AT10 (Dihydrotachysterol)

How does it work?

AT10 solution contains the active ingredient dihydrotachysterol, which is a synthetic form of vitamin D.

Vitamin D is needed for calcium to be absorbed from the gut, and dihydrotachysterol is used to treat low calcium levels in the blood that are associated with underactivity of the parathyroid glands.

The parathyroid glands are found in the neck. They produce parathyroid hormone, which helps control the metabolism of calcium and phosphate in the body. If these glands are underactive and don't produce enough parathyroid hormone, it can cause the level of calcium in the blood to drop too low.

Low blood calcium levels can cause involuntary muscle twitching and cramps, particularly in the hands. This is called hypocalcaemic tetany.

By improving the absorption of calcium from the gut, dihydrotachysterol helps normalise blood calcium levels and control these muscle spasms.

What is it used for?

• Cramping and twitching of muscles, especially in the hands, caused by low blood calcium levels (hypocalcaemic tetany) in people who have underactive parathyroid glands (hypoparathyroidism).

How do I take it?

• AT10 solution can be taken with or without food.
• The amount of solution you need to take depends on the levels of calcium in your blood and urine. Follow the instructions given by your doctor.
• Women may need to take a higher dose of this medicine during their period. Your dose of AT10 may also need to be increased during times when you are unusually active. Ask your doctor for advice.

Warning!

• You will need to have regular blood tests to check the level of calcium in your blood while you are taking this medicine. Tell your doctor if you get any of the following symptoms while taking this medicine, as these could suggest that the level of calcium in your blood has risen too high: needing to pass urine more often than usual, feeling thirsty, dry mouth, metallic taste in your mouth, headache, feeling weak, pain in your muscles or bones, feeling sick or vomiting, constipation.

Use with caution in

• Sarcoidosis.
• People taking digoxin.

Not to be used in

• People who have a high level of calcium in their blood (hypercalcaemia).
• People with vitamin D poisoning.
• People who are allergic to peanuts or soya (the solution contains peanut oil).
• Breastfeeding.

This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.

If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.

• The safety of this medicine in pregnancy has not been established. It should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the benefits to the mother outweigh any possible risks to the developing baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine may pass into breast milk. It should not be taken by women who are breastfeeding because it could cause calcium levels in the nursing infant to rise too high. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.

Side effects

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• High level of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia - see warning section above for symptoms to look out for).
• High level of calcium in the urine.
• High level of phosphate in the blood (hyperphosphataemia).

The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer.

For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.

How can this medicine affect other medicines?

It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while having treatment with this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.

Thiazide diuretics, such as bendroflumethiazide, reduce the amount of calcium excreted in the urine, and this can increase the amount of calcium in the blood. If you are taking a thiazide diuretic in combination with this medicine you should have regular blood tests to monitor the level of calcium in your blood.

People taking digoxin or other cardiac glycosides may have an increased risk of abnormal heart rhythms if they experience abnormally high blood calcium levels while taking this medicine.

The following medicines may decrease the absorption of dihydrotachysterol from the gut and should not be taken at the same time of day as this medicine:

• colestipol
• colestyramine
• orlistat.

If you are taking any of the following medicines you may need a larger than normal dose of this medicine. Ask your doctor for advice:

• carbamazepine
• isoniazid
• phenobarbital
• phenytoin
• rifampicin
• thyroid replacement therapy.

Other medicines containing the same active ingredient

There are currently no other medicines available in the UK that contain dihydrotachysterol as the active ingredient.