As an adult, keeping your calcium intake between 1,000 and 1,200 mg daily may help prevent bone loss or weakening -- two common bone problems in older adults -- according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Despite these benefits, calcium tablets may cause side effects, especially if you do not follow your doctor's dosing recommendations.
Mild Side Effects
Treatment with calcium tablets may cause mild stomach irritation in certain people. You may experience infrequent or difficult bowel movements, which may be accompanied by nausea or abdominal bloating or cramping. If you experience stomach irritation, eating a small snack before taking a dose of calcium may help limit or prevent stomach-related side effects. Consult your doctor if stomach irritation becomes severe or does not subside.
Severe Side Effects
A study published in the July 2010 issue of the "British Medical Journal" reported that treatment with calcium supplements may increase the risk of heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain, breathing difficulties, nausea, dizziness and upper body or jaw pain. Additionally, long-term or excessive treatment with calcium supplements may significantly elevate the amount of calcium in the bloodstream -- a side effect called hypercalcemia. If you have high blood calcium levels, you may experience side effects of weakness, nausea or vomiting, severe constipation, dry mouth or increased urination. Left untreated, elevated blood calcium levels may induce heart-related problems such as a heart attack. Seek immediate medical care from your doctor if you develop symptoms of hypercalcemia or heart attack to avoid developing permanent or potentially fatal health complications.
Medication Interactions
If you are currently taking any medications or supplements, let your doctor know before you begin treatment with calcium tablets. Do not take alendronate at the same time as a dose of calcium as doing so may prevent your body from fully absorbing the prescription medication, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Treatment with high doses of calcium may also increase your risk of developing a severe reaction to digoxin during concomitant treatment. Additional medications to discuss with your health care provider before taking calcium tablets include antiseizure, blood pressure and cholesterol-lowering medications, antibiotics, gentamicin, estrogen, and diuretics.
Contraindications
Discuss all health-related problems you may have with your physician before taking calcium supplements. Do not take calcium tablets if you have a medical condition that causes your body to overproduce calcium, such as kidney disease, cancer, sarcoidosis or an overactive parathyroid gland, reports the UMMC. Improper use of calcium supplements in people with such health concerns may increase their risk of developing hypercalcemia.
References
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Calcium
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Calcium
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Calcium
- Linus Paulling Institute: Calcium
- "British Medical Journal;" Effect of Calcium Supplements on Risk of Myocardial Infarction and Cardiovascular Events: Meta-Analysis; Mark Bollard, et al.; July 2010
Member Comments