Reef-DX

Uses

Reef-DX is used for the treatment & prevention of osteoporosis, osteomalacia, tetany, hypoparathyroidism, disorders of osteogenesis. It can also used as supplement in case of inadequate intake of calcium in childhood diet, rickets, pregnancy & lactation, elderly patients. Other indications include pancreatitis, phosphate binder in chronic renal failure etc.

Reef-DX is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Deficiency, Vitamin D

How Reef-DX works

Most individuals naturally generate adequate amounts of vitamin D through ordinary dietary intake of vitamin D (in some foods like eggs, fish, and cheese) and natural photochemical conversion of the vitamin D3 precursor 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin via exposure to sunlight.

Conversely, vitamin D deficiency can often occur from a combination of insufficient exposure to sunlight, inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D, genetic defects with endogenous vitamin D receptor, or even severe liver or kidney disease . Such deficiency is known for resulting in conditions like rickets or osteomalacia, all of which reflect inadequate mineralization of bone, enhanced compensatory skeletal demineralization, resultant decreased calcium ion blood concentrations, and increases in the production and secretion of parathyroid hormone . Increases in parathyroid hormone stimulates the mobilization of skeletal calcium and the renal excretion of phosphorus . This enhanced mobilization of skeletal calcium leads towards porotic bone conditions .

Ordinarily, while vitamin D3 is made naturally via photochemical processes in the skin, both itself and vitamin D2 can be found in various food and pharmaceutical sources as dietary supplements. The principal biological function of vitamin D is the maintenance of normal levels of serum calcium and phosphorus in the bloodstream by enhancing the efficacy of the small intestine to absorb these minerals from the diet . At the liver, vitamin D3 or D2 is hydroxylated to 25-hydroxyvitamin D and then finally to the primary active metabolite 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in the kidney via further hydroxylation . This final metabolite binds to endogenous vitamin d receptors, which results in a variety of regulatory roles - including maintaining calcium balance, the regulation of parathyroid hormone, the promotion of the renal reabsorption of calcium, increased intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and increased calcium and phosphorus mobilization of calcium and phosphorus from bone to plasma to maintain balanced levels of each in bone and the plasma .

Dosage

Reef-DX dosage

One tablet once or twice daily with plenty of water or as directed by the physician

Side Effects

Flatulence, diarrhoea, constipation, upper GI discomfort, allergic reactions etc are rare manifestation. Hypercalcaemia due to prolong use has rarely been reported.

Toxicity

The use of pharmacological or nutraceutical vitamin d and/or even excessive dietary intake of vitamin d is contraindicated in patients with hypercalcemia, malabsorption syndrome, abnormal sensitivity to the toxic effects of vitamin d, and hypervitaminosis D .

Hypersensitivity to vitamin d is one plausible etiologic factor in infants with idiopathic hypercalcemia - a case in which vitamin d use must be strictly restricted .

As vitamin d intake is available via fortified foods, dietary supplements, and clinical drug sources, serum concentrations and therapeutic dosages should be reviewed regularly and readjusted as soon as there is clinical improvement . Dosage levels are required to be individualized on an individual patient by patient basis as caution must be exercised to prevent the presence of too much vitamin d in the body and the various potentially serious toxic effects associated with such circumstances .

In particular, the range between therapeutic and toxic doses is quite narrow in vitamin d resistant rickets . When high therapeutic doses are used, progress should be followed with frequent blood calcium determinations .

When treating hypoparathyroidism, intravenous calcium, parathyroid hormone, and/or dihydrotachysterol may be required .

Maintenance of normal serum phosphorus levels by dietary phosphate restriction and/or administration of aluminum gels as intestinal phosphate binders in those patients with hyperphosphatemia as frequently seen in renal osteodystrophy is essential to prevent metastatic calcification .

Mineral oil interferes with the absorption of lipid-soluble vitamins, including vitamin d preparations .

The administration of thiazide diuretics to hypoparathyroid patients who are concurrently being treated with vitamin d can result in hypercalcemia .

