Answer the side-effect intent for soskain without diagnosing; distinguish common from serious reactions and give safe next-step/reporting guidance.

Source

Clinical statements on this page are taken from the SAHPRA-approved patient information leaflet (approved 06/09/2022) and professional information (approved 06/09/2022) for this product: patient information leaflet, professional information. Retrieved 2026-09-03. Where this page and the approved leaflet differ, the leaflet is correct.

What is Soskain?

Soskain contains the active ingredient Cholecalciferol.

Active ingredient — Cholecalciferol
Registration number — 55/22.2/0781
Registration holder — AUSTELL PHARMACEUTICALS (PTY) LTD

It is approved for:

SOSKAIN contains cholecalciferol (vitamin D3)
Vitamin D3 can be found in some foods and is also produced by the body when skin is exposed to sunlight
Vitamin D3 helps the kidneys and intestine absorb calcium and it helps build bones
SOSKAIN is used: to treat vitamin D deficiency that has been confirmed by laboratory tests

Common side effects of Soskain

Not everyone gets side effects. The effects below are those listed in the South African approved leaflet, grouped using the leaflet’s own frequency wording.

About these frequency terms

This leaflet groups effects as “Frequent” and “Less frequent” rather than the very common/common/uncommon scale used in some other markets.

Less frequent side effects

Too much calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia)
Too much calcium in your urine (hypercalciuria)

Serious side effects and warning signs

This leaflet does not set out a separate list of serious side effects. The general warning signs below apply to any medicine.

General warning signs that apply to any medicine

Call for emergency help now if any of these happen

Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the throat or chest
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
A widespread rash with blistering or peeling skin, or sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
Fainting, collapse, or a sudden severe drop in alertness
Chest pain, or sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
A fit (seizure), or confusion that comes on suddenly

In South Africa call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone. Go to your nearest emergency department if it is faster. Do not wait to see whether the symptom settles.

How long can side effects last?

How long a side effect lasts depends on the effect, the product, how long it has been used, and the person. Some effects ease within days as the body adjusts. Others continue for as long as the product is used. A few can persist after stopping, and some need review rather than waiting.

Settling effects — mild effects that ease over the first days or weeks of use
Ongoing effects — effects that continue while the product is being used and improve after stopping
Persistent effects — effects that continue after stopping and need medical review
Delayed effects — effects that appear after weeks or months rather than immediately

Which of these applies to a particular effect is a clinical question. If a side effect is not settling, is getting worse, or is affecting your daily life, that is worth a conversation with a pharmacist or doctor regardless of how long it has been going on.

Evidence required before publish — source the following for Soskain from the SAHPRA-approved patient information leaflet or professional information, and cite what you actually used.

Anything the approved information for Soskain says about how long specific effects last
Whether the source describes any effect as usually temporary, or as needing review if it persists
Whether any effect is described as continuing after the product is stopped

Factors that may affect side effects

The approved leaflet identifies the following cautions and factors.

Do not use it at all if

if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) or any of the other ingredients of SOSKAIN (listed in section 6)
if you have high levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcaemia) or urine (hypercalciuria)
if you have kidney stones (renal calculi)
if you have severe renal impairment
if you have high levels of vitamin D3 in your blood (hypervitaminosis D)
if you have pseudohypoparathyroidism (disturbed parathyroid hormone metabolism)
if you are pregnant
if you are under 18 years of age. If any of the above applies to you, talk to your health care provider before taking SOSKAIN

Use with care, and tell your doctor, if

if you are undergoing treatment with certain medicines used to treat heart disorders (e.g, cardiac glycosides, such as digoxin)
if you have sarcoidosis (an immune system disorder which may cause increased levels of vitamin D3 in the body)
if you are taking medicines containing vitamin D3, or eating foods or milk enriched with vitamin D3
if you are likely to be exposed to a lot of sunshine whilst using
if you take additional supplements containing calcium. Your health care provider will monitor your blood levels of calcium to make sure they are not too high whilst you are using
if you have kidney damage or disease. Your health care provider may want to measure the levels of calcium in your blood or urine. Children SOSKAIN is not suitable for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, please consult your doctor or health care provider for advice before taking SOSKAIN
SOSKAIN should not be taken by pregnant or breastfeeding women

Interactions and medicines to check

The approved leaflet names these interactions.

