calcium citrate

Generic Name: calcium citrate
Other Brand Names: Citracal, Citracal Liquitab
Overview Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose

What is calcium citrate?

Calcium is a mineral that is found naturally in foods. Calcium is necessary for many normal functions of your body, especially bone formation and maintenance. Calcium can also bind to other minerals (such as phosphate) and aid in their removal from the body.

Calcium citrate is used to prevent and to treat calcium deficiencies.

Calcium citrate may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking calcium citrate?

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you

  • have had kidney stones;

  • have parathyroid gland disease;

  • take antacids or other calcium supplements; or

  • take a tetracycline antibiotic such as tetracycline (Sumycin, Achromycin V, and others), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin, Monodox, Doxy, and others), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin, and others), or oxytetracycline (Terramycin, and others).

You may not be able to take calcium citrate, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions, or take any of the medications, listed above.

Talk to your doctor before taking calcium citrate if you are pregnant. In general, calcium is important for the development of an unborn baby.

Talk to your doctor before taking calcium citrate if you are breast-feeding. Calcium is important for the development of a breast-feeding baby.

How should I take calcium citrate?

Take calcium citrate exactly as directed by your doctor or follow the directions on the package. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.

Swallow the calcium citrate tablets with a full glass of water.

Allow the effervescent tablets to dissolve completely in the amount of water directed on the package. Drink the full amount of the mixture once it has dissolved.

Take calcium with meals to increase its absorption by the body, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.

Store calcium citrate at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of calcium citrate?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take only the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medicine unless your doctor directs otherwise.

Where can I get more information about calcium citrate?
Your pharmacist has information about calcium citrate written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of calcium citrate?

Stop taking calcium citrate and seek emergency medical attention if you experience a rare allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives).

Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take calcium citrate and notify your doctor if you experience

  • nausea or vomiting;

  • decreased appetite;

  • constipation;

  • dry mouth or increased thirst; or

  • increased urination.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about calcium citrate?

Do not take calcium citrate or antacids containing calcium without first talking to your doctor if you take other medications. Calcium can decrease the effects of many other medicines by binding to them or by changing the acidity of the stomach or the urine.

Take calcium with meals to increase its absorption by the body.

What should I avoid while taking calcium citrate?

If you take other medicines, do not take calcium citrate without first talking to your doctor.

What other drugs will affect calcium citrate?

Before taking calcium citrate, tell your doctor if you are taking

  • digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);

  • antacids containing calcium or aluminum;

  • another calcium supplement;

  • calcitriol (Rocaltrol) or vitamin D supplements; or

  • a tetracycline antibiotic such as tetracycline (Sumycin, Achromycin V, and others), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin, Monodox, Doxy, and others), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin, and others), or oxytetracycline (Terramycin, and others).

You may not be able to take calcium citrate, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with calcium citrate. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

What happens if I have an overdose of calcium citrate?

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a calcium overdose include nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, constipation, confusion, delirium, stupor, and coma.

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Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008