Brown Acetate

Brown Acetate, or calcium acetate, is a necessary mineral that the body requires in order to perform numerous basic functions. Many patients take Brown Acetate to help build up their bone density or to maintain bone density, depending on their age, while others take it to help control levels of phosphate in the body as a result of kidney failure. Brown Acetate can be purchased in numerous forms, including under the brand names, Calphron, PhosLos, and PhosLo Gelcap. Brown Acetate removes excess phosphate by binding to the molecules and rendering it useless.

Patients with high levels of calcium in the blood should not take additional Brown Acetate. Patients should have their calcium levels checked before starting the supplement, as too much calcium can cause illness. Patients who take prescription digoxin should not take calcium supplements.

The American Food and Drug Administration rated Brown Acetate and calcium based supplements a pregnancy risk category C. This means that it is possible for this medication to cause harm to an unborn baby. Brown Acetate has not been determined one way or the other to harm a nursing child. Women who are pregnant, could become pregnant, or are nursing should discuss the risks of taking this type of supplement and their nutritional needs thoroughly with their doctor.

Patients should take this medication with meals as prescribed. Patients should also have their blood tested regularly to be certain that it is not doing any harm. Some patients are required to keep food diaries to help judge the amount of calcium they are receiving through their diet.

If a dose has been missed, it can be taken when it is remembered. Some patients need to take their Brown Acetate with food and may prefer to skip the dose. If there isn't much time between doses, the missed dose should be skipped and the dosing should resume with the next regular dose. Patients should avoid taking double doses, as this can lead to overdosing.

Too much calcium in the blood can have serious effects, and an overdose should be treated like a medical emergency. Patients may experience dry mouth, constipation, confusion, feeling thirsty, a frequent need to urinate, wamble, lack of appetite, fainting, coma, and in some cases, death.

Patients should not take antacids with Brown Acetate unless the physician has instructed them to do so.

In some patients, Brown Acetate will produce allergic reactions, which require immediate medical attention. Allergic reactions include skin edema of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, and throat, hives, and difficulty breathing.

Less serious side effects include constipation, wamble, vomiting, dry mouth, loss of appetite, increased thirst, and significant increase in urination. These side effects generally require nothing more than noting them to your doctor unless they are particularly bothersome.

Some medications may cause negative interactions with Brown Acetate. Patients should never take any additional medication without conferring with their doctor. Medications such as demeclocycline, tetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline can cause severe interactions. Some patients will be able to handle a simple dose adjustment while others will not be able to tolerate the combination at all.

Brown acetate has the following structural formula: