1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Calcium acetate capsules are a phosphate binder indicated to reduce serum phosphorus in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD).

Calcium acetate capsules are a phosphate binder indicated for the reduction of serum phosphorus in patients with end stage renal disease.

(1)

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS Hypercalcemia is discussed elsewhere [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] .

The most common (>10%) adverse reactions are hypercalcemia, nausea, and vomiting.

(6.1) In clinical studies, patients have occasionally experienced nausea during calcium acetate therapy.

(6) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

In clinical studies, calcium acetate has been generally well tolerated.

Calcium acetate was studied in a 3-month, open-label, non-randomized study of 98 enrolled ESRD hemodialysis patients and an alternate liquid formulation of calcium acetate was studied in a two week double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study with 69 enrolled ESRD hemodialysis patients.

Adverse reactions (>2% on treatment) from these trials are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Adverse Reactions in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis Preferred Term Total adverse reactions reported for calcium acetate n=167 n (%) 3-mo, open-label study of calcium acetate n=98 n (%) Double blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study of liquid calcium acetate n=69 Calcium acetate n (%) Placebo n (%) Nausea 6 (3.6) 6 (6.1) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) Vomiting 4 (2.4) 4 (4.1) 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) Hypercalcemia 21 (12.6) 16 (16.3) 5 (7.2) 0 (0.0) Mild hypercalcemia may be asymptomatic or manifest itself as constipation, anorexia, nausea, and vomiting.

More severe hypercalcemia is associated with confusion, delirium, stupor, and coma.

Decreasing dialysate calcium concentration could reduce the incidence and severity of calcium acetate-induced hypercalcemia.

Isolated cases of pruritus have been reported, which may represent allergic reactions.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

The following additional adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval of calcium acetate: dizziness, edema, and weakness.