Calcium Gluconate Vs. Calcium Chloride

Calcium Gluconate Vs. Calcium Chloride thumbnail
Calcium: Making Strong Bones and Healthy Bodies

Calcium is the most common metal in the human body. Calcium is taken as a supplement by women who suffer from osteopenia or osteoporosis. Supplement varieties include calcium chloride and calcium gluconate.

  1. Chemical Structures

    • Calcium chloride, chemical formula CaCl₂, possesses the simple structure, Cl-Ca-Cl.

      Calcium gluconate, chemical formula CaC₁₂H₂O₁₄, possesses the structure:

      HO-CH(OH)-CH(OH)-CH(OH)-COO⁻ Ca⁺² ⁻OOC-CH(OH)-CH(OH)-CH(OH)-OH.

    Multiple Uses

    • Besides its use as a supplement, calcium is used in treating hypocalcemia, in countering magnesium sulfate overdose, and to lessen the likelihood of cardiac arrhythmia in hypokalemia. It is helpful in treating hydrofluoric acid burns.

    Orally

    • Calcium chloride is quickly soluble and inexpensive, but it has been known to irritate the gastrointestinal tract or produce ulcerations.

    Intravenously

    • For IVs, calcium gluconate is preferred, as less tissue necrosis is experienced in event of leakage into surrounding tissues (extravasation).

    Topically

    • Concentrated hydrofluoric acid burns respond favorably to a 2.5 percent calcium gluconate gel preparation.

    Advisory

    • Calcium gluconate causes fewer GI problems. There is, though, a rare allergy to calcium gluconate, causing difficulty breathing, and/or in swelling of the lips, tongue or face. If this happens, use of the medication should be discontinued and a physician consulted.

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  • Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of woodley wonderworks

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