At this time, no long term animal studies have been performed to evaluate vitamin potential for carcinogens, mutagenesis, or fertility .

As various animal reproduction studies have demonstrated fetal abnormalities in several species associated with hypervitaminosis D, the use of vitamin d in excess of the recommended dietary allowance during normal pregnancy should be avoided . The safety in excess of 400 USP units of vitamin d daily during pregnancy has not been established . The abnormalities observed are similar to the supravalvular aortic stenosis syndrome described in infants that is characterized by supravalvular aortic stenosis, elfin facies, and mental retardation .

In a nursing mother given large doses of vitamin D, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol appeared in the milk and caused hypercalcemia in her child. Caution is subsequently required when contemplating the use of vitamin d in a nursing woman, and the necessity of monitoring infants' serum calcium concentration if vitamin d is administered to a breastfeeding woman .

Adverse reactions associated with the use of vitamin d are primarily linked to having hypervitaminosis D occurring [FDA Lanel]. In particular, hypervitaminosis D is characterized by effects specific effects on specific organ systems. At the renal system, hypervitaminosis D can cause impairment of renal function with polyuria, nocturne, polydipsia, hypercalciuria, reversible asotemia, hypertension, nephrocalcinosis, generalized vascular calcification, or even irreversible renal insufficiency which may result in death . Elsewhere, hypervitaminosis D can also cause CNS mental retardation . At the level of soft tissues, it can widespread calcification of the soft tissues, including the heart, blood vessels, renal tubules, and lungs . In the skeletal system, bone demineralization (osteoporosis) in adults can occur while a decline in the average rate of linear growth and increased mineralization of bones, dwarfism, vague aches, stiffness, and weakness can occur in infants and children . Finally, hypervitaminosis D can also lead to nausea, anorexia, and constipation at the gastrointestinal level as well as mild acidosis, anemia, or weight loss via metabolic processes .

The LD(50) in animals is unknown .

Precaution

In mild hypercalciuria, careful monitoring with reduction of dose is sufficient to return to normal serum calcium concentration. Plasma and serum calcium level should be monitored in mild to moderate renal impairment and also in case of long term use. Patients with renal stone or with such previous history should be recommended to increase their fluid intake.

Interaction

Oral calcium can reduce the absorption of tetracycline & fluoride preparations and minimum 3 hours time should be allowed between ingestion of these medications. Thiazide diuretics reduce the renal excretion of calcium. Phenytoin, barbiturates, glucocorticoids may induce metabolism of Vitamin D. Concomitant ingestion of certain foods like spinach, cereals, milk and its derivatives may reduce the intestinal uptake of calcium.

Elimination Route

Vitamin D3 and D2 are readily absorbed from the small intestine (proximal or distal) .

Half Life

Although certain studies suggest the half-life of 1,25-hydroxyvitamin D3 may be approximately 15 hours, the half-life of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 appears to have a half-life of about 15 days . Intriguingly however, the half-lives of any particular administration of vitamin d can vary and in general the half-lives of vitamin D2 metabolites have been demonstrated to be shorter overall than vitamin D3 half-lives with this being affected by vitamin d binding protein concentrations and genotype in particular individuals .

Clearance

Some studies propose an estimated clearance rate for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D as 31 +/- 4 ml/min in healthy adults .

Elimination Route

The primary excretion route of vitamin D is via the bile into the feces .

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Reef-DXTM should be given to pregnant and lactating mothers as per recommendation of physician.

Contraindication

Hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism; Hypercalciuria and nephrolithiasis; Hypersensitivity to the component of Reef-DX; Severe renal insufficiencies; Concomitant digoxin therapy (requires careful monitoring of serum Calcium level)

Acute Overdose

Symptoms of over dose may include nausea and vomiting, severe drowsiness, dry mouth, loss of appetite, metallic taste, stomach cramps, unconsciousness, diarrhea, weakness, headache, constipation, dizziness or irritability.

Storage Condition

Store in cool & dry place protected from light & moisture. Keep out of reach of children.

Innovators Monograph

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