Shelcal tablet is a dietary calcium supplement used to treat the deficiency of vitamin D and restore optimum calcium and phosphate levels in the body. Depending on the condition of the patient, it may also be prescribed to patients suffering from heartburn, acid indigestion, and kidney related ailments.
| Nature of Shelcal: | Dietary calcium supplement |
| Composition of Shelcal: | Calcium Carbonate and Vitamin D3 |
| Uses of Shelcal: | Weak bones, Vitamin D deficiency, acid indigestion, calcium supplementation |
| Side effects of Shelcal: | Nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, excessive thirst, Cephalalgia, drowsiness or confusion, blood in urine, muscle weakness |
| Precautions of Shelcal: | People with vitamin D toxicity and hypersensitivity should avoid using this medicine |
The supplement aids in maintaining bone health and is prescribed for the treatment of chronic arthritis and osteoporosis. The tablet is manufactured in India by Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Uses and Benefits of Shelcal:
It is a calcium and vitamin D3 supplement used to strengthen bones and to cure diseases like rickets, arthritis, osteoporosis, and acidity.
Some of the most common conditions for which Shelcal tablet is prescribed are:
- Improving the absorption of phosphorus
- Stomach related problems
- Abdominal ulcer
- Heartburn
- Nutritional or calcium deficiency
- Pregnancy (bone formation in the child)
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Side Effects of Shelcal:
Patients may experience the following side effects while administering Shelcal.
- Drowsiness or confusion
- Constipation
- Dryness in the mouth
- Ulcers in the mouth
- Nausea
- Feeling of sickness
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Muscle weakness
- Excessive thirst
- Abdominal Pain
- Weakness of muscle
- Cephalalgia
- Increase in calcium in the blood/urine
- Loss of appetite
- Allergic Reaction
- Skin Irritation
- A headache (with fever )
- Constipation
- Sleep-related disorders
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Common Dosage of Shelcal:
The prescribed dosage of Shelcal depends on the gender, age and overall health condition of the patient. It is advised to take the tablet either with meals or post meals for better absorption.
- Missed Dose: A missed dose of the medicine must be taken as soon as it is remembered. If the missed dose is remembered when it is almost time for the next dose, then the missed dose should be skipped. It is advisable to take the scheduled dose on time. It is not advised to take an extra dose in order to make up for the missed dose.
- Overdose: In case of a suspected overdose, it is advised to seek immediate medical attention in order to avoid the occurrence of any adverse effects.
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Composition & Nature of Shelcal:
It consists of calcium carbonate and vitamin D3. It is a key dietary supplement needed to fulfill calcium deficiency.
Calcium carbonate helps maintain healthy calcium levels in people who do not get enough calcium from their regular diet.
Vitamin D3 helps in the absorption of calcium and phosphorous in the blood. Lack of vitamin D3 generally leads to weak and brittle bones, pain in the bones, and skin diseases.
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Shelcal Price in India:
| Name | Price |
| Shelcal Tablet (Strip of 15 tablets) | INR 82 |
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When Shelcal is prescribed?
The tablet is a dietary supplement which regulates the level of calcium in the body. It may be prescribed to women during pregnancy and postmenopausal period. Doctors may also prescribe Shelcal tablet to treat and prevent Vitamin D deficiency, rickets, hypoparathyroidism, Fanconi syndrome, and familial hypophosphatemia. In certain cases, it is also prescribed to patients suffering from kidney related disorders to maintain the level of calcium in the blood.
How to use Shelcal Tablet?
It is advisable to follow the dosage and duration advised by the doctor. The tablet must be swallowed whole, without crushing or chewing it. For better absorption, one should take Shelcal Tablet after having a meal.
How Shelcal works?
Shelcal Tablet neutralizes acids in the body, helping to relieve acid reflux and thus increasing the absorption of calcium and phosphorus. Calcium and phosphorous are required to transmit nerve signals, release important hormones and regulate the contraction and dilation of the muscles.
