Calcium Supplement (Oral Route, Parenteral Route)

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Proper Use

Drink a full glass (8 ounces) of water or juice when taking a calcium supplement. However, if you are taking calcium carbonate as a phosphate binder in kidney dialysis, it is not necessary to drink a glass of water.

This dietary supplement is best taken 1 to 1½ hours after meals, unless otherwise directed by your health care professional. However, patients with a condition known as achlorhydria may not absorb calcium supplements on an empty stomach and should take them with meals.

For individuals taking the chewable tablet form of this dietary supplement:

• Chew the tablets completely before swallowing.

For individuals taking the syrup form of this dietary supplement:

• Take the syrup before meals. This will allow the dietary supplement to work faster.
• Mix in water or fruit juice for infants or children.

Take this dietary supplement only as directed. Do not take more of it and do not take it more often than recommended on the label. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Dosing

The dose medicines in this class will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (capsules, chewable tablets, lozenges, oral solution, oral suspension, syrup, tablets, extended-release tablets, tablets for solution):
  • To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes (Note that the normal daily recommended intakes are expressed as an actual amount of calcium. The salt form [e.g., calcium carbonate, calcium gluconate, etc.] has a different strength):
    For the U.S.
    • Adults and teenagers—800 to 1200 milligrams (mg) per day.
    • Pregnant and breast-feeding females—1200 mg per day.
    • Children 4 to 10 years of age—800 mg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age—400 to 800 mg per day.
    For Canada
    • Adults and teenagers—800 to 1100 mg per day.
    • Adult and teenage females—700 to 1100 mg per day.
    • Pregnant and breast-feeding females—1200 to 1500 mg per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age—700 to 1100 mg per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age—600 mg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age—250 to 550 mg per day.
  • To treat deficiency:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children—Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on severity of deficiency.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

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