Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology, health and lifestyle content. Taking calcium with some medications can decrease the effectiveness of the medication, decrease calcium absorption, increase calcium levels dangerously, or even cause lung or kidney problems. Calcium supplements and beta-blockers may interfere with each other. Limit your daily intake from all sources — including dairy products, supplements and juices fortified with calcium — to 1,000 milligrams. Studies have shown, however, that SSRIs cause agitation, insomnia, mild tremor and impulsivity in 10 percent to 20 percent of the people who take them. Magnesium oxide. Taking Excess Dietary Minerals Can Cause Health Problems, The 8 Best Vitamin D Supplements of 2021, According to a Dietitian. If you are taking antibiotics such as tetracycline, taking calcium at the same type as your medication may decrease your body's ability to absorb the antibiotic. Levothyroxine is one of the most highly publicized calcium carbonate drug interactions. Separate calcium and thyroid medications by at least 4 hours. Looking to lose weight? Some over-the-counter antacids are made of calcium carbonate, which absorbs the acid in your stomach. Calcium carbonate antacids are used in conditions of calcium deficiency such as postmenopausal osteoporosis since some of the calcium is absorbed into the body. Alternatives: Spironolactone (Aldactone), a similar drug to losartan and eplerenone, does not interact with grapefruit. How Much Magnesium Do You Need in Your Diet? Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese can interfere with certain medications, including antibiotics such as tetracycline, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin. In large amounts, calcium supplements may interact with some blood pressure medications. And sometimes it works the other way around — the drug changes how much calcium you absorb. Some types of diuretics may affect your blood levels of calcium. Read our, Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD, Reviewed by Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, Reviewed by Jonathan Valdez, RDN, CDE, CPT, Medically reviewed by Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD, Reviewed by Ayana Habtemariam, MSW, RDN, LDN, Calcium, Diuretics, and Other Blood Pressure Medications, The 7 Best Supplements for Constipation of 2021, According to a Dietitian. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Spacing the thyroid hormone at least 2 hours from calcium (including antacids such as tums), iron, multi-vitamins, and certain other meds can help keep thyroid blood levels … And, not surprisingly, calcium may interfere with calcium channel blockers. Unchecked and unmonitored, calcium carbonate drug interactions can impact patient care. One type of cholesterol-reducing medication, called bile acid sequestrants, may increase calcium loss in the urine, so your healthcare provider may recommend taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. Thiazide diuretics work to lower your blood pressure by helping your kidneys get rid of excess water and sodium (rather than holding on to it).4 Lowering the volume of fluid in your bloodstream relieves some of the pressure, making it easier for your heart to pump. Calcium carbonate is commonly used by patients. Too much calcium in the blood (as in parathyroid gland disorders and sarcoidosis) : Calcium should be avoided if you have one of these conditions. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use. They need to be taken at least two hours apart from calcium supplements. Updated March 26, 2020. Consult your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) for more in formation. You eat lots of fiber. Bisphosphonates are medications used to treat osteoporosis. Both aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids increase the amount of calcium that's excreted in your urine, which means you might lose calcium. And one form of calcium supplements called calcium citrate may increase the amount of aluminum that's absorbed from those antacids. Separate calcium and thyroid medications by at least 4 hours. Supplements are usually safe to take, but you need to consider what else you're taking and what's going with your body. In general, tetracycline works better if … These medications may cause some risk when taken together. In large amounts, calcium supplements may interact with some blood pressure medications. Magnesium oxide antacids are used to treat magnesium deficiencies from either diets or medications that cause magnesium depletion. This drug should only be taken with plain water, not mineral water, tea, coffee, or fruit juice which can interfere with their absorption. Under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism): Calcium can interfere with thyroid hormone replacement treatment. How they can cause insomnia: Just as it isn't known exactly how SSRIs work, it isn't known exactly how these drugs interfere with sleep. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts, Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter, SERUM PHOSPHATE LEVEL-ALTERING DRUGS/ERDAFITINIB, ALUM;CA;MAG/ORAL PHOSPHATE SUPPLEMENTS; URINARY PH MODIFIERS, DIVALENT & TRIVALENT CATIONS/TETRACYCLINES, CALCIUM & IRON CONTAINING SUPPLEMENTS/BICTEGRAVIR, SEL ORAL CATIONS; ANTACIDS; H2 ANTAG/DOLUTEGRAVIR-RILPIVIRIN, SELECTED ORAL CATIONS/SELECTED ORAL QUINOLONES, ALUMINUM-MAGNESIUM HYDROXIDE; ORAL CALCIUM/PHENYTOIN, DI-; TRIVALENT CATIONS/CHLOROQUINE; HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE, SELECTED CHELATION AGENTS/THYROID PREPARATIONS. She has co-authored two books for the popular Dummies Series (as Shereen Jegtvig). Potassium-sparing and thiazide diuretics can increase the amount of calcium in your blood, and loop diuretics cause calcium levels to go down. Do Calcium Supplements Interfere with Medications? Yes. Does Calcium Citrate 200 Mg (950 Mg) Tablet Interact with other Medications? Because calcium is a positively charged ion, it can bind to any negatively charged chemical, including levothyroxine. Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. Interactions may occur with: Thiazide diuretics. These antibiotics may bind to the calcium in milk, forming an insoluble substance in the stomach and upper small intestine that the body is unable to absorb. Calcium supplements — or antacids containing calcium — can interfere with the absorption of thyroid hormone replacement medications, such as synthetic thyroid hormones levothyroxine (Synthroid, Unithroid, others) and liothyronine (Cytomel), as well as thyroid extract supplements. Calcium-channel blockers lower blood pressure by reducing the amount of calcium available to contract blood vessels. It's important to follow label instructions to prevent absorbing too much calcium from these antacids. Caffeine (including coffee, green … These medications are also referred to as water pills. : They can significantly lower the amount of thyroid hormone that gets absorbed. Calcium interacts with prescription medications by limiting their absorption through chelation. Yes. Too much calcium in the diet can work against this process. