calcium gluconate at a glance
Medicine class
Injectable electrolyte and calcium salt
Main role
Emergency treatment of symptomatic hypocalcaemia and cardiac protection in severe hyperkalaemia
Administration
Usually given slowly into a vein by a healthcare professional with clinical and cardiac monitoring
Important distinction
Calcium gluconate and calcium chloride are not calcium-equivalent and must not be substituted without checking the product
What is calcium gluconate used for?
Selected UK products are licensed for acute hospital treatment.
Acute symptomatic hypocalcaemia in adults and children.
Cardiac protection in acute severe hyperkalaemia while separate measures lower potassium.
Cardiac arrest caused by severe hyperkalaemia, but not routine use in every cardiac arrest.
One selected product is additionally licensed for hypocalcaemia caused by fluoride or lead poisoning.
How does calcium gluconate work?
It adds calcium to the circulating calcium pool. Calcium supports nerve signalling, muscle contraction, heart function and blood clotting. In severe hyperkalaemia, it stabilises cardiac electrical activity without removing potassium from the blood.
calcium gluconate preparations and strengths
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 10%, 10% w/v
How to take calcium gluconate
Calcium gluconate injection is prepared and administered by trained healthcare professionals.
It is usually given slowly into a vein as an injection or infusion.
The patient is normally kept lying down and observed with heart-rate or ECG monitoring.
Immediately report burning, pain, redness or swelling around the cannula because leakage can damage tissue.
One selected product permits deep intramuscular administration in adults only when intravenous administration is not possible; this is not permitted in children.
calcium gluconate side effects
Common or expected effects
- The selected product information does not identify effects as common. Effects reported with unknown frequency include nausea, vomiting, flushing, feeling hot and sweating.
Get urgent medical advice
- Slow or irregular heartbeat, fainting or cardiac arrest.
- Marked low blood pressure or circulatory collapse.
- Injection-site pain, burning or redness, potentially followed by skin injury or tissue necrosis if leakage occurs.
- Excessive-calcium symptoms such as persistent vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, marked thirst, frequent urination, weakness, drowsiness or confusion.
- Severe calcium–ceftriaxone precipitation reactions, particularly in newborn babies.
calcium gluconate in pregnancy
Calcium crosses the placenta. Calcium gluconate injection may be used when clinically required, with careful assessment and serum-calcium monitoring to avoid maternal and fetal hypercalcaemia.
calcium gluconate while breastfeeding
Calcium enters breast milk. The prescriber should balance the need for treatment against the benefit of breastfeeding and decide whether either should be interrupted.
calcium gluconate interactions
The clinical team should review medicines and intravenous-line compatibility before administration.
Digoxin and other cardiac glycosides
Calcium may intensify toxicity and cause serious arrhythmias. Intravenous use is generally contraindicated except in immediately life-threatening circumstances with specialist monitoring.
Ceftriaxone
Dangerous precipitates can form. They must not be mixed or administered simultaneously, with particularly strict restrictions in newborn babies.
Common questions about calcium gluconate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is calcium gluconate the same as calcium chloride?
No. They contain different amounts of elemental calcium and are not directly interchangeable.
Does calcium gluconate lower potassium?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.