paricalcitol - injection, Zemplar

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GENERIC NAME: PARICALCITOL - INJECTION (pear-ih-KAL-sit-ole)

BRAND NAME(S): Zemplar

Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage

USES: Paricalcitol is a man-made active form of vitamin D, which is needed for building and keeping strong bones. Paricalcitol is used in patients with long-term kidney disease to treat or prevent high levels of a certain natural substance made by the body (parathyroid hormone). Too much parathyroid hormone can cause serious problems such as bone disorders.Most people get enough vitamin D from exposure to the sun and from fortified food products (e.g., dairy products, vitamins). Before regular vitamin D can be used by the body, it needs to be changed to the active form by the liver and kidneys. People with kidney disease cannot make enough of the active form of vitamin D. Vitamin D helps control parathyroid hormone and the levels of certain minerals (e.g., calcium, phosphorus) that are needed for building and keeping strong bones.

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