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What Causes Muscle Weakness, Headaches And Dizziness After Taking Citracal?
Question: I had parathyriod surgery 2 weeks ago. I was asked to take 4 citracal 630 mg. a day. I had side effects such as muscle weakness headaches and dizziness.The surgeon said to discontinue and try another type of calcium.Now I,m taking calcium carbonate 600 mg. for 3 days and still feeling weak with muscle cramps in the legs and arms with nausea , no appetite and no energy.Im so frustrated.
Brief Answer:
Low calcium/Phosphorus and Vitamin D
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern. Could you please let me know if the parathyroid surgery was on just one gland or did the surgeon remove all 4 glands? Treatment is based on this.
The reason for cramps could be due to multiple reasons: 1) Low calcium, 2) Low Vitamin D, 3) Low Phosphorus levels.
Usually after the surgery, the remaining parathyroid gland ( if any gland is left behind) which was suprressed by the overactive gland, takes tme to recover. Till then, body can not convert Vitamin D to "active 1 ,25 vitamin D ( Calcitriol)". Calcium will not be absorbed if active vitamin D is not produced. Hence, there is no point taking lots of calcium with out taking active vitamin D at this stage.
It is better to see an endocrnologist at this stage rather than a surgeon. He is done with the surgery. Fair enough. But now, further management has to be done by an endocrinologist.
Calcitriol ( brand name ROCALTROL) should be combined with calcium now. Otherwise calcium will not be absorbed.
Please discuss these points with your doctor. It is also good to get your Thyroid profile checked.
Regards
Binu
Low calcium/Phosphorus and Vitamin D
Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern. Could you please let me know if the parathyroid surgery was on just one gland or did the surgeon remove all 4 glands? Treatment is based on this.
The reason for cramps could be due to multiple reasons: 1) Low calcium, 2) Low Vitamin D, 3) Low Phosphorus levels.
Usually after the surgery, the remaining parathyroid gland ( if any gland is left behind) which was suprressed by the overactive gland, takes tme to recover. Till then, body can not convert Vitamin D to "active 1 ,25 vitamin D ( Calcitriol)". Calcium will not be absorbed if active vitamin D is not produced. Hence, there is no point taking lots of calcium with out taking active vitamin D at this stage.
It is better to see an endocrnologist at this stage rather than a surgeon. He is done with the surgery. Fair enough. But now, further management has to be done by an endocrinologist.
Calcitriol ( brand name ROCALTROL) should be combined with calcium now. Otherwise calcium will not be absorbed.
Please discuss these points with your doctor. It is also good to get your Thyroid profile checked.
Regards
Binu
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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