IDEOS 500 mg/400 IU Vitamin d deficiency and calcium chewable tablets
Ideos 500 mg/400 IU chewable tablets. Indications: in cases of combined vitamin D and calcium deficiency in elderly patients and in connection with some treatment options for osteoporosis (a disease in which bone substance is broken down and bones become more brittle), if there is a deficiency of vitamin D and calcium or a risk of such a deficiency.
For risks and side effects, read the package leaflet and ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Vitamin d deficiency and calcium, IDEOS chewable tablets
PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Ideos 500 mg/400 IU chewable tablets
Active ingredients: calcium carbonate, cholecalciferol
Read the entire package leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information. Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or exactly as your doctor or pharmacist has told you.
- Keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again later.
- Ask your pharmacist if you need further information or advice.
- If you experience any side effects, please contact your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet.
- If you do not feel better or if you feel worse, consult your doctor.
What is in this leaflet:
- WHAT IS IDEOS AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
- WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BEFORE TAKING IDEOS?
- HOW SHOULD I TAKE IDEOS?
- WHAT SIDE EFFECTS ARE POSSIBLE?
- HOW SHOULD IDEOS BE STORED?
- CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
1. WHAT IS IDEOS AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR?
This medicine provides the body with calcium and vitamin D3 (also known as cholecalciferol). This medicine is used: in cases of combined vitamin D and calcium deficiency in elderly patients and in connection with some treatment options for osteoporosis (a condition in which bone substance breaks down and bones become more brittle) when there is a deficiency of vitamin D and calcium or a risk of such a deficiency.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TAKING IDEOS?
If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact him/her before taking this medicine. Do not take Ideos:
- if you are allergic to calcium carbonate, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), soya, peanut or any of the other ingredients of this medicine listed in section 6.
- if you have an increased level of calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia).
- if you have increased excretion of calcium in the urine (hypercalciuria).
- if you suffer from a disease associated with hypercalcaemia and/or hypercalciuria (e.g. overactivity of the parathyroid glands, a bone marrow disease, a malignant bone tumor, bone metastases).
- if you suffer from a reduced ability of your kidneys to excrete substances (renal insufficiency).
- if you suffer from kidney stones (calcium lithiasis) or if you have calcium deposits in the kidneys (nephrocalcinosis).
- if you have an excessive intake of vitamin D (hypervitaminosis D).
- If you are immobilized/bedridden for a long period of time and have elevated levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia) and/or increased excretion of calcium in your urine (hypercalciuria). Your doctor will allow you to take this medicine once you are able to walk again.
Warnings and precautions:
Please talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Ideos. If you are being treated with another vitamin D preparation at the same time, the total dose of vitamin D should be calculated. The calcium levels in your blood and urine should be checked regularly. High calcium and vitamin D levels can be harmful to your health. Consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you are taking additional calcium (e.g., with food supplements or calcium-fortified foods) and are also taking carbonate-containing medicines (e.g., so-called antacids), the calcium levels in your blood and urine should be checked regularly. During long-term treatment, regular blood and urine tests are necessary to monitor calcium levels. This monitoring is particularly important in elderly patients and in patients who are also being treated with cardiac glycosides (e.g., digoxin) or diuretics. Depending on the results, your doctor may decide to reduce the dose or even discontinue your treatment. Tell your doctor if you have sarcoidosis, a disease that usually causes symptoms such as fatigue, enlarged lymph nodes, and inflammation of the lungs and other organs, or if you have kidney disease (renal insufficiency). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Note for diabetics:
One Ideos chewable tablet contains 1.5 mg sucrose (table sugar), 500 mg sorbitol, and 700 mg xylitol. This corresponds to a daily dose of 3 mg sucrose, 1 g sorbitol, and 1.4 g xylitol. The amount of carbohydrates corresponds to 0.2 bread units (BU).
Taking Ideos with other medicines:
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking/using, have recently taken/used, or intend to take/use any other medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:
- Cardiac glycosides (medicines used to treat heart problems), as concomitant treatment with calcium may cause increased side effects and irregular heartbeat. Clinical monitoring is necessary, and monitoring via electrocardiography and/or blood calcium levels may be advisable.
- Thiazide diuretics (medicines used to treat high blood pressure or water retention) because they can increase the calcium content in the blood due to reduced excretion of calcium in the urine (hypercalcaemia).
- other medicines or food supplements containing vitamin D.
- Medicines or dietary supplements containing iron or zinc.
- Tetracycline—antibiotics (medicines used to treat bacterial infections).
- Medicines containing bisphosphonates or strontium (used to treat osteoporosis).
- Estramustine (a medicine used to treat certain types of prostate cancer), as Ideos may reduce its effectiveness.
- Thyroid hormones in cases of thyroid disease.
- Orlistat (a medicine used to treat obesity) because it may reduce the amount of vitamin D absorbed by the body.
