Drinking 3-4 liters of water a day reduces the patient's urinary calcium concentration and discourages the formation of urinary crystals. Cellulose Phosphate - Another treatment for absorptive hypercalciuria is adding cellulose phosphate to the diet. This calcium-binding resin exchanges sodium for calcium in the gastrointestinal tract. Cellulose phosphate lowers magnesium levels in the blood and raises urinary oxalate levels so patients must take oral magnesium supplements and restrict their intake of oxalate-rich foods. Orthophosphate - Adding orthophosphate to the diet helps patients decrease the urinary excretion of calcium and increase the excretion of citrate and pyrophosphate, which inhibits stone formation.
Diarrhea is the most common side effect.
About 1 in 10 cases of hypercalciuria are the result of an inability by the kidney to resorb calcium resulting in urine that is overloaded with calcium. Restricting the patient's dietary calcium intake does not decrease urinary calcium, and adding calcium to the diet makes the condition worse. Treatment of Renal Hypercalciuria Renal hypercalciuria is treated with thiazide diuretics that increase the kidneys' resorption of calcium. Daily doses of hydrochlorothiazide are prescribed and patients undergoing this therapy must supplement dietary potassium and restrict salt consumption. Patients who do not respond to thiazide diuretics alone may also be given orthophosphates with dietary calcium restrictions.