Calcium Gluconate Vs. Calcium Chloride

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.

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.

References

• Drugs.com; "Calcium Gluconate"

Resources

• NCBI; "Topical treatment of experimental hydrofluoric acid skin burns by 2.5%... gluconate"