Get Informed: Calcium
Active Ingredient(s)
Calcium Carbonate
What does it do?
This product is used as both an antacid and as a dietary supplement.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:14 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-18 6:14 PM
Other Names
- Calcium
- Tums
- Mylanta
- Caltrate
- CAL-500
- Tums Extra Strength
- Oscal
- Calcium Carbonate
- Citrical
- Tums EX
- Calci-Chew
- Tums Antacid
- Tums 500 Calcium
- Calcarb
- Oscal 500
- Oyst-CAL
- Oysco
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- B
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 01 Jan 1930
- Est US Patients*
- 5,334,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- Yes
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Calcium or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Calcium
There have been no alerts regarding Calcium during the past year.
Calcium Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Calcium interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Calcium used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 31,200 patients that use Calcium (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Osteoporosis | 49% | 
|
| Dietary Supplement | 28% |
|
| Heartburn / GERD | 15% |
|
| Low Calcium | 9% |
|
| Menopausal Symptoms | 2% |
|
| Other | 10% |
|
How well does Calcium work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 31,200 users taking Calcium (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 80%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Calcium outweigh the bad things.
- 16%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Calcium.
Common Side Effects of Calcium
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 31,200 users taking Calcium (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
15% of patients experience side-effects on Calcium
1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Calcium
Most Common Side Effects...
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Abdominal Pain, Constipation, Diarrhea, Electrolyte Problems, Gas/Flatulence
Global Patient Feedback for Calcium (Calcium Carbonate) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Would Mylanta ultimate strength chewable tablets interact with
Ursodiol which I take for gallstones?
63 year old Male
Posted: 2009-11-19 00:17:36
Question/Comment:
I take Oscal & Flax Seed Oil together at night before taking my gabapentin & DiovanHct about 2 hrs. later. Is this safe?
70 year old Female
Posted: 2009-11-18 09:22:23
Question/Comment:
IGuard states I should take my calcium and my metoprolol "several hours apart". What do you consider "several hours apart" be in time?
70 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-21 16:36:16
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Generally, "several hours apart" means separated by at least 2 hours.
Posted: 2009-09-25 09:41:21
Question/Comment:
I take calcium carbonate (3 Tums tablets). It is one of the electrolytes that helps prevent muscle cramps. I can't drink milk ( allergy) so Tums is a convenient and inexpensive way to suplement my diet. Works great to prevent those painful night cramps!
74 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-21 14:57:33
Question/Comment:
what does your "many hours apart" in the case of the calcium and my metoporol drugs i take mean?
or.. how many hours do you mean when you say "many hours apart?"
70 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-20 10:07:39
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
When it is recommended that doses be separated or taken on an empty stomach, it typically means 2 hours.
Posted: 2009-09-21 11:16:59
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Many hours apart means 2 to 4 hours apart.
Posted: 2009-09-21 18:39:05
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
39
Patient Comments about
Calcium