Warnings/Precautions- When to avoid Shelcal?
- Hypersensitivity: It is not recommended for patients with a known allergy to calcium carbonate or phosphorous.
- Hypercalcemia: Patients are advised not to use the tablet if they have hypercalcemia as it may lead to dysfunction of the parathyroid gland.
- Vitamin D Toxicity: The medicine should not be used in case of Vitamin D toxicity.
- Kidney Disease: Unless prescribed by the doctor to regulate the calcium levels in the blood, the use of the medicine should be avoided by patients suffering from kidney impairment.
- Peptic ulcers – The tablet must not be taken by patients suffering from peptic ulcer as it may worsen their condition.
- Increased Levels of Phosphate – It is not advised to patients having an alleviated level of calcium and phosphate in the blood.
- Repeated Blood Transfusions – Patients undergoing frequent blood transfusions are advised against the use of the medicine.
Substitutes for Shelcal:
Some of the substitutes for Shelcal Tablet are:
- Decal Tablet (Eris Life Sciences)
- Calrite Tablet (MHS Pharmaceuticals)
- Maxcap D3 Tablet (Medmax Pharma)
- Gcs Tablet (Micro Labs Ltd)
- Sandocal 500 with Vit. D3 Tablet
- CM-D3 Tablet (Forgen Healthcare Ltd)
Shelcal Tablet Interactions with other Drugs:
Interaction with Drug
Certain drug interactions may alter the effects of on-going medicines and can also increase the risk of occurrence of some serious side effects. It should not be consumed with the following drugs:
- Cholestyramine
- Actinomycin
- Doxycycline
- Barbiturates
- Calcium acetate
- Alendronate
- Levofloxacin
- Ciprofloxacin
- Glucocorticoids
Interaction with Diseases
- Increased Activity of the Parathyroid Glands: Shelcal tablet, when taken by patients with hyperactive parathyroid glands, may cause excessive calcium deposit in the blood.
- Allergic reactions: People with frequent allergies or hypersensitivity towards the ingredients of Shelcal tablet should avoid using the tablet.
- Kidney stone: It may cause serious complications if taken by patients having kidney stones. Hence it is generally advised to avoid the use of this medicine in such cases.
- High Amount of Calcium in the Blood: People with pre-existing elevated levels of calcium in the body caused by hyperactive thyroid glands are advised not to take the tablet as it may worsen their condition. This may result in weaker bones and interfere with the functioning of the heart and brain.
- A tumor that Dissolves Bone: It should be avoided by people with bone-related tumors as it may worsen their condition.
- Infrequent bowel movements: It may increase the condition of chronic constipation which hampers the overall health of an individual. Chronic constipation involves infrequent bowel movements or straining which leads to difficulty in passing stools.
- Sarcoidosis: Sarcoidosis refers to the growth of tiny inflammatory cells (granulomas) in different parts of the body – most commonly in the lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, and the skin. It is advised not to be used by patients suffering from this health condition.
- Dehydration: Severe dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than the level of intake, which hampers the overall functioning of the organs. This medicine may interact with this condition and cause complications. Hence, people suffering from dehydration are advised to avoid taking this tablet.
- Kidney disease: It is advised not to be used by patients suffering from kidney related ailments. This condition hampers the body’s ability to purify the blood, filter extra water out of the body, and control blood pressure. Kidney disease also interferes with red blood cells production and metabolism of vitamin D required for maintaining healthy bones.
