Excessive calcium intake can lead to "milk alkali syndrome" hypercalcemia and/or the side effects listed below.
Side effects
Seek immediate medical care if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, and difficulty breathing.
Below are the less serious side effects that may occur with calcium carbonate use:
Warnings
Before taking any antacid with calcium carbonate, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any drug allergies and history of kidney problems, parathyroid gland disorder, or stomach conditions. Pregnant, and breast feeding women are advised to talk to their doctors before taking any over-the-counter products.
Drug Interactions
Antacids with Calcium Carbonate may interact with or affect the absorption of certain drugs. Tell your doctor about the other medications you're taking, especially:
• If you are allergic to tartrazine, talk with healthcare provider. Some products contain tartrazine.
• If you have kidney disease, talk with healthcare provider.
• Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines.
• Try to separate other medicines from this one by 2 hours. This medicine prevents absorption of many medicines.
• Do not take iron, zinc, or folic acid within 2 hours of this medicine.
• Limit alcohol intake (includes wine, beer, and liquor).
• Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding.
• Belly pain.
• Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard, sugar-free candy, or chewing sugar-free gum may help.
• Constipation. More liquids, regular exercise, or a fiber-containing diet may help. Talk with healthcare provider about a stool softener or laxative.
• If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center or emergency department immediately.
• Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Significant change in thinking clearly and logically.
• Severe nausea or vomiting.
• Severe constipation.
• Any rash.
• No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
Calcium Carbonate is a chemical compound most commonly found in rock around the world. The compound as used for food or pharmacology is usually found in a pure quarried source-usually marble.
Calcium Carbonate is used in the construction industry as building material, as an ingredient of concrete, or in its pure form of marble or limestone. It is also used industrially as a paint extender, a filler in plastics, as a pH corrector of swimming pools, and as an abrasive among other applications.
In the health industry, calcium carbonate is most often used as a calcium substitute or as an antacid. It is used in the production of some toothpastes and as a food additive (listed E170).1
(KAL see um KAR bun ate)
Alcalak [OTC]; Alka-Mints® [OTC]; Cal-Gest [OTC]; Cal-Mint [OTC]; Calcarb 600 [OTC]; Calci-Chew® [OTC]; Calci-Mix® [OTC]; Caltrate® 600 [OTC]; Children's Pepto [OTC]; Chooz® [OTC]; Florical® [OTC]; Maalox® Children’s [OTC]; Maalox® Regular Chewable [OTC] [DSC]; Mylanta® Children's [OTC] [DSC]; Nephro-Calci® [OTC]; Nutralox® [OTC]; Oysco 500 [OTC]; Oyst-Cal 500 [OTC]; Rolaids® Softchews [OTC]; Titralac™ [OTC]; Tums® E-X [OTC]; Tums® Extra Strength Sugar Free [OTC]; Tums® Smoothies™ [OTC]; Tums® Ultra [OTC]; Tums® [OTC]
• If you have an allergy to calcium or any other part of this medicine.
• Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.
• If you have any of the following conditions: High calcium levels, kidney stones, or low phosphate levels.
• Antacids reduce stomach acid.
• Calcium is a dietary supplement that helps the body make strong bones.
• Calcium reduces absorption of phosphate through the gastrointestinal tract.
• Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule.
• Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
• Store at room temperature.
• Protect capsules and tablets from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.
Created: 2006-10-13 11:08:13.0
Modified: 2010-03-22 12:54:39.0
Lexi-PALS TM © (1977)-(2007) Lexi-Comp, Inc. All rights reserved.
• Take this medicine 1 hour before or 2 hours after high bran or fiber meal.
• Take this medicine with food.
• Take 1 to 3 hours after meals as antacid.
• Chewable tablet: Chew or crush well. Mix crushed tablet with food. Do not swallow whole.
• A liquid (suspension) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Shake well before use.
• Those who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before and after medicine is given.
Osteoporosis:
• Follow diet plan and exercise program as recommended by healthcare provider.
• If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times.
• Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's medicine.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
• Most medicines can be thrown away in household trash after mixing with coffee grounds or kitty litter and sealing in a plastic bag.
• Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant).
• Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or in Canada to Health Canada's Canada Vigilance Program at 1-866-234-2345.
• Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.
• This medicine is used to promote proper growth and good health.
• This medicine is used to prevent or treat osteoporosis.
• This medicine is used to lower high phosphate levels.
• This medicine is used to treat heartburn and indigestion.
• This medicine is used to prevent and treat low calcium levels.
