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Calcitriol is a hormone and the active form of vitamin D, normally made in the kidney. It is also known as 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol. It binds to and activates the vitamin D receptor in the nucleus of the cell, which then increases the expression of many genes. Calcitriol increases blood calcium mainly by increasing the uptake of calcium from the intestines.
Read the full article on WikipediaA plain-language summary of the cited sources below. Informational only — not medical advice.
Calcitriol is a form of vitamin D that your family member's body would normally make in the kidneys. When prescribed as a medication, it works by raising calcium levels in the blood. It does this in three ways: it helps the gut absorb more calcium from food, it prompts the kidneys to hold onto calcium instead of losing it in urine, and it releases calcium stored in bone when blood levels drop too low.
Doctors prescribe calcitriol when the body can't maintain healthy calcium levels on its own. This includes conditions where the parathyroid glands aren't working properly, rare forms of rickets that don't respond to regular vitamin D, or when calcium levels have dropped dangerously low. It's also used in some cases of established osteoporosis, where bone strength has already declined.
How long calcitriol stays active in the body varies quite a bit with age. In adults, it clears within five to eight hours, but in children it can remain active for up to 27 hours. This difference matters for timing doses and watching for effects.
Because calcitriol directly raises blood calcium, your family member will likely need regular blood tests to check calcium levels. Too much calcium in the blood can cause problems, so the prescribing doctor will be monitoring closely and adjusting the dose as needed.
Hypocalcaemia Clinical criteria: The condition must be stable for the prescriber to consider the listed maximum quantity of this medicine suitable for this patient, AND The condition must be due to renal disease.
Hypoparathyroidism Clinical criteria: The condition must be stable for the prescriber to consider the listed maximum quantity of this medicine suitable for this patient.
“Calcitriol increases blood calcium levels ([Ca2+]) by:”
“5–8 hours (adults), 27 hours (children)”
A plain-language summary of the cited sources below. Informational only — not medical advice.
Calcitriol is the active form of vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol). It acts as a hormone, binding to vitamin D receptors in the intestine, bone, kidney, and parathyroid gland to increase serum calcium and phosphate concentrations. The primary mechanism involves enhanced intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate, modulation of bone mineralisation, and regulation of parathyroid hormone secretion.
TGA-approved indications include hypocalcaemia, hypoparathyroidism, hypophosphataemic rickets, vitamin D-resistant rickets, and established osteoporosis. The elimination half-life is 5–8 hours in adults and approximately 27 hours in children.
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Hypophosphataemic rickets Clinical criteria: The condition must be stable for the prescriber to consider the listed maximum quantity of this medicine suitable for this patient.
Vitamin D-resistant rickets Clinical criteria: The condition must be stable for the prescriber to consider the listed maximum quantity of this medicine suitable for this patient.
Established osteoporosis Clinical criteria: The condition must be stable for the prescriber to consider the listed maximum quantity of this medicine suitable for this patient, AND Patient must have fracture due to minimal trauma. The fracture must have been demonstrated radiologically and the year of plain x-ray or computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan must be documented in the patient's medical records when treatment is initiated. A vertebral fracture is defined as a 20% or greater reduction in height of the anterior or mid portion of a vertebral body relative to the posterior height of that body, or, a 20% or greater reduction in any of these heights compared to the vertebral body above or below the affected vertebral body.