Calcium chloride injection is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with acute symptomatic hypocalcemia. Limitations of Use The safety and effectiveness of calcium chloride injection for long-term use has not been established.
Dosage and administration
Administer calcium chloride injection by slow intravenous infusion in a central or deep vein in adults and pediatric patients (with or without renal impairment); do not administer by bolus [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 , 5.4 )] . The maximum recommended infusion rate is 1 mL/minute (100 mg/minute). Additional important administration instructions regarding calcium chloride injection are as follows: Do not us...
Storage and handling
Calcium chloride injection, USP (clear solution) is supplied in single-dose plastic vials as follows: NDC No. Container Strength Vial Size Carton 75907-223-35 Plastic Vial 10% (1,000 mg/10 mL) 100 mg/mL 10 mL 10 vials The 100 mg/mL concentration represents 27 mg or 1.4 mEq of elemental calcium per mL of solution. Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F). [See...
Calcium chloride injection is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with acute symptomatic hypocalcemia.
Limitations of Use
The safety and effectiveness of calcium chloride injection for long-term use has not been established.
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION SECTION
2.1 Important Administration Instructions
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Administer calcium chloride injection
by
slowintravenous infusion
in a central or deep veinin adults and pediatric patients (with or without renal impairment); do not administer by bolus
[see Warnings and Precautions (
5.2,
5.4)]
. The maximum recommended infusion rate is 1 mL/minute (100 mg/minute).
Additional important administration instructions regarding calcium chloride injection are as follows:
Do not use intramuscularly or subcutaneously to avoid tissue necrosis calcinosis cutis
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
.
Visually inspect for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration (the solution is clear, and the seal is intact). Do not administer if the solution is unclear or the seal is not intact.
Stop the administration if the patient complains of any administration-related discomfort; administration may be resumed when symptoms disappear.
Discard the unused portion.
If time permits, allow the solution to warm to body temperature.
2.2 Recommended Dosage and Administration
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
The recommended dose range of calcium chloride injection in:
Adults is from 200 mg to 1,000 mg.
Pediatric patients is from 2.7 to 5 mg/kg of calcium chloride.
Individualize the dose for a patient within these dose ranges depending on serum ionized calcium level, severity of hypocalcemia symptoms, and the acuity of hypocalcemia onset.
Repeated injections may be required because of rapid excretion of calcium.
2.3 Recommended Starting Dose in Patients with Renal Impairment
Pediatric patients is 2.7 mg/kg of calcium chloride.
2.4 Drug Incompatibilities
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Do not mix calcium chloride injection with other drugs simultaneously. Do not mix calcium chloride injection with ceftriaxone or administer these products simultaneously via a Y-site because concurrent use can lead to the formation of ceftriaxone-calcium precipitates
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]:
In neonates (28 days of age or younger), concomitant use of calcium chloride injection and ceftriaxone is contraindicated
[see
Contraindications (4)]
.
In patients older than 28 days of age, ceftriaxone and calcium-containing products may be administered sequentially, provided the infusion lines are thoroughly flushed between infusions with a compatible fluid.
10% (1,000 mg/10 mL) (100 mg/mL) in a plastic vial
The 100 mg/mL concentration represents 27 mg or 1.4 mEq of elemental calcium per mL of solution.
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS
CONTRAINDICATIONS SECTION
Calcium chloride injection is contraindicated in:
Patients with ventricular fibrillation
Patients with asystole and electromechanical dissociation
Newborns (up to 28 days of age) if they require (or are expected to require) ceftriaxone intravenous treatment because of the risk of precipitation of ceftriaxone-calcium, regardless of whether these products would be received at different times or through separate intravenous lines
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]
.
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS SECTION
5.1 End-Organ Damage due to Intravascular Ceftriaxone-Calcium Precipitates
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
The use of calcium chloride injection is contraindicated in newborns (up to 28 days of age) if they require (or are expected to require) ceftriaxone intravenous treatment because of the risk of precipitation of ceftriaxone-calcium, regardless of whether these products would be received at different times or through separate intravenous lines
[see
Contraindications (4)].
