Indications/Dosage
hyperparathyroidism
nutritional supplementation
osteoporosis
osteoporosis prophylaxis
premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
NOTE: Different calcium; vitamin D formulations are not directly interchangeable on a mg per mg basis due to differing elemental calcium content. Calcium should be dosed based on the elemental calcium content of each salt form (see Calcium Salts Monograph, Dosage section).
NOTE: The recommended dose for indications below may not be possible to achieve with the administration of certain combination products; some instances may require the administration of separate calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Adequate Intakes (AI) per day for Calcium and Vitamin D in healthy individuals:
Adults >= 51 years: 1200 mg elemental calcium; 400—600 International Units vitamin D.[31028] [31730]
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1000 mg elemental calcium; 200 International Units vitamin D.[31028] [31730]
Children and adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1300 mg elemental calcium; 200 International Units vitamin D.[31028] [31730]
Children 4—8 years: 800 mg elemental calcium; 200 International Units vitamin D.[31028] [31730]
Children 1—3 years: 500 mg elemental calcium; 200 International Units vitamin D.[31028] [31730]
For nutritional supplementation and osteoporosis prophylaxis:
Oral dosage (tablets containing 600 mg elemental calcium; 200 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >= 51 years: 1 tablet PO twice daily.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: See oral dosage for Chewable Tablets.
Oral dosage (tablets containing 600 mg elemental calcium; 125 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >= 51 years: 1 tablet PO twice daily; additional vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: See oral dosage for Chewable Tablets.
Oral dosage (tablets or chewable tablets containing 500 mg elemental calcium; 200 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >= 51 years: 1 tablet PO twice daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: 1 chewable tablet PO once daily will provide adequate AI for calcium and vitamin D.
Oral dosage (tablets containing 500 mg elemental calcium; 125 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >= 51 years: 1 tablet PO twice daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: See oral dosage for Chewable Tablets.
Oral dosage (tablets or soft chews containing 500 mg elemental calcium; 100 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >= 51 years: 1 tablet PO twice daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO twice daily.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO twice daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 1 tablet PO twice daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: See oral dosage for Chewable Tablets.
Oral dosage (tablets containing 315 mg elemental calcium; 200 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >= 51 years: 3 tablets PO every day; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: See oral dosage for Chewable Tablets.
Oral dosage (tablets containing 250 mg elemental calcium; 125 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >= 51 years: 4 tablets PO daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 1 tablet PO once daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: See oral dosage for Chewable Tablets.
Oral dosage (tablets containing 250 mg elemental calcium; 62.5 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >= 51 years: 4 tablets PO daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 3 tablets PO daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 3 tablets PO daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 3 tablets PO daily; additional calcium and vitamin D will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: See oral dosage for Chewable Tablets.
Oral dosage (tablets containing 200 mg elemental calcium; 100 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >=51 years: 2 tablets PO 3 times daily.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 2 tablets PO daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 2 tablets PO daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 2 tablets PO daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: See oral dosage for Chewable Tablets.
Oral dosage (tablets containing 150 mg elemental calcium; 100 International Units vitamin D):
Adults >= 51 years: 6 tablets PO daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Adults 19—50 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 2 tablets PO daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children and Adolescents 9—18 years, including pregnant or lactating females: 2 tablets PO daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 4—8 years: 2 tablets PO daily; additional calcium will be necessary to provide AI.
Children 1—3 years: See oral dosage for Chewable Tablets.
For the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis†:
NOTE: The American College of Rheumatology recommends supplementation of vitamin D and calcium in all patients receiving corticosteroid therapy, especially if treatment duration will exceed 3 months.[31640]
Oral dosage:
Adults and Children: A total dose of 500—1000 mg calcium and 800 International Units vitamin D (20 mcg) PO daily.[31731]
For the prevention of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)†: