HypercalcemiaSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Hypercalcemia
Hypercalcemia means you have too much calcium in your blood.
Calcium - elevated; High calcium level; Hyperparathyroidism - hypercalcemia
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and Vitamin D help regulate the calcium balance in the body.
- PTH is made by the parathyroid glands. These are four small glands located in the neck behind the thyroid gland.
- Vitamin D is obtained when the skin is exposed to sunlight, and from food sources or supplements.
The most common cause of high calcium blood level is excess PTH released by the parathyroid glands. This excess occurs due to:
- An enlargement of one or more of the parathyroid glands.
- A growth on one of the glands. Most of the time, these growths are benign (not a cancer).
Calcium blood levels may also be high if your body is low on fluids or water.
Other conditions can also cause hypercalcemia:
- Certain kinds of cancers, such as lung and breast cancer, or cancer that has spread to other organs.
- Too much vitamin D in your blood (hypervitaminosis D).
- Being immobile in bed for many days or weeks (mostly in children).
- Too much calcium in your diet. This is called milk-alkali syndrome. It most often occurs when a person is taking more than 2000 milligrams of calcium bicarbonate supplements a day along with high doses of Vitamin D.
- Overactive thyroid gland.
- Chronic kidney disease or kidney failure.
- Medicines such as thiazide diuretics (water pills) and lithium.
- Some infections or health problems such as, Paget disease, tuberculosis and sarcoidosis.
- An inherited condition that affects the body's ability to manage calcium.
Men and women of all ages can have a high blood calcium level. However, it is most common in women over age 50 (after menopause). In most cases, this is due to an overactive parathyroid gland.
The condition is most often diagnosed at an early stage using routine blood tests. Most people have no symptoms.
Symptoms due to a high calcium level may vary, depending on the cause and how long the problem has been present. They may include:
- Digestive symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting, poor appetite, or constipation
- Increased thirst or more frequent urination, due to changes in the kidneys
- Muscle weakness or twitches
- Changes in how your brain works, such as feeling tired or fatigued or confused
- Bone pain and fragile bones that break more easily
Treatment is aimed at the cause of hypercalcemia whenever possible. People with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) may need surgery to remove the abnormal parathyroid gland. This will cure the hypercalcemia.
Severe hypercalcemia that causes symptoms and requires a hospital stay may be treated with the following:
- Fluids through a vein -- This is the most important therapy.
- Calcitonin.
- Dialysis, if kidney damage is involved.
- Diuretic medicine, such as furosemide.
- Medicines that stop bone breakdown and absorption by the body (bisphosphonates).
- Glucocorticoids (steroids).
NewYork Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center
John Bilezikian is an Internal Medicine provider practicing medicine in New York, New York. Dr. Bilezikian is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hypercalcemia. He is also highly rated in 21 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Hyperparathyroidism, Hypoparathyroidism, Hypercalcemia, Parathyroidectomy, and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
William Simonds is an Endocrinologist practicing medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Simonds is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hypercalcemia. He is also highly rated in 10 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1, Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Parathyroid Adenoma, Parathyroidectomy, and Thymectomy. Dr. Simonds is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine.
University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Naim Maalouf is an Endocrinologist practicing medicine in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Maalouf is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hypercalcemia. He is also highly rated in 29 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Milk-Alkali Syndrome, Hypercalcemia, Hyperparathyroidism, Parathyroidectomy, and Ureteroscopy.
How well you do depends on the cause of your high calcium level. The outlook is good for people with mild hyperparathyroidism or hypercalcemia that has a treatable cause. Most of the time, there are no complications.
People with hypercalcemia due to conditions such as cancer or sarcoidosis may not do well. This is most often because of the disease itself, rather than the high calcium level.
GASTROINTESTINAL
- Pancreatitis
- Peptic ulcer disease (seldom occurs except in rare cases of MEN Type 1)
KIDNEY
- Calcium deposits in the kidney (nephrocalcinosis) that cause poor kidney function
- Dehydration
- High blood pressure
- Kidney failure
- Kidney stones
PSYCHOLOGICAL
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating or thinking
SKELETAL
- Bone cysts
- Fractures
- Osteoporosis
These complications of long-term hypercalcemia are uncommon today in many countries.
Contact your health care provider if you have:
- Family history of hypercalcemia
- Family history of hyperparathyroidism
- Symptoms of hypercalcemia
Most causes of hypercalcemia cannot be prevented. Anyone with symptoms of hypercalcemia should have their blood calcium level checked.
Talk to your provider about the correct dose if you are taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.
Summary: The study will be an effectiveness study. The study will include enrollment of a total of 20 patients with at least one PC lesion for ultrasound guided RFA to PC recurrence in the neck to assess the effectiveness in reducing patient's hypercalcemia. Patients will have surgically proven PC from prior parathyroidectomy and suspicious PC visible on ultrasound and request for treatment for uncontrolle...
Summary: This study aims to clarify whether surgical treatment of persistent hyperparathyroidism after kidney transplantation offers clinically meaningful benefits compared with a conservative treatment strategy. Kidney transplant recipients (\>6 mo after transplantation) with persistent hyperparathyroidism (elevated PTH and either hypercalcemia or hypophosphatemia) will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to eit...
Published Date: January 25, 2026
Published By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Bilezikian JP, Walker MD, Binkley N, Goltzman D, Mannstadt M. Hormones and disorders of mineral netabolism. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Rosen CJ, Kopp PA, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 15th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 27.
Coleman RE, Brown J, Holen I. Bone metastases. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 56.
Thakker RV. The parathyroid glands, hypercalcemia, and hypocalcemia. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 227.