medicines that act on the heart or kidneys, such as cardiac glycosides (e.g., digoxin) or diuretics (“water tablets” e.g. called thiazide diuretics). When used at the same time as vitamin D3 these types of medicines may cause a large increase in the level of calcium in the blood and urine
medicines containing vitamin D3 or eating food rich in vitamin D3, such as, some types of vitamin D3-enriched milk
actinomycin (a medicine used to treat some forms of cancer) and imidazole antifungals (e.g. clotrimazole and ketoconazole, medicines used to treat fungal disease). These medicines may interfere with the way your body process vitamin D3
the following medicines because they can interfere with the effect or the absorption of vitamin D3:
antiepileptic medicines (anticonvulsants), barbiturates
glucocorticoids (steroid hormones such as hydrocortisone or prednisolone). These can decrease the effect of vitamin D3
medicines that lower the level of cholesterol in the blood (such as cholestyramine, or colestipol)
certain medicines for weight loss that reduce the amount of fat your body absorbs (e.g. orlistat)
certain laxatives (such as liquid paraffin). SOSKAIN with food and drink

Bring the actual products to the conversation

A pharmacist can check for interactions much faster from the packaging than from remembered names.

What to do if you experience side effects

If you think you are having a side effect, the response depends on how severe it is. Use the warning signs above first — if any of those apply, treat it as urgent.

If the symptom is severe or frightening

Get medical help immediately. Call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone, or go to the nearest emergency department. Take the product and its packaging with you if you can.

If the symptom is mild but bothering you

Write down what the symptom is, when it started, and how it relates to when you take the product
Check the leaflet that came with the product to see whether the symptom is listed
Speak to your pharmacist — for many questions this is the fastest route to a useful answer
Contact the prescriber if the symptom is affecting your daily life or is not settling

Do not stop a prescribed treatment on your own

Stopping some treatments suddenly causes its own problems, and the condition being treated may get worse. If you want to stop, ask a pharmacist or doctor how to do it safely — they can usually offer an alternative.

You can also report a suspected side effect in South Africa. Reporting does not replace getting medical advice, and you do not need to be certain the product was the cause.

When to seek urgent medical help

Some symptoms need medical attention straight away rather than an appointment in a few days. Do not wait to see whether they settle.

Call for emergency help now if any of these happen

Difficulty breathing, wheezing, or tightness in the throat or chest
Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
A widespread rash with blistering or peeling skin, or sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
Fainting, collapse, or a sudden severe drop in alertness
Chest pain, or sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
A fit (seizure), or confusion that comes on suddenly

In South Africa call 10177 for an ambulance, or 112 from a mobile phone. Go to your nearest emergency department if it is faster. Do not wait to see whether the symptom settles.

Get same-day medical advice if you have

A high fever, or a rash together with feeling generally unwell
Yellowing of the eyes or skin, or unusually dark urine
Unusual bruising or bleeding that you cannot explain
Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea, especially if you cannot keep fluids down
A sudden change in mood, or thoughts of harming yourself
Any symptom that is rapidly getting worse

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself

Help is available in South Africa. The SADAG helpline is 0800 567 567, or you can go to your nearest emergency department. You do not have to wait until it feels like an emergency.

How to report a suspected side effect in South Africa

South Africa has an official system for reporting suspected side effects, run by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA). Reports from the public and from healthcare professionals are how safety signals get detected after a product is already in use.

Who can report

Anyone can report — you do not have to be a healthcare professional, and you do not need to prove that the product caused the problem. A suspicion is enough. Patients, caregivers and family members can all submit a report.

What to have ready

The name of the product, its strength and form, and the batch number if you have it
Why it was being used, and when it was started and stopped
What the suspected reaction was, when it began, and how long it lasted
Any other medicines, supplements or remedies being used at the same time
Basic details about the person affected — age and sex are usually enough

How to report

SAHPRA accepts adverse reaction reports through its e-Services reporting system and through the Med Safety mobile app. Healthcare professionals can also report through the same routes. Current forms and access points are published on the SAHPRA site.

SAHPRA Health Products Vigilance — the main vigilance and reporting hub
SAHPRA e-Services — current adverse reaction reporting access

Reporting is not a substitute for medical care

If someone is unwell now, get medical help first and report afterwards. Urgent symptoms always take precedence over paperwork.

For a fuller walkthrough see how to report an adverse drug reaction.

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Report a side effect

If you think you have had a side effect, you can report a suspected side effect in South Africa. Report a suspected side effect through the appropriate SAHPRA pathway where relevant.

Information only

This page gives general medicine-safety information for people in South Africa. It is not a diagnosis and not personalised medical advice. It cannot tell you whether a symptom you are having is caused by a particular product. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor about your own situation, and do not stop or change a prescribed treatment on the basis of a web page.

Editorial status: draft — not for publication

Brief SE-00435 · build rank 435 · Phase 2 · Tier 2. Every evidence slot on this page must be completed from the SAHPRA-approved source and the page signed off by a qualified clinical or pharmacy reviewer before it is published. Target length 1,300–2,000 words.

Soskain Side Effects