This treatment guide explains what Accrete-D3 is, why you have been prescribed it, and how to take it to treat your condition.
This guide is designed to support you with your treatment and is not a substitute for the Patient Information Leaflet that came with your medication.
Accrete-D3 is used to prevent and treat calcium and vitamin D deficiency in the elderly. It is also used as a Vitamin D and calcium supplement alongside specific osteoporosis treatments in people who are at risk of vitamin D and calcium deficiency.1,2 Together, calcium and vitamin D are important for keeping bones strong and helping to prevent osteoporosis.3
Below you’ll find some helpful information which may answer some of the questions you may have about your condition and treatment with Accrete-D3.
If you have any additional questions about your treatment, it is important to talk them through with a member of your healthcare team. Always take this medicine as directed by your Healthcare Professional. Please read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes in your Accrete-D3 pack for full details on how to take your treatment.
Calcium gives your bones the strength and hardness they need to support you through everyday activities, while vitamin D helps your body absorb and use calcium effectively, keeping your bones and muscles strong and healthy.4,5
If your body doesn’t have enough calcium and vitamin D, it is called a deficiency. When you are deficient, you may be at risk of breaking a bone and you may have osteoporosis, or be at risk of developing it in the future.6
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and fragile, making them break more easily.7
Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the production of new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of your old bone.7
Imagine inside your bones is like a honeycomb. With osteoporosis, the holes in the honeycomb gradually become larger, making your bones become weaker over time.7
Most people don’t know they have osteoporosis until it causes them to break a bone. That’s why it is called a “silent disease”.7
Although fractures can occur in different parts of the body, the hip, wrist and spine are the most commonly affected sites.7
With enough force, anyone can break a bone. When you have osteoporosis, however, just a simple fall can result in a broken bone.8 While the hip, wrist and spine are the most affected sites, fractures can occur in other parts of the body.7
Spinal fractures – when the bones in your spine squash down on themselves, rather than breaking apart – from osteoporosis typically happen in the lower or middle back.8
Hip fractures are most common in people in their late 70s, but they can occur in younger people too.9
By taking your daily vitamin D and calcium treatment in the way your doctor has instructed you to, you can reduce the risk of suffering a hip fracture in the future.10
Most of the calcium in your body is in your bones.11 Your body doesn’t make this calcium. Instead, it comes from the food you eat, especially dairy products. As well as building bones, calcium also helps your muscles and heart to work properly. If you do not have enough calcium in your diet, your body takes what it needs from your bones. Over time, this can make your bones weaker.3
Unlike calcium, very few foods naturally contain vitamin D. Instead, your body makes its own when your skin is exposed to sun.5 Vitamin D not only aids in calcium absorption to keep your bones healthy but also strengthens your muscles, which can improve your balance and lower the chance of falls and broken bones.3 How much vitamin D your skin makes depends on things like how much time you spend outside, what time of year it is and whether you are wearing sunscreen.5 As we age, our skin loses its ability to generate vitamin D so many older people will not make enough for their bodies’ needs.12
If you have low amounts of calcium and vitamin D in your body, or if you have broken a bone after a fall, you might have osteoporosis or be at risk of fractures in the future. Accrete-D3 can help your body to maintain healthy levels of both calcium and vitamin D.1,2
Accrete-D3 comes as either a film-coated tablet or a chewable tablet.1,2
 |
Film-coated tablets: You take these twice a day (one in the morning and one in the evening) within one and a half hours of a meal with a glass of water or juice without chewing the tablet.1 |
 |
Chewable tablets: You chew and swallow a single orange-flavoured tablet once a day at any time with or without food.2 |