Cases of fatal reactions with calcium-ceftriaxone precipitates in lungs and kidneys in premature and full-term newborns aged less than 1 month have occurred when ceftriaxone and calcium were administered either simultaneously or non-simultaneously and through different intravenous lines.
In-vitrostudies demonstrated that neonates have an increased risk of precipitation of ceftriaxone-calcium compared to other age groups.
In patients older than 28 days of age, calcium chloride injection and ceftriaxone intravenous solutions may be administered sequentially one after another if infusion lines at different sites are used, infusion lines are replaced, or infusion lines are thoroughly flushed between infusions with physiological salt solution to avoid precipitation. Do not mix or administer calcium chloride injection simultaneously with ceftriaxone, even if using different infusion lines or different infusion sites as it can lead to precipitation of ceftriaxone-calcium
[see
Dosage and Administration (2.4)]
.
5.2 Hypotension, Bradycardia, Arrhythmias, and Syncope with Rapid Administration
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Rapid injection of calcium chloride injection may cause vasodilation, decreased blood pressure, bradycardia, arrhythmias, syncope, and cardiac arrest. It is particularly important to prevent a high concentration of calcium from reaching the heart because of the risk of syncope. Too rapid an injection exceeding 1 mL/minute may lead to hypotension and cardiac syncope
[see
Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
5.3 Arrhythmias with Concomitant Digoxin Use
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Arrhythmias may occur if calcium chloride injection and digoxin are administered together. Hypercalcemia resulting from an overdose of calcium chloride injection increases the risk of digoxin toxicity. Avoid the use of calcium chloride injection in patients receiving digoxin. If concomitant therapy is necessary, closely monitor ECG and calcium levels
[see
Drug Interactions (7.1)]
.
5.4 Tissue Necrosis and Calcinosis
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Administration of calcium chloride injection in patients with local trauma may result in calcinosis cutis due to transient increase in local calcium concentration. Calcinosis cutis can occur with or without extravasation of calcium chloride injection, is characterized by abnormal dermal deposits of calcium salts, and clinically manifests as papules, plaques, or nodules that may be associated with erythema, swelling, or induration. Tissue necrosis, ulceration, and secondary infection are the most serious complications.
To minimize the risk of tissue necrosis, ulceration and calcinosis, administer calcium chloride injection slowly through a small needle into a large vein
[see
Dosage and Administration (2.1)].
Avoid extravasation or accidental injection into perivascular tissues. Should perivascular infiltration occur, immediately discontinue intravenous administration at that site and treat as needed.
5.5 Aluminum Toxicity
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Calcium chloride injection contains aluminum that may be toxic. Aluminum may reach toxic levels with prolonged parenteral administration if kidney function is impaired. Premature neonates are particularly at risk because their kidneys are immature, and they require large amounts of calcium and phosphate solutions, which contain aluminum. Research indicates that patients with impaired kidney function, including premature (preterm) neonates and preterm infants, who receive parenteral levels of aluminum at greater than 4 to 5 mcg/kg/day can accumulate aluminum at levels associated with central nervous system and bone toxicity. Tissue loading may occur at even lower amounts of aluminum.
Exposure to aluminum from calcium chloride injection at the recommended dose is not more than 10 mcg
[see
Dosage and Administration (2.2)and
Description (11)].
When prescribing calcium chloride injection in patients receiving parenteral nutrition solutions, limit the total daily patient exposure to aluminum to no more than 5 mcg/kg/day.
