calcium

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up. the dose to catch up.

Take this medication by mouth with food. If your Take this medication by mouth with food. If your product contains calcium citrate, then it may be taken with or product contains calcium citrate, then it may be taken with or without food. Follow all directions on the product package, or without food. Follow all directions on the product package, or take as directed by your doctor. For best absorption, if your take as directed by your doctor. For best absorption, if your daily dose is more than 600 milligrams, then divide your dose and daily dose is more than 600 milligrams, then divide your dose and space it throughout the day. If you are uncertain about any of space it throughout the day. If you are uncertain about any of the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist. the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you are using the chewable product, chew it well before If you are using the chewable product, chew it well before swallowing. swallowing. If you are using the effervescent tablet, allow the tablet to If you are using the effervescent tablet, allow the tablet to fully dissolve in a glass of water before drinking it. Do not fully dissolve in a glass of water before drinking it. Do not chew or swallow the tablet whole. chew or swallow the tablet whole. If you are using the liquid product or powder, measure the If you are using the liquid product or powder, measure the medication with a dose-measuring spoon or device to make sure you medication with a dose-measuring spoon or device to make sure you get the correct dose. Do not use a household spoon. If the liquid get the correct dose. Do not use a household spoon. If the liquid product is a suspension, shake the bottle well before each dose. product is a suspension, shake the bottle well before each dose. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. To help you remember, take it at the same time(s) each day. If your doctor has recommended that you follow a special diet, If your doctor has recommended that you follow a special diet, it is very important to follow the diet to get the most benefit it is very important to follow the diet to get the most benefit from this medication and to prevent serious side effects. Do not from this medication and to prevent serious side effects. Do not take other supplements/vitamins unless ordered by your doctor. take other supplements/vitamins unless ordered by your doctor. If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention. immediate medical attention.

If you are taking this product under your If you are taking this product under your doctor's direction, your doctor or pharmacist may already be doctor's direction, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for aware of possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. before checking with your doctor or pharmacist first. Before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if Before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you use any of the following products: digoxin, cellulose sodium you use any of the following products: digoxin, cellulose sodium phosphate, certain phosphate binders (e.g., calcium acetate). phosphate, certain phosphate binders (e.g., calcium acetate). Calcium can decrease the absorption of other drugs such as Calcium can decrease the absorption of other drugs such as bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate), tetracycline antibiotics bisphosphonates (e.g., alendronate), tetracycline antibiotics (e.g., doxycycline, minocycline), estramustine, levothyroxine, (e.g., doxycycline, minocycline), estramustine, levothyroxine, and quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin). and quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin). Therefore, separate your doses of these medications as far as Therefore, separate your doses of these medications as far as possible from your doses of calcium. Ask your doctor or possible from your doses of calcium. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about how long you should wait between doses and for pharmacist about how long you should wait between doses and for help finding a dosing schedule that will work with all your help finding a dosing schedule that will work with all your medications. medications. Check the labels on all your prescription and Check the labels on all your prescription and nonprescription/herbal products (e.g., antacids, vitamins) nonprescription/herbal products (e.g., antacids, vitamins) because they may contain calcium. Ask your pharmacist about using because they may contain calcium. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely. those products safely. This document does not contain all possible interactions. This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. pharmacist.

Foods rich in calcium include: dairy products (e.g., Foods rich in calcium include: dairy products (e.g., milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream), dark-green leafy vegetables milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream), dark-green leafy vegetables (e.g., broccoli, spinach, bok choy), and calcium-fortified foods (e.g., broccoli, spinach, bok choy), and calcium-fortified foods (e.g., orange juice). (e.g., orange juice). Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium. Foods rich in Vitamin D helps with the absorption of calcium. Foods rich in vitamin D include: fortified dairy products, eggs, sardines, cod vitamin D include: fortified dairy products, eggs, sardines, cod liver oil, chicken livers, and fatty fish. Vitamin D is also made liver oil, chicken livers, and fatty fish. Vitamin D is also made by the body as a result of exposure to the sun. by the body as a result of exposure to the sun. Keep all regular medical and laboratory appointments. If your Keep all regular medical and laboratory appointments. If your doctor has directed you to take this medication, laboratory doctor has directed you to take this medication, laboratory and/or medical tests (e.g., calcium levels) should be performed and/or medical tests (e.g., calcium levels) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details. Consult your doctor for more details.

If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada call the US National Poison Hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms residents can call a provincial poison control center. Symptoms of overdose may include: nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, of overdose may include: nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, mental/mood changes, headache, weakness, tiredness. mental/mood changes, headache, weakness, tiredness.

Before taking calcium, tell your doctor or Before taking calcium, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any allergies. This product may contain pharmacist if you have any allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details. This product should not be used if you have certain medical This product should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this product, consult your doctor or conditions. Before using this product, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: high calcium levels (hypercalcemia). pharmacist if you have: high calcium levels (hypercalcemia). If you have any of the following health problems, consult your If you have any of the following health problems, consult your doctor or pharmacist before using this product: kidney disease, doctor or pharmacist before using this product: kidney disease, kidney stones, little or no stomach acid (achlorhydria), heart kidney stones, little or no stomach acid (achlorhydria), heart disease, disease of the pancreas, a certain lung disease disease, disease of the pancreas, a certain lung disease (sarcoidosis), difficulty absorbing nutrition from food (sarcoidosis), difficulty absorbing nutrition from food (malabsorption syndrome). (malabsorption syndrome). Some sugar-free formulations of calcium may contain aspartame. Some sugar-free formulations of calcium may contain aspartame. If you have phenylketonuria (PKU) or any other condition that If you have phenylketonuria (PKU) or any other condition that requires you to restrict your intake of aspartame (or requires you to restrict your intake of aspartame (or phenylalanine), consult your doctor or pharmacist about using phenylalanine), consult your doctor or pharmacist about using this drug safely. this drug safely. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this medication. medication. This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor This medication passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding. before breast-feeding.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. See packaging for the exact temperature range. If you have any See packaging for the exact temperature range. If you have any questions about storage, ask your pharmacist. Do not store in the questions about storage, ask your pharmacist. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets. Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product. safely discard your product.

Constipation and upset stomach may occur. If any Constipation and upset stomach may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. pharmacist promptly. If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is remember that he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects. medication do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, serious side effects occur: nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, unusual weight loss, mental/mood changes, bone/muscle pain, unusual weight loss, mental/mood changes, bone/muscle pain, headache, increased thirst/urination, weakness, unusual headache, increased thirst/urination, weakness, unusual tiredness. tiredness. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing. dizziness, trouble breathing. This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. pharmacist. In the US - In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345. 1-866-234-2345.