Calcium 500mg Tablets

Calcium carbonate provides elemental calcium, an essential mineral for bone formation, nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and blood coagulation. As an antacid, it neutralizes gastric acid by reacting with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to form calcium chloride, water, and carbon dioxide, thereby increasing gastric pH.

Urgent Side Effects: Seek Medical Help Right Away
If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention, as they may be signs of a severe and potentially life-threatening reaction:
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as rash, hives, itching, red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever), wheezing, tightness in the chest or throat, difficulty breathing, swallowing, or talking, unusual hoarseness, or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Other Possible Side Effects
Like all medications, this drug can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them. Most side effects are mild and temporary. However, if you encounter any of the following or any other side effects that bother you or do not go away, contact your doctor for advice:
- Constipation.

Important Note
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you have concerns about side effects or need further information, consult your doctor. For medical advice regarding side effects, contact your healthcare provider. You can also report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088 or online at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Before Taking This Medication: Important Information to Share with Your Doctor

It is essential to inform your doctor about the following:

Any allergies you have, including allergies to this medication, its components, or other substances, such as foods or drugs. Be sure to describe the symptoms you experienced as a result of the allergy.
If you have elevated calcium levels in your blood.

Additionally, this medication may interact with other health conditions or medications. To ensure your safety, it is crucial to provide your doctor and pharmacist with a comprehensive list of:

All prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications you are currently taking
Any natural products or vitamins you are using
* Your existing health problems

Before starting, stopping, or changing the dose of any medication, including this one, consult with your doctor to confirm that it is safe to do so. This will help prevent potential interactions and ensure the safe use of this medication.

It is essential to inform all your healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists, that you are taking this medication. If you have a soy allergy, consult your doctor before taking this drug, as some formulations may contain soy.

When taking this medication, be aware that it may interfere with the absorption of other oral medications. To minimize potential interactions, your doctor may recommend taking other oral drugs at a different time than this medication. Discuss your medication schedule with your doctor to ensure safe and effective treatment.

If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding, notify your doctor. You and your doctor will need to discuss the potential benefits and risks of this medication to both you and your baby to make an informed decision about treatment.

• Dofetilide (risk of QT prolongation)
• Tetracyclines (e.g., doxycycline, minocycline) - reduced absorption
• Fluoroquinolones (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin) - reduced absorption
• Bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate, risedronate) - reduced absorption
• Thyroid hormones (e.g., levothyroxine) - reduced absorption

• Iron supplements - reduced absorption
• Zinc supplements - reduced absorption
• Phenytoin - reduced absorption
• Digoxin - increased risk of arrhythmias in hypercalcemia
• Thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide) - increased risk of hypercalcemia
• Corticosteroids - may decrease calcium absorption
• Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole) - may reduce calcium absorption over long-term use
• H2-receptor antagonists (e.g., ranitidine) - may reduce calcium absorption over long-term use

• Certain dietary fibers (e.g., phytic acid, oxalic acid) - may reduce calcium absorption

• Symptoms of hypercalcemia: Nausea, vomiting, constipation, polyuria, polydipsia, muscle weakness, fatigue, confusion, cardiac arrhythmias.
• Symptoms of milk-alkali syndrome: Headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, confusion, hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis, renal impairment.

Calcium requirements increase during pregnancy. Calcium carbonate is generally considered safe and often recommended as a supplement to meet increased maternal and fetal needs. It is also used for heartburn relief. Category C due to lack of adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women, but widely used and considered safe.

Calcium is a normal component of breast milk. Calcium carbonate is considered safe during lactation and is often recommended to ensure adequate maternal calcium intake, which supports both maternal bone health and provides calcium for the infant via breast milk. Infant risk is low.

Generally safe for use in children for dietary supplementation or as an antacid, with age-appropriate dosing. Dosing should be carefully calculated based on elemental calcium content and age/weight. Risk of hypercalcemia with excessive doses.

Elderly patients are at increased risk for osteoporosis and often require calcium supplementation. However, they may also have age-related decline in renal function, increasing the risk of hypercalcemia. Use with caution and monitor renal function and serum calcium, especially with high doses or concomitant use of thiazide diuretics.

• Calcium carbonate contains 40% elemental calcium (e.g., a 1250 mg tablet of calcium carbonate provides 500 mg elemental calcium).
• Best absorbed when taken with food due to increased stomach acid production.
• For optimal absorption, doses of elemental calcium should not exceed 500-600 mg at one time.
• Crucial to separate administration from other medications (especially antibiotics, thyroid hormones, bisphosphonates) by at least 2-4 hours to prevent absorption interference.
• Can cause constipation; adequate fluid and fiber intake are important.
• Long-term high doses, especially with concomitant Vitamin D supplementation, can lead to hypercalcemia and potentially kidney stones or milk-alkali syndrome.

• For osteoporosis: Bisphosphonates, Denosumab, Teriparatide, Romosozumab, Raloxifene, Vitamin D supplementation.
• For antacid: Aluminum hydroxide, Magnesium hydroxide, Sodium bicarbonate, H2-receptor antagonists (e.g., famotidine), Proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole).

If your symptoms or health issues persist or worsen, it's essential to contact your doctor for further guidance. To ensure your safety, never share your medication with others or take someone else's medication. Some medications may come with an additional patient information leaflet, so be sure to check with your pharmacist for more information. If you have any questions or concerns about this medication, don't hesitate to reach out to your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider. In the event of a suspected overdose, immediately call your local poison control center or seek medical attention. When reporting the incident, be prepared to provide details about the medication taken, the amount, and the time it occurred.