CALCIUM CARBONATE

GENERIC NAME(S): Calcium Carbonate

Description: Calcium carbonate weakens the acidity of the stomach but there is also risk of the acidity rebounding.

Uses

This antacid treats symptoms of medical conditions with too much stomach acid such as heartburn, upset stomach, or indigestion by lowering the amount of acid in the stomach. Calcium carbonate may also be used to prevent or treat low blood calcium levels in people who do not get enough calcium from their diets.

How to use calcium carbonate

Take this product by mouth as directed. For the chewable form, chew the medication well before swallowing. For the liquid form, shake the bottle well before each dose. Follow all directions on the product package. Do not take more than the maximum recommended dose stated on the product package. If you are uncertain about any of the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Tell your doctor if your condition persists or worsens. Do not take the maximum dose of the medication for more than 2 weeks unless directed by your doctor. If you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.

Warnings

Side Effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly if constipation, gas, and burping persist or worsen.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely/rare but serious side effects occur:

loss of appetite
nausea/vomiting
unusual weight loss
bone/muscle pain
mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion)
headache
increased thirst/urination
unusual weakness/tiredness
change in the amount of urine

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions

Precautions

Allergic reaction to this medication.
Not to be used by patients with high calcium levels (hypercalcemia) or stomach/intestinal blockage.
Patients with kidney disease(e.g., kidney stones) or condition that requires you to restrict your intake of aspartame (orphenylalanine).
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this medication.
Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Consult your doctor regarding the precautions mentioned above.

Interactions

Some products that may interact with this drug include:

Digoxin
certain phosphate binders (such as calcium acetate)
phosphatesupplements (such as potassium phosphate)
sodium polystyrene sulfonate

Calcium carbonate can affect how other drugs work. Some examples of affected drugs include:

tetracyclineantibiotics (such as doxycycline, minocycline)
bisphosphonates (such asalendronate)
estramustine
iron
levothyroxine
pazopanib
strontium
quinoloneantibiotics (such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin)

Check the labels on all your prescription and nonprescription/herbal products (such as supplements, vitamins) because they may contain calcium. Ask your pharmacist about using those products safely.

Overdose & Brands

Overdose

If overdose is suspected, contact a poison control center or emergency room immediately.

Notes: Keep all regular medical and laboratory appointments.

Lifestyle changes such as stress reduction programs, stopping smoking, limiting alcohol, and diet changes (e.g., avoiding caffeine/certain spices) may help to reduce heartburn and other stomach acid problems. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes that might benefit you.

Storage: Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. See packaging for the exact temperature range. If you have any questions about storage, ask your pharmacist. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Brands:

Available Brands

Calbone [ Blue Sky ]
Calci-Aid [ Bayer ]
Calsan [ Sandoz ]
Gastrocid [ Blue Sky ]
Tums [ GlaxoSmithKline ]

Also marketed as

Calcimate [ The United Drug ]