Vitamin advice......Needing YOUR expertise!

So, I am taking calcium plus Vit D since getting my bone scan done, actually just started right before my 1st Remi.  The GI called out Caltrate-D, and I compare to the Equate Version (I thought I compared anyway) they both had calcium and Vit D.  So I added the pills to my freakin huge pill minder and took 1 pill twice a day with my other pills, I was told not to take both at the same time as my body would not process all the calcium properly. 

Started Remi and go back to having major episodes 1 to 2 times a week all of sudden.  My Wife (an avid Dr. Oz watcher) catches this bit about taking calcium supplements.  That thing is, NOT to take your calcium within 2 hours of your other pills as it will effect your ability to absorb the medicine in your other pills.  That and your Calcium supp should have magnesium in it as well to help your body absorb the calcium.

So I adjusted when I take my pills, actually seems to be helping, so far no episodes since I switched.

Here's where your amassed experience and expertise come in.

Why do the doctors not tell us this up front? 

What do you guys know about this calcium and when to take it?

Do the other vitamin supplements interfere with out meds?

You get the idea, please chime in.

I ask the pharmacist when I get new supplements because they'll give you more info than GI's will.

I take calcium chews and vit D but I probably don't take them when I should. Vit D is best with a meal, and I figure I'm better taking it without a meal than never. I've had bloodwork to see if my levels (of vit D) are getting better and they are so apparently it doesn't make too much of a difference for me.

It gets confusing when you have so many to keep up with. If I split my meds to different times of the day instead of just popping them all first thing in the morning, I'm likely to forget them altogether.

Thank you for the information...very interesting stuff.  I always just take my calcium with vitamin D and my multi vitamin too along with my Pentasa every morning at breakfast so I don't forget.  My doc has never mentioned this, but nothing surprises me anymore about doctors.  Except when I get the bill!

I believe Ento has the grapefruit warning.  It says it makes your system move the medicine too fast.

I know I am having trouble figuring it out, but splitting the calcium out seems to be helping.  But my vit D and mag are staying in the calcium.  25 pills a day is ENOUGH!

I searched the medical school sites and found that most med students get between 6 and 12 hours of nutrition education. The good news is that more and more docs are learning about supplements because WE keep asking them questions.

I am ready to learn from you on this one. I think my doc said that some calcium can cause constipation???? I want to say he recommended the calcium citrate but I just don't remember for certain. I have been taking Calcium Carbonate because that is what I had lying around. Caltrate is also Calcium Carbonate however. I just skimmed this link but it looks interesting. Clearly I need to do more research:

http://womenshealth.about.com/od/bonehealthanddisease/a/calcium_supplements.htm

 EDIT: Here is a site that talks about calcium constipation

http://www.colonhealthadvice.com/calcium-and-constipation.html

EDIT again:  Sorry I seem to be off track.  Here is a link to calcium interactions with other meds.

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-781-CALCIUM.aspx?activeIngredientId=781&activeIngredientName=CALCIUM

Post Edited (FunGuy) : 11/15/2010 8:31:46 PM (GMT-7)

I wonder if you can get kidney stones by taking too much also? I see the chewables I was taking are 600s. I will break them in half in the future. Oyster shell calcium can contain toxins.. Looks like carbonate or citrate are the way.

Thanks FunGuy, Now I remember the other one I was thinking and had forgotten (thanks to your link). Calcium interacts with Cipro... "Calcium might decrease how much antibiotic your body absorbs. Taking calcium along with some antibiotics might decrease the effectiveness of some antibiotics. To avoid this interaction, take calcium supplements at least 1 hour after antibiotics." And it also interferes with bisphosphonates if anyone is taking those for bone health.

A great place to check is at the drug interaction checker on Drugs.com. (I Google for "drug interaction checker" and it comes up on top. I just entered Calcium, Iron, Methylprednisolone, Xifaxan and the warnings were: Grapefruit with steroids, and calcium with steroids (can interfere with absorption of steroid). So much to watch out for!

Calcium also blocks absorption of several thyroid medications.  I take mine (with D and mag) in the evening since my thyroid meds are taken morning and afternoon.  I think that is working OK for me.