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS
ADVERSE REACTIONS SECTION
The following serious adverse reactions are also described elsewhere in the labeling:
The following adverse reactions have been identified in literature and postmarketing reports of calcium chloride. Because some of these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure:
Nervous system disorders:Paraesthesia (upon rapid injection), calcium taste
General disorders and administration site conditions:Sense of oppression, sense of “heat wave”, local burning sensation, injection site extravasation, injection site reactions
Avoid the concomitant use of calcium chloride injection with digoxin. If concomitant use is unavoidable, monitor ECG closely during administration of calcium chloride injection.
Synergistic arrhythmias may occur with concomitant use. The use of calcium chloride injection may result in hypercalcemia which increases the risk of digoxin toxicity
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
.
7.2 Calcium Channel Blockers
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Concomitant use of calcium chloride injection and calcium channel blockers may reduce the response to calcium channel blockers. Avoid concomitant use. If concomitant use is unavoidable, monitor blood pressure closely during administration of calcium chloride injection.
7.3 Drugs That Increase the Risk of Hypercalcemia
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Increase frequency of monitoring of calcium concentrations in patients taking concomitant calcium chloride injection and other drugs that increase the risk of hypercalcemia (e.g., calcipotriene, estrogen, lithium, parathyroid hormone, teriparatide, thiazide diuretics, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D).
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS SECTION
8.1 Pregnancy
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Risk Summary
Administration of calcium chloride injection for the treatment of acute symptomatic hypocalcemia during pregnancy is not expected to cause major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. There are risks to the mother and the fetus associated with development of hypocalcemia during pregnancy
(see
Clinical Considerations).
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with calcium chloride injection.
The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations are unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.
Maternal hypocalcemia can result in an increased rate of spontaneous abortion, premature and dysfunctional labor, and possibly preeclampsia. Infants born to mothers with hypocalcemia can develop fetal and neonatal hyperparathyroidism, which in turn can cause fetal and neonatal skeletal demineralization, subperiosteal bone resorption, osteitis fibrosa cystica and neonatal seizures.
8.2 Lactation
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Risk Summary
Calcium is present in human milk. Administration of the approved recommended dose of calcium chloride injection to the mother is not expected to cause harm to a breastfed infant. There is no information on the effects of calcium chloride injection on the breastfed infant or on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for calcium chloride injection and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from calcium chloride injection or from the underlying maternal condition.
8.4 Pediatric Use
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
The safety and effectiveness of calcium chloride injection for the treatment of acute symptomatic hypocalcemia have been established in pediatric patients.
The use of calcium chloride injection is contraindicated in newborns if they require (or are expected to require) ceftriaxone intravenous treatment because of the risk of precipitation of ceftriaxone-calcium, regardless of whether these products would be received at different times or through separate intravenous lines
[see
Contraindications (4)and
Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
In pediatric patients older than 28 days of age, calcium chloride injection and ceftriaxone intravenous solutions may be administered sequentially one after another if infusion lines at different sites are used, infusion lines are replaced, or infusion lines are thoroughly flushed between infusions with physiological salt solution to avoid precipitation. Do not mix or administer calcium chloride injection simultaneously with ceftriaxone, even if using different infusion lines or different infusion sites as it can lead to precipitation of ceftriaxone-calcium.
Calcium chloride injection contains aluminum that may be associated with central nervous system and bone toxicity. Because of immature renal function, preterm infants receiving prolonged parenteral nutrition treatment with calcium chloride injection may be at higher risk of aluminum toxicity
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
8.5 Geriatric Use
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Clinical studies of calcium chloride injection did not include sufficient numbers of patients 65 years of age and older to determine whether they respond differently from younger adult patients.
8.6 Renal Impairment
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
The use of calcium chloride injection in patients with renal impairment may increase the risk of a higher calcium-phosphorus product. For patients with renal impairment, initiate calcium chloride injection at the lowest recommended dose within the recommended dose range
[see
Dosage and Administration (2.2)]
. Monitor serum calcium levels frequently based on the severity of the renal impairment and the risk of a high calcium- phosphorus product (e.g., every 4 hours).
