Supplements Do Calcium Supplements Interfere with Medications? By Shereen Lehman, MS Shereen Lehman, MS Shereen Lehman, MS, is a former writer for Verywell Fit and Reuters Health. She's a healthcare journalist who writes about healthy eating and offers evidence-based advice for regular people. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 10, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print Paul Bodea Calcium supplements can interact with several medications in different ways, often increasing or decreasing the amount of the drug that's absorbed. And sometimes it works the other way around — the drug changes how much calcium you absorb. Supplements are usually safe to take, but you need to consider what else you're taking and what's going with your body. It's important to talk to your healthcare provider about taking calcium or any supplements if you're on any medications, even over-the-counter medications. Calcium and Antibiotics Calcium supplements can decrease the absorption of fluoroquinolone and tetracycline. Taking the medications and supplements at least two hours apart should help, but again, speak with your healthcare provider. Calcium supplements should probably be avoided altogether if you're taking gentamicin, another type of antibiotic. Calcium and Osteoporotic Medications Bisphosphonates are medications used to treat osteoporosis. Taking them at the same time as calcium supplements may decrease absorption of the medication, so they should be taken at least two hours apart from the calcium. On the other hand, estrogens increase calcium absorption, which can improve bone density. Calcium, Diuretics, and Other Blood Pressure Medications Diuretics are used to remove fluid from your body and reduce blood pressure. Some types of diuretics may affect your blood levels of calcium. Potassium-sparing and thiazide diuretics can increase the amount of calcium in your blood, and loop diuretics cause calcium levels to go down. Calcium supplements and beta-blockers may interfere with each other. And, not surprisingly, calcium may interfere with calcium channel blockers. Don't take any calcium supplements with these blood pressure medications unless your healthcare provider tells you to take them. Calcium, Antacids, and Laxatives Both aluminum- and magnesium-containing antacids increase the amount of calcium that's excreted in your urine, which means you might lose calcium. And one form of calcium supplements called calcium citrate may increase the amount of aluminum that's absorbed from those antacids. Some over-the-counter antacids are made of calcium carbonate, which absorbs the acid in your stomach. It's important to follow label instructions to prevent absorbing too much calcium from these antacids. Laxatives that contain magnesium may decrease the amount of calcium absorbed from calcium supplements. Calcium and Anti-Seizure Medications Anti-seizure medications, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and primidone, may lower your calcium levels. They need to be taken at least two hours apart from calcium supplements. In addition, your healthcare provider may suggest taking vitamin D supplements along with your anti-seizure medications to try to keep calcium levels close to normal levels. Cholesterol Medications One type of cholesterol-reducing medication, called bile acid sequestrants, may increase calcium loss in the urine, so your healthcare provider may recommend taking calcium and vitamin D supplements. Really, this is so important that it bears repeating: You need to talk to your healthcare provider about any dietary supplements you are taking, especially if you have any health conditions or are taking any medications, including prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs. 2 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institutes of Health; Office of Dietary Supplements. Calcium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. University of Michigan Medicine. Magnesium oxide. Additional Reading St. Luke's Hospital. Possible interactions with: Calcium. By Shereen Lehman, MS Shereen Lehman, MS, is a former writer for Verywell Fit and Reuters Health. She's a healthcare journalist who writes about healthy eating and offers evidence-based advice for regular people. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit