D3 activity by inhibiting the conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 by the kidney enzyme, 25-hydroxyvitamin D-1-hydroxylase.
4.6 Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
DELTIUS 25.000 IU/2.5 ml oral solution is not recommended in pregnancy and lactation. A low strength formulation should be used.
Pregnancy
There are no or limited amount of data from the use of colecalciferol (vitamin D3) in pregnant women. Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3 Preclinical safety data). The recommended daily intake for pregnant women is 400 IU, however, in women who are considered to be vitamin D3 deficient a higher dose may be required (up to 2000 IU/day- 10 drops with the oral drops presentation). During pregnancy women should follow the advice of their medical practitioner as their requirements may vary depending on the severity of their disease and their response to treatment.
Breast-feeding
Vitamin D3 and its metabolites are excreted in breast milk. Vitamin D3 can be prescribed while the patient is breast-feeding if necessary. This supplementation does not replace the administration of vitamin D3 in the neonate.
Overdose in infants induced by nursing mothers has not been observed, however, when prescribing additional vitamin D3 to a breast-fed child the practitioner should consider the dose of any additional vitamin D3 given to the mother
Fertility
There are no data on the effect of DELTIUS on fertility. However, normal endogenous levels of vitamin D are not expected to have any adverse effects on fertility.
4.7 Effects on ability to drive and use machines
There are no data on the effects of DELTIUS on the ability to drive. However, an effect on this ability is unlikely.
4.8 Undesirable effects
Adverse reactions are listed below, by system organ class and frequency. Frequencies are defined as: uncommon (>1/1,000, <1/100) or rare (>1/10,000, <1/1,000).
Metabolism and nutrition disorders
Uncommon: Hypercalcaemia and hypercalciuria
Skin and subcutaneous disorders:
Rare: pruritus, rash, and urticaria.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
4.9 Overdose
4.9 OverdoseDiscontinue DELTIUS when calcaemia exceeds 10.6 mg/dl (2.65 mmol/l) or if the calciuria exceeds 300 mg/24 hours in adults or 4–6 mg/kg/day in children. An overdose manifests as hypercalcaemia and hypercalciuria, the symptoms of which include the following: nausea, vomiting, thirst, constipation, polyuria, polydipsia and dehydration.
Chronic overdosage may lead to vascular and organ calcification, as a result of hypercalcaemia.
Treatment in cases of overdose
Discontinue administration of DELTIUS and initiate rehydration.
5.1 Pharmacodynamic properties
Pharmacotherapeutic group: vitamin D3 and analogues, colecalciferol ATC Code: A11CC05
In its biologically active form, vitamin D3 stimulates intestinal calcium absorption, incorporation of calcium into the osteoid, and release of calcium from bone tissue. In the small intestine it promotes rapid and delayed calcium uptake. The passive and active transport of phosphate is also stimulated. In the kidney, it inhibits the excretion of calcium and phosphate by promoting tubular resorption. The production of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the parathyroids is inhibited directly by the biologically active form of vitamin D3. PTH secretion is inhibited additionally by the increased calcium uptake in the small intestine under the influence of biologically active vitamin D3. dling and disposal.
5.2 Pharmacokinetic properties
The pharmacokinetics of vitamin D3 is well known.
Absorption
Vitamin D3 is well absorbed from the gastro-intestinal tract in the presence of bile, so the administration with the major meal of the day might therefore facilitate the absorption of vitamin D3.
Distribution and biotransformation
It is hydroxylated in the liver to form 25-hydroxy-colecalciferol and then undergoes further hydroxylation in the kidney to form the active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxy-colecalciferol (calcitriol).
Elimination
The metabolites circulate in the blood bound to a specific a – globin, vitamin D3 and its metabolites are excreted mainly in the bile and faeces.
Characteristics in Specific Groups of Subjects or Patients
A 57% lower metabolic clearance rate is reported in subjects with renal impairment as compared with that of healthy volunteers.
Decreased absorption and increased elimination of vitamin D3 occurs in subjects with malabsorption.
Obese subjects are less able to maintain vitamin D3 levels with sun exposure, and are likely to require larger oral doses of vitamin D3 to replace deficits.
5.3 Preclinical safety data
5.3 Preclinical safety dataPre-clinical studies conducted in various animal species have demonstrated that toxic effects occur in animals at doses much higher than those required for therapeutic use in humans.
In toxicity studies at repeated doses, the effects most commonly reported were increased calciuria and decreased phosphaturia and proteinuria.
Hypercalcaemia has been reported in high doses. In a state of prolonged hypercalcaemia, histological alterations (calcification) were more frequently borne by the kidneys, heart, aorta, testes, thymus and intestinal mucosa.
Colecalciferol (vitamin D3) has been shown to be teratogenic at high doses in animals.
At doses equivalent to those used therapeutically, colecalciferol (vitamin D3) has no teratogenic activity.
Colecalciferol (vitamin D3) has no potential mutagenic or carcinogenic activity.
1,000 IU vitamin D3 the serum calcium values must be monitored.
6.1 List of excipients
Refined olive oil.
6.2 Incompatibilities
In absence of compatibility studies, this medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products.
6.3
4 years.
6.4 Special precautions for storage
Do not store above 30° C.
Do not freeze or refrigerate
Keep the bottle in the outer carton in order to protect from light.
6.5 Nature and contents of container
6.5 Nature and contents of containerAmber glass Type III bottle of 20 ml containing 10 ml of oral drops solution (corresponding to 500 drops), sealed by a childproof polypropylene cap.
1 dropper applicator cap with a colourless type III glass stem and polypropylene cap is provided Each pack contains 1 bottle and 1 dropper applicator cap.