Calcium Gluconate

Calcium gluconate is a mineral supplement and medication. Calcium gluconate is made by mixing gluconic acid with calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide. Calcium plays a very important role in the body. It is necessary for normal functioning of nerves, cells, muscle, and bone. As a medication it is used by injection into a vein to treat low blood calcium, high blood potassium, and magnesium toxicity. Supplementation is generally only required when there is not enough calcium in the diet. It may be used to treat conditions caused by low calcium levels such as bone loss (osteoporosis), weak bones (osteomalacia/rickets), decreased activity of the parathyroid gland (hypoparathyroidism), and a certain muscle disease (latent tetany). It may also be used in certain patients to make sure they are getting enough calcium (e.g., women who are pregnant, nursing, or postmenopausal, people taking certain medications such as phenytoin, phenobarbital, or prednisone).