Shelcal 500: Calcium Carbonate + Vitamin D3 for Bones, Joint Pain & Kidney Stones
Comprehensive guide to Shelcal 500: elemental calcium, cholecalciferol Vitamin D3 absorption, post-menopausal osteoporosis, and kidney stone safety.
Shelcal 500 contains 1,250mg Calcium Carbonate (equivalent to 500mg elemental calcium) and 250 IU Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol). It is prescribed for osteoporosis, pregnancy calcium supplementation, fracture recovery, and joint weakness. Because calcium carbonate requires gastric acid for dissolution, it should always be taken with or after food.
1. Elemental Calcium vs Salt Compound
A tablet may say 1,250mg, but your body absorbs the 'elemental' calcium fraction (40% in calcium carbonate = 500mg). Vitamin D3 acts as a key that opens calcium transport channels in the intestinal mucosa, boosting absorption.
2. Calcium Carbonate vs Calcium Citrate
Calcium carbonate is the most cost-effective form, but can cause mild constipation and gas, requiring stomach acid. Patients on chronic acid-suppressing PPIs (like Pantocid) absorb Calcium Citrate Malate (CCM) more easily.
3. Jan Aushadhi Generic Savings
Branded Shelcal 500 costs ~₹130 for a strip of 15 tablets. At Jan Aushadhi Kendras, certified Calcium Carbonate 500mg + Vitamin D3 tablets cost ₹8.00 for 10 tablets (91% savings).
Top 8 Essential Indian Medicines: Branded MRP vs. Jan Aushadhi Generic Comparison
Compare average Indian retail MRP of top branded formulations against government-certified PMBJP Jan Aushadhi bioequivalent generic prices and active salts. Verified against official PMBJP formularies, NPPA price caps, and CDSCO regulatory registries.
| Brand Name | Leading Manufacturer | Active Salt Formulation (IP) | Branded MRP | Jan Aushadhi Price | Savings % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Augmentin 625 Duo | GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals | Amoxicillin Trihydrate 500mg + Potassium Clavulanate 125mg IP | ₹220.00 | ₹58.00 | 74% |
| Dolo 650 | Micro Labs Ltd | Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) 650mg IP | ₹34.00 | ₹5.50 | 84% |
| Pantocid 40 | Sun Pharmaceutical Industries | Pantoprazole Sodium 40mg IP (Gastro-resistant) | ₹155.00 | ₹8.00 | 95% |
| Azithral 500 | Alembic Pharmaceuticals | Azithromycin Dihydrate 500mg IP | ₹132.00 | ₹24.00 | 82% |
| Glycomet 500 | USV Private Limited | Metformin Hydrochloride 500mg IP | ₹24.00 | ₹4.50 | 81% |
| Shelcal 500 | Torrent Pharmaceuticals | Elemental Calcium 500mg + Cholecalciferol (Vit D3) 250 IU IP | ₹134.00 | ₹16.00 | 88% |
| Telma 40 | Glenmark Pharmaceuticals | Telmisartan 40mg IP | ₹92.00 | ₹7.50 | 92% |
| Montair-LC | Cipla Ltd | Montelukast Sodium 10mg + Levocetirizine Dihydrochloride 5mg IP | ₹210.00 | ₹18.00 | 91% |
| Combined 8-Drug Essential Therapy Basket Total: | ₹1,001.00 | ₹141.00 | 85.9% Net Savings | ||
Frequently Asked Questions (Clinical & Regulatory)
Q1: Does taking Shelcal 500 cause kidney stones?
Adequate dietary calcium actually binds to oxalates in the gut, preventing stones. However, unmonitored excessive supplementation above 1,500mg daily can increase urinary calcium in predisposed individuals. Drink plenty of water.
Q2: Can I take Shelcal 500 with my morning thyroid medicine (Thyronorm)?
NO! Calcium carbonate binds tightly to levothyroxine in the stomach, preventing thyroid absorption. Keep a strict gap of at least 4 hours between thyroid medicine and calcium.
Q3: Why should Calcium and Iron supplements never be co-ingested at the same meal?
Calcium competitively binds and blocks divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) on the luminal surface of enterocytes, reducing non-heme iron absorption by up to 60%. Patients should space calcium and iron tablets by at least 3 to 4 hours.
Q4: What is the standard clinical dosing protocol for Vitamin D3 (Cholecalciferol 60,000 IU)?
In documented hypovitaminosis D (<20 ng/mL), clinical protocols recommend 60,000 IU cholecalciferol once weekly for 8 consecutive weeks, followed by once-monthly maintenance, ingested with a dietary fat source for micellar absorption.
Q5: Are PMBJP Jan Aushadhi multivitamin and mineral supplements bioequivalent to brands like Shelcal 500?
Yes. Jan Aushadhi Calcium 500mg + Vitamin D3 and B-complex formulations comply with Indian Pharmacopoeia nutritional monographs and provide identical elemental mineral potency at an average 80% savings.
This clinical guide is authored and reviewed in accordance with the regulatory standards of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP), Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) drug schedules, and Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) bioequivalence guidelines. All therapeutic recommendations and drug interaction warnings are cross-referenced with official statutory publications.
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