Observe the following minimum time intervals:
- 2 hours between taking Ideos and iron- or zinc-containing medicines, bisphosphonates, estramustine, thyroid hormones.
- 3 hours with concomitant treatment with tetracycline antibiotics.
Taking Ideos with food and drink:
This medicine may interact with some foods. You must take Ideos before or after meals containing, for example:
- Oxalic acid (e.g. spinach, rhubarb, sorrel, cocoa, tea).
- Phosphates (e.g. pork, ham, sausages, processed cheese, dairy desserts, cola-containing drinks).
- Phytic acid (e.g. whole grain products, legumes, oilseeds, chocolate).
Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to become pregnant, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. During pregnancy, the daily dose should not exceed 1,500 mg calcium and 600 IU (International Units) vitamin D3. Therefore, do not take more than 1 tablet per day. Long-term overdoses of calcium and vitamin D during pregnancy must be avoided, as this can lead to high calcium levels in the blood and have negative effects on the unborn child. You can take Ideos 500 mg/400 IU chewable tablets while breastfeeding. Since calcium and vitamin D pass into breast milk, consult your doctor first if your child is already taking products containing vitamin D.
Driving and using machines:
Ideos is not expected to affect the ability to drive or use machines.
Ideos contains sorbitol (E420), sucrose (sugar) and partially hydrogenated soybean oil.
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, please only take this medicine after consulting your doctor. Ideos can be harmful to your teeth (caused tooth decay). Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to peanuts or soy. Consult your doctor.
3. HOW TO TAKE IDEOS
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. If you are not sure, check with your doctor or pharmacist. This medicine is only for adults. Unless otherwise prescribed by your doctor, the usual dose is: one tablet in the morning and one in the evening, which corresponds to a daily dose of 1 g of calcium and 800 IU [International Units] of vitamin D3. Chew the tablet and then drink a glass of water.
If you take more Ideos than you should:
The following symptoms may occur: loss of appetite, excessive thirst, nausea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, muscle weakness, fatigue, mental health problems, increased urine output, bone pain, kidney stones, and in severe cases, irregular heartbeat. These symptoms could also be part of the so-called milk-alkali syndrome, which can occur when, for example, large amounts of calcium and carbonate-containing medicines (e.g., so-called antacids) are taken at the same time (see also ###Warnings and Precautions###). If such symptoms occur, contact your doctor immediately. He/she will take the necessary measures. If you take too much Ideos over a long period of time, calcium deposits may form in blood vessels or body tissues.
If you forget to take Ideos:
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Uncommon side effects (affect 1 to 10 users in 1,000):
- Elevated calcium levels in the blood or urine%%% Caries.
Rare side effects (affect 1 to 10 users in 10,000):
- Constipation, bloating, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, itching, rashes and hives.
Severe allergic reactions with swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat/neck may occur. Partially hydrogenated soybean oil may rarely cause allergic reactions.
Reporting of side effects:
If you experience any side effects, contact your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly to the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, Dept. Pharmacovigilance, Kurt-Georg-Kiesinger-Allee 3, D-53175 Bonn, By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW SHOULD IDEOS BE STORE?
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. The cap of the tablet tube contains small beads of a desiccant (silica gel) that helps keep the chewable tablets dry. Keep the cap out of the sight and reach of children. The spheres contained in the cap must not be swallowed. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tablet tube and the carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month. Do not store above 25°C. Do not dispose of medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. You will help to protect the environment.
6. CONTENTS OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION
What Ideos contains:
The active ingredients are calcium carbonate and cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). 1 chewable tablet contains 1.250 g calcium carbonate, equivalent to 500 mg calcium, and 10 µg vitamin D3, equivalent to 400 IU cholecalciferol (vitamin D3). The other ingredients are: Alpha-tocopherol (Ph. Eur.), xylitol, sorbitol (Ph. Eur.), povidone K30, magnesium stearate (Ph. Eur.), gelatin, sucrose, partially hydrogenated soybean oil, corn starch, lemon flavor (with flavoring preparations, natural flavors, maltodextrin, acacia, sodium citrate, citric acid, butylhydroxyanisole).
What Ideos looks like and contents of the pack:
Grey-white, square chewable tablet. Ideos chewable tablets are available in packs of 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 tablets. Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Laboratoire Innotech International
22 Avenue Aristide Briand
94110 Arcueil
France
Manufacturer:
Innothera Chouzy
Rue René Chantereau L'Isle Vert
41150 Chouzy sur Cisse
France
Local Representative:
Fontane Pharma GmbH
Stölpchenweg 37
14109 Berlin
This leaflet was last revised in July 2025.
Source: Information in the package leaflet.
Version: 10/2024
Indications: in cases of combined vitamin D and calcium deficiency in elderly patients and in connection with some treatment options for osteoporosis (a disease in which bone substance is broken down and bones become more brittle), where there is a deficiency of vitamin D and calcium or a risk of such a deficiency.