Some foods can make it harder for your body to absorb calcium supplements. These include spinach, rhubarb and sorrel (which are all high in something called oxalic acid) and whole cereals (which contain phosphate and phytic acid). It’s best not to eat foods rich in oxalic acid, phosphate or phytic acid for two hours before or after your medicine, as they can make it less effective.1,2
|
Film-coated tablets: These aren’t vegetarian because they contain gelatin from beef, and the vitamin D3 in them comes from lanolin from the wool of live, healthy sheep. They are not suitable for vegans because of these ingredients. |
|
Chewable tablets: These contain vitamin D3 from sheep’s wool, so whether they’re okay for vegetarians depends on personal choice. They are not suitable for vegans because of this ingredient. |
|
Film-coated tablets: If you’re allergic to peanuts or soya, you should not take these tablets because they contain hydrogenated soya oil.13
They also contain sucrose (a type of sugar); if your doctor has told you that you have trouble digesting some sugars, talk to them before starting treatment.13 |
|
Chewable tablets: These tablets contain sodium, aspartame, sorbitol, isomalt, sucrose and benzyl alcohol. (That said, the amount of sodium they contain is very low, so they can be considered sodium-free).14
Each chewable tablet also contains aspartame which is a source of phenylalanine. It may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder.14 This medicine contains sorbitol (a source of fructose), isomalt and sucrose. If your doctor has told you that you have trouble digesting some sugars, or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), talk to them before starting treatment.14 Chewable tablets also contain benzyl alcohol which may cause allergic reactions.14 |
Please check the Patient Information Leaflet for the full list of ingredients.
|
Film-coated tablets: Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Take your next tablet at the usual time.13 |
|
Chewable tablets: If you forget to take your daily tablet, take it as soon as you remember unless it is time for your next dose. In that case just take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.14 |
Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you have any questions about a missed dose.
|
Film-coated tablets: If you take more tablets than you should, seek immediate medical advice. Bring the tablets and their packaging with you to show the doctor/pharmacist.13 |
|
Chewable tablets: If you take more tablets than you should, seek immediate medical advice. Bring the tablets and their packaging with you to show the doctor/pharmacist.14 |
As calcium and vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis are “silent” conditions that you can’t feel, you won’t be able to sense Accrete-D3 working. It is important to take your medication exactly as your doctor recommends, otherwise it is likely your bones will get weaker over time, increasing your risk of breaking a bone.15
If you have any questions about how Accrete-D3 works, please contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Side effects are always a possibility with any kind of medication. So while not everyone does suffer side effects, there’s a chance you may do. You will reduce the chance of these effects if you take your medicine exactly as instructed.
Adverse reactions are listed below by classes of organ systems and frequency of occurrence.Frequency is defined as: Uncommon (affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000), Rare (affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000) and Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000).
Uncommon: significantly increased blood calcium level (hypercalcaemia)- the symptoms include nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, constipation, stomach ache, bone pain, extreme thirst. needing to pass urine more often, muscle weakness, drowsiness and confusion; or markedly increased calcium content of the urine (hypercalciuria).
Rare: constipation, flatulence (wind), nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, itching, rash and urticaria (hives).
Very rare: dyspepsia (indigestion), Milk alkali syndrome (usually only seen in overdose).
Not known: Allergic reactions – symptoms include itching, wheezing, rash, swelling of the tongue or throat. If you have an allergic reaction stop taking the tablets and seek medical attention immediately.
Be sure to read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your medication for further details on possible side effects.
