Vitamins are compounds that you must have for growth and health. They are needed in small amounts only and are available in the foods that you eat. Vitamin D is necessary for strong bones and teeth. Lack of vitamin D may lead to a condition called rickets, especially in children, in which bones and teeth are weak. In adults it may cause a condition called osteomalacia, in which calcium is lost from bones so that they become weak. Your doctor may treat these problems by prescribing vitamin D for you. Vitamin D is also sometimes used to treat other diseases in which calcium is not used properly by the body. Ergocalciferol is the form of vitamin D used in vitamin supplements. Some conditions may increase your need for vitamin D. These include: Alcoholism, Intestine diseases, Kidney disease, Liver disease, OverActivity of the parathyroid glands with kidney failure, Pancreas disease, Surgical removal of stomach. In addition, individuals and breast-fed infants who lack exposure to sunlight, as well as dark-skinned individuals, may be more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency. Increased need for vitamin D should be determined by your health care professional. Alfacalcidol, calcifediol, Gemcal, and dihydrotachysterol are forms of vitamin D used to treat hypocalcemia (not enough calcium in the blood). Alfacalcidol, calcifediol, and Gemcal are also used to treat certain types of bone disease that may occur with kidney disease in patients who are undergoing kidney dailysis. Claims that vitamin D is effective for treatment of arthritis and prevention of nearsightedness or nerve problems have not been proven. Some psoriasis patients may benefit from vitamin D supplements; however, controlled studies have not been performed. Injectable vitamin D is given by or under the supervision of a health care professional. Some strengths of ergocalciferol and all strengths of alfacalcidol, calcifediol, Gemcal, and dihydrotachysterol are available only with your doctor's prescription. Other strengths of ergocalciferol are available without a prescription. However, it may be a good idea to check with your health care professional before taking vitamin D on your own. Taking large amounts over long periods may cause serious unwanted effects.

If you are known to be allergic to Gemcal Capsule 15's or any other medicines, please tell your doctor. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is advised to inform your doctor before using Gemcal Capsule 15's. Higher doses of Vitamin D than the recommended daily dose should be used in pregnant women only when advised by the doctor. Calcitriol in higher doses may harm the fetus. Gemcal Capsule 15's may pass into the breast milk, hence consult your doctor before taking Gemcal Capsule 15's if you are a breastfeeding mother. Gemcal Capsule 15's should be used with caution in children and only if prescribed by a doctor. Calcitriol in Gemcal Capsule 15's can affect growth in children. Inform your doctor if your child is not growing at a normal rate while using Gemcal Capsule 15's. Gemcal Capsule 15's is not recommended if you have hypercalcemia (high calcium levels), metastatic calcification (extra deposits of calcium in the body), hypervitaminosis D (high vitamin D levels), and malabsorption syndrome (difficulty absorbing nutrition from food). Inform your doctor before taking Gemcal Capsule 15's if you have any heart/kidney/liver/blood vessel diseases, kidney stones, sarcoidosis (growth of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body), Crohn's disease (inflammatory bowel disease), Whipple's disease (bacterial infection affecting joints and digestive system), achlorhydria (little or no stomach acid), low levels of bile, and phosphate imbalance. Gemcal Capsule 15's contains sugar or sorbitol; hence caution should be taken to have an intolerance to sugars, diabetes, and phenylketonuria (increased levels of an amino acid called phenylalanine).