Indications: renal osteodystrophy, hyperparathyroidism with bone disease, hypoparathyroidism; neonatal hypocalcaemia; nutritional and malabsorption rickets and osteomalacia; pseudo-deficiency (D-dependent) rickets and osteomalacia; hypophosphataemic vit-D resistant rickets and osteomalacia.

Cautions: high systemic doses may cause hypercalcaemia in infant.

Contra-indications: hypercalcaemia; metastatic calcification; breast-feeding.

Side Effects: symptoms of overdosage include anorexia, lassitude, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss, polyuria, sweating, headache, thirst, vertigo, and raised concentrations of calcium and phosphate in plasma and urine.

Dose: adult and children over 20 kg, initially 1 mcg daily, adjusted according to response.

Child under 20 kg, 0.05 mcg/kg/day. Maintenance, 0.25-1 mcg daily.

Note: 1mg = 40, 000 units