Treating hypoparathyroidism
Treatment for hypoparathyroidism aims to relieve your symptoms and bring the levels of calcium and other minerals in your blood back to normal.
The normal calcium range is around 2.2 to 2.6 millimoles per litre (mmol/L). You'll be advised to keep your calcium levels in a slightly lower range – for example, 1.8 to 2.25mmol/L. Your recommended range will depend on your circumstances.
Calcium carbonate and vitamin D supplements – usually calcitriol (Rocaltrol) or alfacalcidol (One-Alpha) – can be taken to restore your blood calcium to these levels. They usually have to be taken for life.
You'll also need to have regular blood tests to monitor your parathyroid hormone, calcium and phosphorus levels.
If your blood calcium levels fall to a dangerously low level or you keep having muscle spasms, you may need to be given calcium through a drip directly into your vein.
Dietary advice
It's also recommended that you follow a high-calcium, low-phosphorus diet.
Good sources of calcium include:
- milk, cheese and other dairy foods
- leafy green vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage and okra – but not spinach
- soya beans
- tofu
- soya drinks with added calcium
- nuts
- bread and anything made with fortified flour
- fish where you eat the bones, such as sardines and pilchards
Phosphorus is found in:
- red meat
- dairy
- fish
- poultry
- bread
- rice
- oats
Introduction 