Calcium Acetate

Calcium Acetate is a medicine used to treat high phosphate levels in the blood. It helps to lower the phosphate levels in the blood and prevents complications, particularly in people with kidney failure who are on dialysis and are unable to get rid of excess phosphate levels.

Calcium Acetate should be taken with food. Take it regularly at evenly spaced intervals as per the schedule prescribed by your doctor. Taking it at the same time every day will help you remember to take it. The dose and duration of treatment will depend on the severity of your condition. Do not stop taking the medicine suddenly. Take it for as long as the doctor has prescribed for maximum benefits.

The most common side effects of this medicine are increased calcium levels in the blood, nausea, and diarrhea. If you are bothered by these or experience any other symptoms on taking this medicine, let your doctor know. They may be able to suggest ways of reducing or preventing them.

Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you have any medical conditions. Let your doctor also know about all the other medicines you are taking, if any. While on treatment with this medicine, avoid taking additional calcium supplements unless your doctor has told you to. You may need frequent medical tests to monitor the effectiveness of the medicine. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctors before taking the medicine.

• Treatment of High phosphate levels in blood

Treatment of High phosphate levels in blood
Our body needs phosphate for various life functions such as strengthening of bones and teeth, production of energy and forming outer layers of cells in our body called cell membrane. But too much phosphate in our blood can cause serious complications such as heart attack, stroke as well as kidney damage. Calcium Acetate helps to lower the phosphate levels in our blood and prevents these complications particularly in patients who are on dialysis and are unable to get rid of excess phosphate levels through kidneys. Take Calcium Acetate as prescribed by the doctor to get the most of this medicine.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Common side effects of Zerofos

• Increased calcium level in blood
• Nausea
• Diarrhea

Take this medicine in the dose and duration as advised by your doctor. Swallow it as a whole. Do not chew, crush or break it. Calcium Acetate is to be taken with food.

Calcium Acetate contains calcium acetate that binds with the phosphate in the food you eat, so that it gets eliminated from the body without being absorbed. In this way, high levels of phosphate in the blood are reduced.

• Calcium Acetate is used to control high blood levels of phosphorus in people with kidney disease who are on dialysis.
• Ask your doctor before using an antacid containing calcium while taking this medicine.
• Do not take additional calcium supplements unless your doctor has told you to while on treatment with Calcium Acetate.
• If you are on thyroid medication, take this medicine 4 hours before or 4 hours after you take the thyroid medicine.
• Avoid taking any antibiotics along with Calcium Acetate. You may give a gap of 1-2 hours between the medicines.

Calcium acetate [FDA Label]. Waltham, MA: Fresenius Medical Care North America; 2011. [Accessed 30 Jul. 2021] (online) Available from: