Calcium Supplements, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Generic and brand names: calcium carbonate, oral; calcium citrate, oral; calcium glubionate, oral; calcium gluconate, oral; calcium lactate, oral; calcium supplements, oral; dibasic calcium phosphate, oral; tribasic calcium phosphate, oral; Cal Carb HD; Cal-Guard; Cal-Plus; Calci-Chew; Calci-Mix; Calciday; Calcium 600; Caltrate; Caltrate Jr.; Caltrate-600; Citracal; Fem Cal; Florical; Gencalc 600; Nephro-Calci; Neo-Calglucon; Os-Cal 500; Oysco 500; Oyst-Cal-500; Oyster Shell Calcium-500; Oystercal 500; Posture; Tums 600

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to provide your body with calcium when it is lacking in your diet or when you need extra calcium to prevent osteoporosis.

Some calcium supplements also contain vitamin D, which helps the body absorb the calcium. If you are also taking a multivitamin and mineral product that contains at least 200 units of vitamin D, you could take a plain calcium supplement (without vitamin D).

How should I take it?

Take the tablets an hour or two after meals unless your health care provider tells you otherwise.

Take this medicine an hour or two before or after taking other medicines.

If you are taking chewable tablets, chew them thoroughly and then drink a glass of water.

Take liquid calcium before meals with water or fruit juice.

What should I watch out for?

Ask your health care provider whether you can take other medicines that contain calcium or vitamin D.

Follow any special diet your health care provider recommends, and ask which foods to avoid eating before and after you take this medicine. Do not drink a lot of alcohol or coffee, tea, or sodas that contain caffeine.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Painful urination, constipation, drowsiness, headache, dry mouth, metallic taste in your mouth, loss of appetite, weakness. These are also signs of overdose.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• atenolol (Tenormin)
• diuretics such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL Esidrix, Oretic), hydroflumethiazide (Diucardin, Saluron), trichlormethiazide (Diurese, Metahydrin, Naqua), and polythiazide (Renese)
• iron medicines
• norfloxacin (Noroxin)
• tetracycline (Achromycin, Sumycin)
• verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Isoptin, Verelan).

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.