10 OVERDOSAGE
OVERDOSAGE SECTION
Overdosage of calcium chloride injection may lead to hypercalcemia. Symptoms of hypercalcemia typically develop when the total serum calcium concentration is ≥12 mg/dL, and include shortening of QT interval, bradycardia, hypertension, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, bowel hypomotility and constipation, muscle weakness, bone pain, decreased concentration, depression, weakness, fatigue, confusion, hallucinations, disorientation, hypotonicity, seizures, and coma. Hypercalcemia effects on kidney include diminished ability to concentrate urine and diuresis.
In the event of overdosage, promptly discontinue calcium chloride injection , the patient should be re- evaluated and appropriate countermeasures should be instituted, if necessary
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5),
Adverse Reactions (6)]
.
11 DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION SECTION
10% calcium chloride injection, USP is a sterile, nonpyrogenic, hypertonic solution for single administration only. Each mL contains 100 mg (1.4 mEq/mL) of calcium chloride, dihydrate (1.4 mEq each of Ca
++and Cl
-) in water for injection. It is provided in a 10 mL single-dose plastic vial for intravenous injection. The solution contains no bacteriostat, antimicrobial agent or added buffer. The pH of 10% calcium chloride injection, USP is 5.5 to 7.5 when diluted with water for injection to make a 5% solution. May contain hydrochloric acid and/or sodium hydroxide for pH adjustment. The osmolar concentration is 1.54 to 2.54 mOsmol/mL (calc.). 10% Calcium chloride injection, USP is oxygen sensitive.
Calcium chloride, USP dihydrate is chemically designated CaCl
2· 2H
2O (dihydrate) and is described as white, odorless fragments or granules freely soluble in water.
Intravenous administration of calcium chloride increases serum ionized calcium concentration. Calcium chloride dissociates into ionized calcium in plasma.
12.2 Pharmacodynamics
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
The exposure-response relationship and time course of pharmacodynamic response for the safety and effectiveness of calcium chloride injection have not been fully characterized.
12.3 Pharmacokinetics
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Absorption
Calcium chloride injection is 100% bioavailable following intravenous injection.
Distribution
Calcium in the body is distributed mainly in skeleton (99%) and 1% is distributed within the extracellular fluids and soft tissues. About 50% of total serum calcium is in the ionized form and represents the biologically active part; 8% to 10% serum calcium is bound to organic and inorganic acid, respectively; and approximately 40% is protein-bound (primarily to albumin).
Elimination
Metabolism
Calcium itself does not undergo direct metabolism.
Excretion
Calcium is excreted by the kidney through a combination of glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption. A significant increase in urinary excretion of calcium was observed during and after intravenous infusion of calcium chloride.
Specific Populations
The effect of age, sex, race, ethnicity, renal or hepatic impairment on the pharmacokinetics of calcium have not been evaluated in clinical studies.
13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY
NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY SECTION
13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
SPL UNCLASSIFIED SECTION
Carcinogenicity, mutagenicity, and fertility have not been assessed with calcium chloride injection.
16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING
HOW SUPPLIED SECTION
Calcium chloride injection, USP (clear solution) is supplied in single-dose plastic vials as follows:
NDC No.
Container
Strength
Vial Size
Carton
75907-223-35
Plastic Vial
10% (1,000 mg/10 mL)
100 mg/mL
10 mL
10 vials
The 100 mg/mL concentration represents 27 mg or 1.4 mEq of elemental calcium per mL of solution.
Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature.]
17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS SECTION
Inform patients or caregivers of the following risks of calcium chloride injection:
Arrhythmias with Concomitant Digoxin Use
Arrhythmias may occur if calcium chloride injection and Digoxin are administered together
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].
Tissue Necrosis and Calcinosis
Administration of calcium chloride injection may result in calcinosis cutis including tissue necrosis, ulceration, and secondary infection.
[see
Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
.
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