What are the recommended treatment options for acute symptomatic hypocalcaemia in primary care?

Treatment options for acute symptomatic hypocalcaemia in primary care primarily involve urgent correction of the low calcium levels to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.

Initial management includes administering oral calcium supplements if the patient can tolerate oral intake and symptoms are mild. For more severe or acute symptomatic hypocalcaemia, immediate referral to secondary care is recommended for intravenous calcium administration and specialist management.

Additionally, if hypocalcaemia is due to vitamin D deficiency, vitamin D supplementation should be initiated as part of treatment, with maintenance dosing to prevent recurrence.

Monitoring and follow-up should be arranged to assess response to treatment and adherence, and to investigate underlying causes if not already identified.

Referral to a specialist is advised if the patient is already on calcium supplements but remains hypocalcaemic, or if the cause of hypocalcaemia is unclear or complex.

In summary, acute symptomatic hypocalcaemia in primary care is managed by oral calcium and vitamin D supplementation when appropriate, but severe cases require urgent hospital referral for intravenous calcium and specialist care.

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