Paricalcitol

Paricalcitol (chemically it is 19-nor-1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D2. Marketed by Abbott Laboratories under the trade name Zemplar) is a drug used for the prevention and treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone) associated with chronic renal failure. It is an analog of 1,25-dihydroxyergocalciferol, the active form of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). Paricalcitol (chemically it is 19-nor-1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D2. Marketed by Abbott Laboratories under the trade name Zemplar) is a drug used for the prevention and treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (excessive secretion of parathyroid hormone) associated with chronic renal failure. It is an analog of 1,25-dihydroxyergocalciferol, the active form of vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol). It was patented in 1989 and approved for medical use in 1998. Its primary use in medicine is in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism associated with chronic kidney disease. However current evidence is not sufficient to demonstrate an advantage of paricalcitol over non-selective vitamin D derivatives for this indication. Adverse effects by frequency:Very common (>10% frequency): Common (1-10% frequency): Uncommon (0.1-1% frequency): ‡ These are adverse effects only seen in patients with grade 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease. † These are adverse effects only seen in patients with grade 5 chronic kidney disease. Contraindications include: whereas cautions include: