Crafilm Chewable

Uses

Adult: One Calcium Carbonate 500 tablet or as directed by the physician. For the prevention of osteoporosis, 1-3 Calcium Carbonate 500 tablet is recommended generally as a dietary supplement . Doses for children is half of those for adults. A large dose should not be taken without physician\'s advice.

Adolescent: One to two Calcium Carbonate tablet daily.

Children: One Calcium Carbonate tablet daily.

Sucralfate tablet is used for the treatment of acute, nonmalignant gastric and duodenal ulcers. Maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of duodenal ulcers.

Sucralfate suspension is used for the short-term (up to 8 weeks) treatment of active duodenal ulcer.

Crafilm Chewable is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Acid Reflux, Acid indigestion, Bloating, Calcium Deficiency, Calcium Metabolism Disorders, Calcium and Vitamin D Deficiencies, Colic, Dyspepsia, Gastric Ulcer, Gastroesophageal Reflux, Heartburn, Hemorrhoids, Hot Flushes, Hyperacidity, Hyperphosphataemia, Hypovitaminosis D, Low Bone Density, Osteodystrophy, Osteomalacia, Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal Osteoporosis, Postoperative Gas, Proctitis, Vertebral Fractures, Calcium loss, Gastrointestinal ulceration, Dietary supplementationDyspepsia, Gastric Ulcer, Gastritis, Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Healing, Mucositis, Peptic Ulcer, Stress Ulcers, Active Duodenal ulcer, Antiplatelet Therapy

How Crafilm Chewable works

Calcium carbonate is a basic inorganic salt that acts by neutralizing hydrochloric acid in gastric secretions. It also inhibits the action of pepsin by increasing the pH and via adsorption. Cytoprotective effects may occur through increases in bicarbonate ion (HCO₃^-) and prostaglandins. Neutralization of hydrochloric acid results in the formation of calcium chloride, carbon dioxide and water. Approximately 90% of calcium chloride is converted to insoluble calcium salts (e.g. calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate).

The mechanism of action of this drug in the healing duodenal ulcers is not yet completely defined, however, there are several probable mechanisms that adequately describe the healing activity of sucralfate. There is evidence that sucralfate acts locally to aid in tissue healing, and not systemically .

Studies in both humans and animals have indicated that sucralfate forms a complex that binds to protein-rich exudate found on the surface of ulcers. It binds to albumin and fibrinogen preventing blood clot lysis by stomach acid (hydrochloric acid). Sucralfate increases the tissue levels of fibroblast growth factors and epidermal growth factors , leading to an increase in prostaglandins at the gastrointestinal tract lining, which promote the healing of gastrointestinal ulcers .

In the laboratory setting, a sucralfate-albumin film provides a barrier against the entry of hydrogen ions, which are a component of gastric acid. In humans, sucralfate, given at therapeutic doses for ulcers, decreases pepsin activity in gastric fluids by 32% . Pepsin has been shown to be damaging to tissues, further aggravating ulcer lesion inflammation . Bile salts have been implicated in mucosal injury to the gastrointestinal tract . Sucralfate has also been shown to adsorb bile salts in the laboratory, setting, which could further contribute to its beneficial effects in ulcer healing .

Dosage

Crafilm Chewable dosage

Calcium Carbonate is always used orally and when used as an antacid the recommended doses for adults are equivalent to 540-2000 mg Calcium Carbonate per day, doses for children being half of those for adults. As a dietary supplement, such as for the prevention of osteoporosis, 1250-3750 mg Calcium Carbonate (500-1500 mg calcium) daily is recommended in general, but again this will need to be tailored to the individual patient depending on any specific disease such as Calcium deficiency, malabsorption or parathyroid function. In pregnancy and lactation therecommended daily dose of calcium is 1200-1500 mg. In chronic renal failure the doses used vary from 2.5 - 9.0 gm Calcium Carbonate per day and need to be adjusted according to the individual patient. To maximize effective phosphate binding in this context the Calcium Carbonate should be given with meals.

Adult: Usual dose 1 gm 4 times daily to be taken 1 hour before meals and at bed time. Maximum daily dose is 8 gm. Four to six weeks treatment is usually needed for ulcer healing but upto twelve weeks may be necessary in resistant cases. Antacids may be used as required for relief of pain, but should not be taken half an hour before or after Gastalfet.

Elderly: There are no special dosage requirements for elderly patients but as with all medicines the lowest effective dose should be used.

children: Safety and efficacy in children have not been established

Side Effects

In rare cases, flatulence, diarrhoea or constipation.

The incidence and severity of side effects from sucralfate are very low. Mild side effect like constipation has been reported in some patients.

Toxicity

Overdose

Overdosage has never been observed with sucralfate . It is unlikely, as administering a maximum dose of up to 12 g/kg/body weight in several animal species did not result in death. The lethal dose could not be determined in these studies . It is likely that overdose of sucralfate in humans would result in constipation, and supportive treatment would be advised .