Reporting of side effects. If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
If you would like more information about osteoporosis, or want to talk to someone about your condition, the Royal Osteoporosis Society has a helpline staffed by specialist nurses. You can give them a call on 0808 800 0035 or send an email enquiry to nurses@theros.org.uk
Calcium gives your bones the strength and hardness they need to support you through everyday activities, while vitamin D helps your body absorb and use calcium effectively, keeping your bones and muscles strong and healthy.4,5
If your body doesn’t have enough calcium and vitamin D, it is called a deficiency. When you are deficient, you may be at risk of breaking a bone and you may have osteoporosis, or be at risk of developing it in the future.6
Osteoporosis is a condition where bones become weak and fragile, making them break more easily.7
Bone is living tissue that is constantly being broken down and replaced. Osteoporosis occurs when the production of new bone doesn’t keep up with the loss of your old bone.7
Imagine inside your bones is like a honeycomb. With osteoporosis, the holes in the honeycomb gradually become larger, making your bones become weaker over time.7
Most people don’t know they have osteoporosis until it causes them to break a bone. That’s why it is called a “silent disease”.7
Although fractures can occur in different parts of the body, the hip, wrist and spine are the most commonly affected sites.7
With enough force, anyone can break a bone. When you have osteoporosis, however, just a simple fall can result in a broken bone.8 While the hip, wrist and spine are the most affected sites, fractures can occur in other parts of the body.7
Spinal fractures – when the bones in your spine squash down on themselves, rather than breaking apart – from osteoporosis typically happen in the lower or middle back.8
Hip fractures are most common in people in their late 70s, but they can occur in younger people too.9
By taking your daily vitamin D and calcium treatment in the way your doctor has instructed you to, you can reduce the risk of suffering a hip fracture in the future.10
Most of the calcium in your body is in your bones.11 Your body doesn’t make this calcium. Instead, it comes from the food you eat, especially dairy products. As well as building bones, calcium also helps your muscles and heart to work properly. If you do not have enough calcium in your diet, your body takes what it needs from your bones. Over time, this can make your bones weaker.3
Unlike calcium, very few foods naturally contain vitamin D. Instead, your body makes its own when your skin is exposed to sun.5 Vitamin D not only aids in calcium absorption to keep your bones healthy but also strengthens your muscles, which can improve your balance and lower the chance of falls and broken bones.3 How much vitamin D your skin makes depends on things like how much time you spend outside, what time of year it is and whether you are wearing sunscreen.5 As we age, our skin loses its ability to generate vitamin D so many older people will not make enough for their bodies’ needs.12
If you have low amounts of calcium and vitamin D in your body, or if you have broken a bone after a fall, you might have osteoporosis or be at risk of fractures in the future. Accrete-D3 can help your body to maintain healthy levels of both calcium and vitamin D.1,2
Accrete-D3 comes as either a film-coated tablet or a chewable tablet.1,2
|
Film-coated tablets: You take these twice a day (one in the morning and one in the evening) within one and a half hours of a meal with a glass of water or juice without chewing the tablet.1 |
|
Chewable tablets: You chew and swallow a single orange-flavoured tablet once a day at any time with or without food.2 |
Some foods can make it harder for your body to absorb calcium supplements. These include spinach, rhubarb and sorrel (which are all high in something called oxalic acid) and whole cereals (which contain phosphate and phytic acid). It’s best not to eat foods rich in oxalic acid, phosphate or phytic acid for two hours before or after your medicine, as they can make it less effective.1,2
|
Film-coated tablets: These aren’t vegetarian because they contain gelatin from beef, and the vitamin D3 in them comes from lanolin from the wool of live, healthy sheep. They are not suitable for vegans because of these ingredients. |
|
Chewable tablets: These contain vitamin D3 from sheep’s wool, so whether they’re okay for vegetarians depends on personal choice. They are not suitable for vegans because of this ingredient. |
|
Film-coated tablets: If you’re allergic to peanuts or soya, you should not take these tablets because they contain hydrogenated soya oil.13
They also contain sucrose (a type of sugar); if your doctor has told you that you have trouble digesting some sugars, talk to them before starting treatment.13 |
|
Chewable tablets: These tablets contain sodium, aspartame, sorbitol, isomalt, sucrose and benzyl alcohol. (That said, the amount of sodium they contain is very low, so they can be considered sodium-free).14
Each chewable tablet also contains aspartame which is a source of phenylalanine. It may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder.14 This medicine contains sorbitol (a source of fructose), isomalt and sucrose. If your doctor has told you that you have trouble digesting some sugars, or if you have been diagnosed with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI), talk to them before starting treatment.14 Chewable tablets also contain benzyl alcohol which may cause allergic reactions.14 |
Please check the Patient Information Leaflet for the full list of ingredients.
