CALCIUM SUPPLEMENTS

Brand & Generic Names

Apo-Cal	Caltrate Chewable
BioCal	Chooz
Calbarb 600	Citracal
Calci-Chew	Citracal Liquitabs
Calciday	DIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE
Calcijet	Dicarbosil
Calcilac	Gencalc
Calcite	Gramcal
Calcium-500	Kalcinate
Calcium-600	Mallimint
CALCIUM CARBONATE (also	Mega-Cal
used as an antacid)	Neo-Calglucon
CALCIUM CITRATE	Nephro-Calci
CALCIUM GLUBIONATE	Os-Cal
CALCIUM GLUCONATE	Os-Cal Chewable
CALCIUM GLYCEROPHOSPHATE	Os-Cal 500
& CALCIUM LACTATE	Oysco
CALCIUM LACTATE	Oyst-Cal
Calcium-Sandoz	Oyst-Cal 500 Chewable
Calcium-Sandoz Forte	Oystercal 500
Calcium Stanley	Posture
Calglycine	Rolaids-Calcium Rich
Calphosan	Super Calcium 1200
Calsan	Titralac
Caltrate	TRIBASIC CALCIUM PHOSPHATE
Caltrate-300	Tums
Caltrate-600	Tums E-X

Basic Information

• Habit forming? No
• Prescription needed? For some
• Available as generic? Yes
• Drug class: Antihypocalcemic, dietary replacement

Uses

• Treats or prevents osteoporosis (thin, porous, easily fractured bones). Frequently prescribed with estrogen beginning at menopause.
• Helps heart, muscle and nervous system to work properly.
• Dietary supplement when calcium ingestion is insufficient or there is a deficiency such as osteomalacia or rickets.

Dosage & Usage Information

How to take:
Take in addition to foods high in calcium (milk, yogurt, sardines, cheese, canned salmon, turnip greens, broccoli, shrimp, tofu).
Tablet--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation. If you can't swallow whole, crumble tablet and take with food or liquid.
Syrup--Take before meals.
Suspension--Swallow with liquid or food to lessen stomach irritation.

When to take:
As directed. Don't take within 2 hours of any other medicine you take by mouth.

If you forget a dose:
Use as soon as you remember.

What drug does:
Participates in metabolism of all activities essential for normal life and function of cells.
Provides calcium necessary for bone, nerve function.

Time lapse before drug works:
15 to 30 minutes.

Don't take with:
Any other medicine until 2 hours have passed since taking calcium.
Any other medicine without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose

SYMPTOMS:
Confusion, irregular heartbeat, depression, bone pain, coma.

WHAT TO DO:

• Dial 911 (emergency) or O (operator) for an ambulance or medical help. Then give first aid immediately.
• See EMERGENCY Information.

Possible Adverse Reactions or Side Effects

Life-threatening:

Irregular or very Discontinue. Seek slow heart rate. emergency treatment.

Common:

None expected.

Infrequent:

Constipation, diarrhea, drowsiness, headache, appetite loss, dry mouth, weakness.

Rare:

Frequent, painful or difficult urination; increased thirst; nausea, vomiting; rash; urine frequency increased and volume larger; confusion; high blood pressure; eyes sensitive to light.

Warnings & Precautions

Don't take if:

• You are allergic to calcium.
• You have a high blood-calcium level.

Before you start, consult your doctor:
If you have diarrhea, heart disease, kidney stones, kidney disease, sarcoidosis, malabsorption.

Over age 60:
No problems expected.

Pregnancy:
No problems expected, but ask your doctor.

Breast-feeding:
No problems expected. Consult doctor.

Infants & children:
Use only under close medical supervision.

Prolonged use:

• Side effects more likely.
• Talk to your doctor about the need for follow-up medical examinations or laboratory studies to check serum calcium determinations, blood pressure, urine.

Skin & sunlight:
No problems expected.

Driving, piloting or hazardous work:
No problems expected.

Discontinuing:
No problems expected.

Others:

• Exercise, along with vitamin D from sunshine and calcium, helps prevent osteoporosis.
• Don't use bone meal or dolomite as a source for calcium supplement (they may contain lead).

Possible Interaction with Other Drugs

GENERIC NAME	COMBINED EFFECT
------------------------	-----------------------
Anticoagulants*,	Decreased anti-
oral	coagulant effect.
Calcitonin	Decreased calcitonin effect.
Calcium-containing	Increased calcium effect.
Chlorpromazine	Decreased chlorpromazine effect.
Corticosteroids*	Decreased calcium absorption and
	effect.
Digitalis	Decreased digitalis
preparations*	effect.
Diuretics, thiazide*	Increased calcium in blood.
Estrogens and	May increase absorption
birth control pills*	of calcium--frequently a desirable
	combined effect.
Etidronate	Decreased etidronate absorption. Take
	drugs 2 hours apart.
Iron supplements*	Decreased iron effect.
Meperidine	Increased meperidine effect.
Mexiletine	May slow elimination of mexiletine
	and cause need to adjust dosage.
Nalidixic acid	Decreased effect of nalidixic acid.
Nicardipine	Possible decreased nicardipine
	effect.
Nimodipine	Possible decreased nimodipine
	effect.
Oxyphenbutazone	Decreased oxyphenbutazone effect.
Para-aminosalicylic	Decreased PAS effect.
Penicillins*	Decreased penicillin effect.
Pentobarbital	Decreased pentobarbital effect.
Phenylbutazone	Decreased phenylbutazone effect.
Phenytoin	Decreased phenytoin absorption.
Pseudoephedrine	Increased pseudoephedrine effect.
Quinidine	Increased quinidine effect.
Salicylates*	Increased salicylate effect.
Sulfa drugs*	Decreased sulfa effect.
Tetracyclines*	Decreased tetracycline effect.
Vitamin A	Decreased vitamin effect.
Vitamin D	Increased vitamin absorption,
	sometimes excessively.

Possible Interaction with Other Substances

INTERACTS WITH	COMBINED EFFECT
---------------	---------------
Alcohol:	Decreased absorption of calcium.
Beverages:	No problems expected.
Cocaine:	No proven problems.
Don't take within 1	Decreased absorption
or 2 hours of food.	of calcium.
Marijuana:	Decreased absorption of calcium.
Tobacco:	Decreased absorption of calcium.