Objective: To review medications that can affect serum calcium concentrations.
Methods: The literature was reviewed for articles pertaining to medications that affect calcium concentrations.
Results: The serum calcium concentration is tightly regulated because of the importance of this mineral in diffuse cellular processes. Many medications have been reported to cause changes in serum calcium levels by influencing intestinal calcium absorption, renal calcium resorption, and bone remodeling or through altering parathyroid or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-mediated regulation. Some medications are used specifically to alter serum calcium as a therapeutic intervention. With others, the calcium disturbances are viewed as a side effect of the treatment.
Conclusion: It is important to be aware of the influence that medications can have on serum calcium levels when evaluating patients with disorders of calcium homeostasis.