Medicine interactions with Calcium supplements
While calcium can interact with other prescription medications, the effects can be minimized by taking calcium at a different time. Follow the below advice on interactions with calcium supplements.
Major interactions of medications with Calcium supplements:
Ceftriaxone (Rocephin) interacts negatively with calcium. Administering intravenous ceftriaxone and calcium can result in life-threatening damage to the lungs and kidneys. Calcium should not be taken intravenously within 48 hours of intravenous ceftriaxone.
Moderate interactions of medications with Calcium supplements:
Antibiotics: Taking calcium with certain antibiotics may decrease the effectiveness of the antibiotics. In order to avoid any negative interactions, take calcium supplements at least 1 hour after antibiotics. Antibiotics that interact with calcium include:
- ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
- enoxacin (Penetrex)
- norfloxacin (Chibroxin, Noroxin)
- sparfloxacin (Zagam)
- trovafloxacin (Trovan)
- Antibiotics (Tetracycline antibiotics)
Tetracyclines: Calcium also interacts negatively with antibiotics called tetracyclines in the stomach. This may decrease the amount of tetracyclines that can be absorbed and decrease the effectiveness of the antibiotic. . You can avoid this interaction by taking calcium 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking tetracyclines. Tetracyclines that interact with calcium include:
- demeclocycline (Declomycin)
- minocycline (Minocin)
- tetracycline (Achromycin, and others).
Bisphosphonates: Bisphosphonates also interact negatively with calcium and may decrease how much bisphosphate the body absorbs. To avoid any negative interaction, take bisphosphate at least 30 minutes before calcium or later in the day. Bisphosphonates that interact negatively with calcium include:
- alendronate (Fosamax)
- etidronate (Didronel)
- risedronate (Actonel)
- tiludronate (Skelid)
Calcipotriene (Dovonex) : Calcipotriene acts similarly to vitamin D and helps the body absorb calcium. Taking calcium supplements along with calcipotriene may cause the body to absorb too much calcium.
Digoxin (Lanoxin): Calcium when taken with Digoxin, which is used to help the heart beat stronger, might lead to irregular heartbeats. If you are taking Digoxin, consult your doctor before using calcium supplements.
Diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac): interacts negatively with calcium. When taken large amounts of calcium are taken with Diltiazem, the effectiveness of Diltiazem might decrease.
Levothyroxine: Calcium may decrease how much levothyroxine the body absorbs and reduce the effectiveness of the levothyroxine. Levothyroxine and calcium should always be taken at least 4 hours apart. Other brands of levothyroxine include:
- Armour Thyroid
- Eltroxin
- Estre
- Euthyrox
- Levo-T
- Levothroid
- Levoxyl
- Synthroid
- Unithroid
Sotalol (Betapace): Taking calcium with Sotalol (Betapace) can decrease how much Sotalol the body absorbs and decrease its effectiveness. To avoid negative interactions, take calcium at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after taking Sotalol.
Verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan): Verapamil and calcium both affect the heart. Do not take large amounts of calcium if you are already taking verapamil.
Water pills (Thiazide diuretics): Certain “water pills” increase the amount of calcium in the body and, if taken along with calcium pills, may cause there to be too much calcium in the body. This may cause serious side effects and kidney problems. Water pills include:
- chlorothiazide (Diuril)
- hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL, Esidrix)
- indapamide (Lozol)
- metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
- chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
Minor Interactions of medications with Calcium supplements:
Oestrogen: Oestrogen helps the body to absorb calcium. When oestrogen is taken along with calcium supplements the body may absorb too much calcium. oestrogen pills include:
- conjugated equine oestrogens (Premarin)
- ethinyl estradiol
- estradiol
Medications for high blood pressure (Calcium channel blockers): Certain medications for high blood pressure can affect the calcium in your body and getting calcium injections might decrease the effectiveness of these medications for high blood pressure. Medications for high blood pressure include:
- nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
- verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
- diltiazem (Cardizem)
- isradipine (DynaCirc)
- felodipine (Plendil)
- amlodipine (Norvasc)