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CALCIUM CITRATE, cal-cee, cal-c-cap
What is the med used for?
Calcium Citrate (cal-cee, cal-c cap) is a medication used as a calcium supplement to prevent calcium deficiency.
What class of med is this med?
Calcium Citrate is a calcium salt. The supplement would prevent you from having low blood calcium levels.
What does it contain, both active and inactive constituents?
The active ingredient of this medication is Calcium Citrate. The inactive ingredients are vegetable stearic acid, vegetable cellulose, and silica. Do you have allergies to any of the above inactive ingredients listed above? Chat with our team today!
Why am I taking the med?
This medication is commonly prescribed for the prevention of calcium deficiency. Your doctor could have prescribed this med for other medical conditions. Not sure why you are taking this med? Chat with our team today!
How do I know if the med is working for my condition?
After taking Calcium Citrate as directed by your doctor, the level of your calcium in your blood will be normalized.
What is the dose, how do I take it and what do I take it with?
Calcium Citrate is available as a prescribed or over-the-counter medication in the form of tablets (200 mg, 250 mg, and 950 mg). Take the tablets with food in doses less than 500 mg (elemental calcium) at a time for the greatest absorption. The starting dose for the prevention of calcium deficiency is 200 mg or 1 g per day (as elemental calcium) as a single dose or in divided doses.
Could the med be replaced or like other meds I am currently on?
Yes, your doctor may have prescribed Calcium Citrate to replace your current Calcium supplement. Another reason could also be the addition of Calcium Citrate to your current mineral salt supplementation.
What food or drinks does the meds interfere with or affect my med?
Calcium Citrate can be taken by mouth with food. There is no specific food that may severely interact with Calcium Citrate. However, the intake of food containing phytic acid (grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, tubers) or oxalic acid (spinach, rhubarb, rice bran, buckwheat, almonds, miso) should be limited or avoided. Unsure about the drug-food interaction? Chat with our team today!
What other meds interfere or affect the med?
Avoid taking Calcium Citrate with elvitegravir, eltrombopag, digoxin, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, ketoconazole, raltegravir, erdafitinib, baloxavir marboxil, bictegravir, dolutegravir. Unsure what to do if you are on any of these meds? Chat with our team today!
Can natural products/herbal products affect the med
Avoid natural/herbal products that contain high amounts of calcium. Are you unsure about your natural/herbal supplements? Chat with our team today!
What are the benefits of taking the med?
Calcium Citrate is commonly prescribed to prevent calcium deficiency. As you take this medication, it will keep your bones healthy. Calcium is also important for your heart, muscles and nerves.
How can I buy/get the med from?
Calcium Citrate is available over the counter and can be obtained at your local pharmacy or other stores such as dietary stores, supermarkets or online stores.
Where can I store the med?
Calcium Citrate tablets should be stored between 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F).
What risk and side effects should I expect from the med?
The most common side effects are constipation, flatulence, and swollen abdomen.
What dangerous side effects should I be alarmed about? And what do I do if that happens?
Calcium Citrate’s dangerous side effects include myocardial infarction, hypercalcemia, kidney stones, prostate cancer, and milk-alkali syndrome. If you experience any of the above-mentioned dangerous side effects, call 911 and or your doctor immediately!
How long do I have to take the med?
Calcium Citrate is commonly prescribed for the prevention of calcium deficiency. The duration of treatment may vary depending on your calcium levels. You may take it daily as a long-term mineral salt supplementation.
How much does it cost out of pocket?
Calcium 200 mg, 250 mg, and 950 mg cost an average of $0.03, $0.04, and $0.04, respectively per tab. Thankfully, you could use a few drug coupons in any drug store in the United States without insurance coverage that could help you pay less. With insurance coverage, you could pay as low as $0 depending on your deductibles. For more information on the cost of your medications and how you could get drug coupons? Chat with our team today!
Does the medication have substitutes?
Yes, Calcium Citrate is a mineral salt supplement. Other possible substitutes are Calcium acetate, Calcium gluconate, Calcium Citrate Malate, and Calcium Carbonate.
What other medical conditions can the med treat?
Calcium Citrate could be prescribed for hypocalcemia (low level of calcium in the blood), and acute hypoparathyroidism post-surgery. Not sure why your doctor prescribed this medication? Chat with our team today!
Do I need lab work while on this med?
While on Calcium Citrate, your doctor will check the calcium level in the blood.
What should I do if I miss my dose?
If you miss your Calcium Citrate dose, take the missed dose as soon as possible. If it is close to the time of your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Calcium Citrate at the same time.
When can I stop taking the med?
Depending on your condition and how your body responds to your supplement, your doctor may want you to take the supplement until your calcium level improves or may recommend you take it as a long-term supplementation. Do not stop Calcium Citrate without first talking with your doctor.
How does the med look, its appearance?
Calcium Citrate’s common name in the United States is Cal-c caps or Cal-cee. Calcium Citrate is oblong-shaped, and it comes in white without an imprint. Chat with our team today if your Mesalamine is different from the above descriptions.
How does the med come?
Calcium Citrate is available as an over-the-counter supplement in 200 mg, 250 mg and 950 mg tablets.
How many tablets (micrograms/milligrams/grams) do I take?
Your doctor will determine the number of tablets taken according to the condition you are being treated for.
What is the Total Daily Dose (TDD) of the med?
The total daily dose of Calcium is 1 g daily to prevent calcium deficiency. It is recommended not to take more than 1.2 g daily.
Would my insurance cover the meds? And what is my copay?
Your insurance may cover Calcium Citrate 200 mg, but it depends on the type of insurance and your deductibles. Your insurance determines your co-pay, not your drug stores or pharmacies. You can always speak to your insurance representatives for more co-pays. Want to know more about reducing the cost of your meds? Chat with our team today!
How can I dispose of the meds?
You can dispose of your Calcium Citrate through “take back” programs. The “take-backs” are designated places that exist in most communities where you can dispose of your unused or expired medications. Drug stores and pharmacies near you also offer on-site drop-off boxes.
