Brand Name: Zemplar®
Active Ingredient: paricalcitol
Strength(s): 5mcg/ml
Dosage Form(s): Injection
Company Name: Abbott Laboratories
Availability: Prescription only
Date Approved by FDA: April 17, 1998

What is Zemplar used for? Zemplar is used to prevent and treat high parathyroid hormone levels in patients with chronic kidney failure.

Who should not take Zemplar?

• You should not take Zemplar if you have signs of toxic levels of vitamin D or an abnormally high amount of calcium in your blood.
• It is important for you and your doctor to be aware of the symptoms of too much calcium, (e.g., weakness, headache, excessive sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, muscle spasm or bone pain). If you have these symptoms, your doctor may want to lower the dose of Zemplar or stop the drug until your calcium level returns to normal.

General Precautions with Zemplar: 

Your doctor will monitor you closely if you are taking the drug digoxin along with Zemplar.

Zemplar is administered as an injection during dialysis treatment, no more than every other day.

In order to ensure Zemplar’s effectiveness, diet is important. Your doctor may want you to:

• limit your intake of foods and drugs containing phosphorous
• avoid foods and drugs containing aluminum

Because certain other medications can interact with Zemplar, (e.g., digoxin), review all medications that you are taking with your health care provider, including those that you take without a prescription.

Tell your health care provider if you are trying to become pregnant, are already pregnant, or are breast-feeding an infant.

What are some possible side effects of Zemplar? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Zemplar. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)  

• Chills
• Not feeling well
• Fever
• Flu
• Infection
• Increase frequency or pounding of heart
• Dry mouth
• Blood in stool
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• General swelling
• Light-headedness
• Pneumonia

  Revised: 7/25/00