Tag: Zemplar

Approximately 81% of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Stage 4 and Stage 5 develop secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Zemplar (paricalcitol) is a medication specifically designed to prevent and treat this complication by acting as an active form of vitamin D.

Zemplar (paricalcitol) is a prescription medication often described as an active form of vitamin D, but it's more accurately defined as a synthetic analog of the hormone's most active form, calcitriol. Unlike over-the-counter vitamin D supplements, Zemplar is specifically designed for therapeutic use in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

In the United States, secondary hyperparathyroidism affects a significant portion of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). When considering treatment options, patients and healthcare providers often compare Hectorol and Zemplar, two common vitamin D analogs. While both medications are used to lower elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels, understanding the nuances behind their active ingredients, potency, and side effects is crucial to answering the question, 'What is the difference between Hectorol and Zemplar?'

Zemplar and calcitriol are not the same medication, despite both being active forms of vitamin D used to treat complications related to chronic kidney disease. While calcitriol is a synthetic version of the body's natural active vitamin D hormone, Zemplar (paricalcitol) is a modified, synthetic analog with a more selective action. This distinction is crucial for patient outcomes, especially concerning the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

A 2020 meta-analysis involving over 110,000 hemodialysis patients found that treatment with Zemplar (paricalcitol) was associated with better overall survival compared to other vitamin D receptor activators. This vital medication, a synthetic form of vitamin D, raises the question: **What is another name for Zemplar?** The answer lies in its generic name, paricalcitol, which is essential knowledge for patients and healthcare providers.

The active ingredient in the brand-name medication Zemplar is paricalcitol, a synthetic form of vitamin D used to manage hyperparathyroidism in patients with chronic kidney disease. In fact, generic paricalcitol capsules have been available from manufacturers since at least 2013, offering a lower-cost alternative to the brand-name version. This article explores the details of what is the generic for Zemplar and how it works.