Use in pregnancy

This drug is considered a pregnancy Category B drug. Studies have been performed in rodents and rabbits at doses up to 50 times the recommended human dose. No harm to the fetus has been observed in the abovementioned studies. Sufficient and well-controlled clinical trials have not been performed in pregnant women. Due to the fact that the results of animal studies are not always relevant to human response, sucralfate should be used during pregnancy only if it is deemed essential for the mother's health .

Use in nursing

Whether this drug is excreted in human milk is currently unknown. Many drugs are excreted in breast milk, therefore, if sucralfate is administered to a lactating and nursing woman, caution should be observed .

Carcinogenesis

24 month toxicity studies were performed in rodents, and the dose of sucralfate reached up to 1 g/kg (equivalent to 12 times the recommended human dose). No signs of sucralfate-related tumors were noted.

Precaution

In the presence of mild hypercalciuria, excretion levels must be carefully monitored and where necessary the dose of calcium carbonate should be reduced or treatment should be stopped. Patients with a history of stone formation should also be recommended to increase their fluid intake. High dosage of vitamin D should be avoided during Calcium therapy unless specifically indicated.

The product should only be used with caution in patients with renal dysfunction

Interaction

Oral calcium can reduce internal absorption of tetracycline and fluoride prepa-rations and an interval of at least 3 hours should therefore be allowed between ingestion of these medications. Vitamin D increases internal absorption of calcium. The intestinal uptake of calcium may be reduced by concomitant ingestion of certain foods (e.g. spinach, milk and milk products).

Concomitant use of sucralfate may reduce the bioavailability of certain drugs as has been observed in animal studies with tetracycline, phenytoin and cimetidine and in human studies with digoxin. Administration of sucralfate with any of these drugs should be separated by two hours. Since sucralfate may hinder warfarin absorption, caution should be exercised when these two drugs are used together.

Volume of Distribution

Calcium is rapidly distributed taken up by skeletal tissues following absorption and distribution into extracellular fluids. Bone contains 99% of the body's calcium and the remaining 1% is approximately equally distributed between intracellular and extracellular fluids.

This drug is absorbed in a very small quantity, and normally localizes to inflamed gastrointestinal lesions .

Elimination Route

Maximal absorption occurs at doses of 500 mg or less taken with food. Oral bioavailability depends on intestinal pH, the presence of food and dosage.

This drug is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in very minimal quantities . The adsorbed sulfated disaccharide is excreted in the urine . This drug contains aluminum and after the administration of 1 g of sucralfate 4 times per day, about 0.001% to 0.017% of this aluminum content is absorbed in patients with normal renal function . This number is expected to increase in those with impaired renal function .

Half Life

The half-life is not known. In animals, the elimination half-life of the sucrose component of this drug is from 6-20 h .

Clearance

Sucralfate contains aluminum. The administration of sucralfate in non-dialyzed chronic renal failure patients warrants careful consideration from the treating physician as the excretion of absorbed aluminum may be decreased, causing possible aluminum toxicity .

In dialyzed patients diagnosed with chronic renal failure, aluminum toxicity related to sucralfate has been observed and reported. The daily amount of aluminum ingestion (including sucralfate) should be carefully examined before administering sucralfate in combination with other drugs also containing aluminum, including various antacids .

Elimination Route

Excreted mainly in the feces. The majority of renally filtered calcium is reabsorbed in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle and the proximal and distal convoluted tubules. Also secreted by sweat glands.

The negligible amount of this drug that is absorbed is excreted mainly in the urine within 48 hours .

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnant women : Calcium containing drugs are used widely in pregnancy by way of calcium supplement or antacid therapy. No relationship between malformation in general and calcium exposure has been noted.

Lactating mother : There is no contraindication to the use of calcium carbonate in lactating mother.

Although animal studies show no evidence of foetal malformation, safety in pregnant women has not been established and Sucralfate should be used in pregnancy only if clearly needed.

It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Caution should be exercised when sucralfate is administered to nursing mothers.

Contraindication

Hypersensitivity to the Calcium Carbonate or any inactive ingredient of the medication. Hypercalcemia (e.g. in hyperparathyroidism, overdosage of vitamin D, demineralizing tumours such as plasmacytomas and bone metastases), severe hypercalcuria, several renal insufficiency.

There are no known contraindications

Special Warning

USE IN CHILDREN: Calcium carbonate has been extensively studied in children and infants with chronic renal failure and is both safe and effective.

USE IN ELDERLY: In case of elderly patients with renal failure when calcium carbonate is taken constipation may be troublesome one for this group. For this reason, monitoring of serum calcium and phosphate is of course indicated for elderly patients.

Acute Overdose

There is no experience in human with overdosage

Storage Condition

Store in a cool, dry place in controlled room temperature.

Store at 20-25° C.

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