Your body has difficulty absorbing calcium when you take Prilosec. The exact reason this happens is still under investigation. The effect abnormal calcium absorption has on your health varies with the individual and your doctor can monitor this situation. Prilosec is typically taken to inhibit the production of stomach acid, but your doctor may recommend or prescribe it for an off-label use.
Prilosec
Patients take Prilosec for gastroesophageal reflux disease and other problems of the digestive system related to stomach acid. The generic name for Prilosec is omeprazole. It is a proton pump inhibitor and it reduces the amount of acid produced in your stomach. Omeprazole is available by prescription or over-the-counter. Side effects of this medication include muscle weakness, an uneven heart rate, confusion and vomiting.
Calcium
Calcium is the most prevalent mineral in your body. It plays a part in critical bodily functions, including keeping your bones strong, nerve transmission, hormone secretion and proper muscle function. The recommended dietary allowance for adults between the ages of 19 and 50 is 1,000 mg of calcium per day. The RDA for women 50 and older, as well as men 71 and older, increases to 1,200 mg per day. Good sources of calcium include dairy products, sardines with bones, soft tofu made with calcium sulfate and spinach.
Risk of Fractures
Taking proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec may increase your risk of bone fracture. Despite the speculation that this increased risk is associated with inhibited calcium absorption, the information to back this claim is conflicting, according to researchers from the University of Wisconsin and reported in the December 2010 issue of the "Journal of Bone and Mineral Research." The researchers recruited 21 postmenopausal women as participants. The study examined why PPIs inhibit calcium absorption. The women took 40 mg of omeprazole for 30 days. The data show the only variable associated with reduced calcium absorption was vitamin D-3.
Considerations
Taking Prilosec may decrease the ability of your digestive system to absorb calcium. This increases your risk of bone fracture. A doctor can monitor your calcium levels to prevent a deficiency and may recommend taking a calcium supplement. Calcium supplements typically come as calcium carbonate and calcium citrate. Patients taking medications like Prilosec that block stomach acid should take calcium citrate supplements, according to the University of Michigan Health System. Calcium citrate is a more readily absorbable form of calcium; you can take it without food.
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