Hypocalcemia Treatment

According to the Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education, hypocalcemia is a potentially life-threatening loss of calcium or lack of calcium circulation in the body. Patients with acute forms of the disease may receive a calcium gluconate intravenous treatment to ease their symptoms.

Hyperkalemia Treatment

Excessive levels of potassium in the bloodstream can trigger a condition called hyperkalemia. Doctors may use calcium gluconate to help avoid hyperkalemia complications, including cardiac arrest, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center and the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Osteoporosis Treatment

Doctors may also recommend calcium gluconate as a dietary supplement to prevent or decrease the bone loss associated with the development of osteoporosis.

Side Effects

The University of Maryland Medical Center lists rare potential side effects of calcium gluconate use that include abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, heartbeat irregularities (cardiac arrhythmias), tissue death, mania and coma.

Considerations

Doctors should avoid calcium gluconate use in patients at risk for heart or kidney disease as well as in those with elevated calcium levels (hypercalcemia).

Source:

University of Maryland Medical Center: Calcium Gluconate

Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education: Hypocalcemia

U.S. National Library of Medicine-National Institutes of Health: Hyperkalemia

More Information:

Drugs.com: Calcium Gluconate