|
Film-coated tablets: Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose. Take your next tablet at the usual time.13 |
|
Chewable tablets: If you forget to take your daily tablet, take it as soon as you remember unless it is time for your next dose. In that case just take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.14 |
Ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you have any questions about a missed dose.
|
Film-coated tablets: If you take more tablets than you should, seek immediate medical advice. Bring the tablets and their packaging with you to show the doctor/pharmacist.13 |
|
Chewable tablets: If you take more tablets than you should, seek immediate medical advice. Bring the tablets and their packaging with you to show the doctor/pharmacist.14 |
As calcium and vitamin D deficiency and osteoporosis are “silent” conditions that you can’t feel, you won’t be able to sense Accrete-D3 working. It is important to take your medication exactly as your doctor recommends, otherwise it is likely your bones will get weaker over time, increasing your risk of breaking a bone.15
If you have any questions about how Accrete-D3 works, please contact your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Side effects are always a possibility with any kind of medication. So while not everyone does suffer side effects, there’s a chance you may do. You will reduce the chance of these effects if you take your medicine exactly as instructed.
Adverse reactions are listed below by classes of organ systems and frequency of occurrence.Frequency is defined as: Uncommon (affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000), Rare (affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000) and Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000).
Uncommon: significantly increased blood calcium level (hypercalcaemia)- the symptoms include nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, constipation, stomach ache, bone pain, extreme thirst. needing to pass urine more often, muscle weakness, drowsiness and confusion; or markedly increased calcium content of the urine (hypercalciuria).
Rare: constipation, flatulence (wind), nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, itching, rash and urticaria (hives).
Very rare: dyspepsia (indigestion), Milk alkali syndrome (usually only seen in overdose).
Not known: Allergic reactions – symptoms include itching, wheezing, rash, swelling of the tongue or throat. If you have an allergic reaction stop taking the tablets and seek medical attention immediately.
Be sure to read the Patient Information Leaflet that comes with your medication for further details on possible side effects.
Reporting of side effects. If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
If you would like more information about osteoporosis, or want to talk to someone about your condition, the Royal Osteoporosis Society has a helpline staffed by specialist nurses. You can give them a call on 0808 800 0035 or send an email enquiry to nurses@theros.org.uk
Download this handy guide which offers valuable information, along with practical tips, for staying consistent with your treatment and improving your overall bone health.
1. Accrete®-D3 film-coated tablets Summary of Product Characteristics. Accessed: July 2026. 2. Accrete®-D3 One a Day 1000 mg / 880 IU Chewable Tablets Summary of Product Characteristics. Accessed: July 2026. 3. NIAMS. Calcium and Vitamin D: Important for Bone Health. Accessed: July 2026. 4. Royal Osteoporosis Society. Calcium. Accessed: July 2026. 5. Royal Osteoporosis Society. Vitamin D for Bones. Accessed: July 2026. 6. Dimai HP, Fahrleitner-Pammer A. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2022;36(3):101780. 7. National Institute on Aging. Osteoporosis. Accessed: July 2026. 8. Royal Osteoporosis Society. Osteoporosis Symptoms. Accessed: July 2026. 9. Johnell O, Kanis JA. Osteoporos Int. 2006;17(12):1726-33. 10. Yao P, et al. JAMA Netw Open, 2019;2(12):e1917789. 11. International Osteoporosis Foundation. Calcium. Accessed: July 2026. 12. Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation. Calcium and Vitamin D. Accessed: July 2026. 13. Accrete®-D3 film-coated tablets Patient Information Leaflet. 14. Accrete®-D3 One a Day 1000 mg / 880 IU Chewable Tablets Patient Information Leaflet. 15. Mangano GRA, et al. J Clin Med. 2022;12(1):14.
The information on our patient website is solely intended for UK patients prescribed this medicine by a UK Healthcare Professional.
All other visitors, please view the Summary of Product Characteristics Accrete®-D3 film-coated tablets | Accrete®-D3 One a Day 1000 mg / 880 IU Chewable Tablets
Reporting of side effects. If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
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