Variants of Shelcal:
Shelcal is available in the following variants:
- Shelcal – 500 Tablet
- Shelcal CT Tablet
- Shelcal – HD Tablet
- Shelcal Xt Tablet
- Shelcal – OS Tablet
- Shelcal – HD 12 Tablet
- Shelcal – 250 Tablet
- Shelcal – M Tablet
- Shelcal K Tablet
- Shelcal Syrup
- Shelcal – ISO Soft Gelatin Capsule
- Shelcal CT Max Soft Gelatin Capsule
- Shelcal M Syrup
- Shelcal Pro Tablet
Shelcal Suspension form:
It is available in both tablets as well as suspension form. It contains calcium carbonate and Vitamin D3. The suspension form is available in two variants:
- Shelcal Syrup
- Shelcal M Syrup
Medicines that should not be taken with Shelcal Tablet:
Mixing two or more medicines may affect the efficacy of the drug and increase the risk of occurrence of side-effects. It is advisable to inform the doctor about all the on-going drugs, herbal supplements, and vitamins so that the doctor can prescribe appropriate medicine.
A few drugs that are known to interact with Shelcal tablet are:
- Alendronate
- Actinomycin
- Barbiturates
- Corticosteroids
- Digoxin
- Glucocorticoids
- Levothyroxine
- Phenytoin
- Sodium polystyrene sulfonate
How to store Shelcal?
- It is advised to store the medicine at room temperature away from direct sunlight and heat. The ideal temperature for storing Shelcal tablet is below 25 degrees Celsius.
- It is recommended to keep the medicine away from the reach of children and pets.
FAQ’s:
Ans: No, It is not known to show any habit-forming tendencies.
Ans: No, It is not used to provide relief from cold and flu. It is a dietary supplement used to treat deficiency of calcium in the body.
Ans: Components present in medicine help to strengthen bones and teeth. A toothache is generally caused by muscular pain, and this medicine will not be helpful in providing any relief in such a situation.
Ans: No, It is not banned in India; it is an over the counter medicine that can be purchased without getting a prescription from a doctor. However, it is advisable to consult a doctor before consuming the tablet to ascertain the correct dosage and duration for which the medicine is to be taken.
Ans: Though no adverse interaction has been reported between Shelcal tablet and alcohol, it is advisable not to consume alcohol with the medicine as it may reduce the efficiency of the drug while increasing the risk of side-effects.
Ans: The medicine is a dietary supplement that is a combination of Vitamin D, calcium, phosphate and other minerals. It is used to maintain and balance parathyroid hormones in the body by helping in the absorption of calcium and phosphate. It works by neutralizing acids in the body, relieving the symptoms associated with acid reflux. This in turn aids in better absorption of calcium in the body.
Ans: A number of interactions ranging from mild to moderate side effects have been reported while co-administration of Shelcal and Levofloxacin. Thus it is not advised to consume the medicine alongside Levofloxacin.
Ans: It is advised to take the tablet as advised by the doctor. However, it is generally advised to take the medicine after having food as it maximizes the efficacy of the medicine.
Ans: Taking the tablet may result in sleepiness, dizziness, hypotension or a headache which may interfere with the patient’s motor skills. Hence, while administering the drug, if such symptoms are observed, one is advised not to drive or operate heavy machinery. It is also important to consult the doctor if such symptoms persist for long.
Ans: Doctors often prescribe The tablets to pregnant females in case of calcium deficiency. It is helpful in healthy bone development of the fetus. However, for breastfeeding mothers, it is advisable to consult the doctor before starting the course of tablet.
Ans: It is important to monitor the symptoms after administration of the drug and assess the level of vitamin deficiency before and after the treatment starts. It is also recommended to monitor serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase periodically.
Ans: No, Shelcal tablets are not known to cause weight gain. Long term use of the tablet may lead to weight loss as it contains vitamin D3 which has been associated with weight loss. In case the patient experiences abnormal weight gain post administration of the tablet, it is advisable to consult the doctor.
Ans: Yes, Shelcal tablet can be taken along with Amlodipine as there has been no drug interaction reported. It is always advised to consult a doctor before starting the course of any medicines for appropriate dosage instructions.
Ans: Yes, It can be administered along with vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is not known to interfere with the efficacy of Shelcal. However, depending on the person’s medical condition, it is advisable to consult the doctor before starting the dose of any medication.