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. Shereen Lehman, MS, is a healthcare journalist and fact checker. Milk can interfere with how iron is absorbed in the stomach, and the calcium found in dairy products can prevent the body from absorbing tetracycline and ciprofloxacin antibiotics and thyroid medication, so you get less of the active compound in your bloodstream. Examples of common medications that interact with grapefruit juice include certain statin cholesterol drugs such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin, simvastatin (Zocor), felodipine (Plendil) and other calcium channel blockers, clarithromycin (Biaxin), and loratadine (Claritin). Serious Interactions. Taking the medications and supplements at least two hours apart should help, but again, speak with your healthcare provider. However, they don't prevent calcium in the blood from being incorporated into bone. Absorption is substantially diminished when this drug type is given with meals, especially in the presence of calcium and iron. Ⓒ 2021 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved, Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. In addition, your healthcare provider may suggest taking vitamin D supplements along with your anti-seizure medications to try to keep calcium levels close to normal levels. Taking them at the same time as calcium supplements may decrease absorption of the medication, so they should be taken at least two hours apart from the calcium. On the other hand, estrogens increase calcium absorption, which can improve bone density. Calcium supplements and beta-blockers may interfere with each other. Drugs called calcium channel blockers work to lower blood pressure. Significant interactions have been observed between calcium and certain antibiotics--namely tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones. These medications may interact and cause very harmful effects. Anti-seizure medications, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and primidone, may lower your calcium levels. Calcium supplements can decrease the absorption of fluoroquinolone and tetracycline. These medications can raise calcium levels by preventing calcium from being released in the urine, which can also lead to kidney stones. The 8 Best Multivitamins for Women Over 50, According To A Dietitian, Verywell Fit's Dietary Supplement Methodology, 11 Foods to Get More Vitamin D in Your Diet, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Vitamin D, Calcium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. University of Michigan Medicine. Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Updated June 25, 2007. While calcium can interact with other prescription medications, the effects can be minimized by taking calcium at a different time. These medications may interact and cause very harmful effects. Sign up and get it free! Are Popular Detox Tea Ingredients Actually Safe to Consume? Are Supplements Really Necessary for Good Health? Orrange says that iron and calcium supplements interfere with how your body absorbs thyroid medication, so take them at least an hour apart. Calcium supplements should probably be avoided altogether if you're taking gentamicin, another type of antibiotic. Calcium can interfere with prescription medications used to treat various heart ailments. CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. Grapefruit (and its juice) can alter the effects of many drugs, including calcium channel blockers. Under-active thyroid (hypothyroidism): Calcium can interfere with thyroid hormone replacement treatment. Interactions may occur with: Thiazide diuretics. Wait at least 4 hours after dosage to drink any calcium-rich beverages. Taking medications or supplements that have large amounts of calcium, magnesium, phosphates, or vitamin D may not be safe. Consult your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) for more in formation. The calcium in these foods and products can interfere with the body’s ability to absorb the antibiotic fully. Major interactions of medications with Calcium supplements: Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) interacts negatively with calcium. Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a … WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Really, this is so important that it bears repeating: You need to talk to your healthcare provider about any dietary supplements you are taking, especially if you have any health conditions or are taking any medications, including prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. Calcium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. It's important to talk to your healthcare provider about taking calcium or any supplements if you're on any medications, even over-the-counter medications. Don't take any calcium supplements with these blood pressure medications unless your healthcare provider tells you to take them. All rights reserved. St. Luke's Hospital. Overuse and Interactions Can Undermine Health Benefits of Supplements, Prohormones are legal, but they might not be safe to use. Diuretics are used to remove fluid from your body and reduce blood pressure. If you take calcium supplements while using a thiazide diuretic, the calcium can disrupt the diuretic's action on the kidneys, which in turn makes the d… While consuming fiber is a good thing, experts say that if you have recently changed your diet and are eating more vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, and nuts, this can interfere with the absorption of your thyroid … Follow the below advice on interactions with calcium supplements. Taking large amounts of calcium carbonate with thiazide diuretics — such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide) and indapamide — can increase the risk of milk-alkali syndrome, a serious condition. Calcium supplements can interact with several medications in different ways, often increasing or decreasing the amount of the drug that's absorbed. Yes. If you take certain heart medicines, avoid too much calcium. Possible interactions with: Calcium. Updated April 28, 2017. Here’s three classic examples I’ve seen from my practice. To continue reading this article, you must log in. Potassium-sparing and thiazide diuretics can increase the amount of calcium in your blood, and loop diuretics cause calcium levels to go down. Laxatives that contain magnesium may decrease the amount of calcium absorbed from calcium supplements.. Diuretics: Thiazide diuretics like hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide) and chlorthalidone are used to treat high blood pressure, but high calcium levels are a well-known side effect. © 2005 - 2019 WebMD LLC. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. National Institutes of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium can interfere with the effectiveness of thyroid medication. The absorption of the thyroid supplement can be signicantly reduced by co … Things to remember when you fill your prescription. 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