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What is the most important information I should know about calcium-vitamin D?

Contact your doctor if you experience weakness, headache, nausea and vomiting, dry mouth, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, constipation, a metallic taste in your mouth, increased thirst and/or urination, decreased appetite, or muscle or bone pain.

Do not take calcium and vitamin D combinations without first talking to your doctor if you take other medications. Calcium can decrease the effects of many other medicines by binding to them.

Warning

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed

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What is calcium-vitamin D?

Calcium is a mineral that is found naturally in foods. Calcium is necessary for many normal functions of your body, especially bone formation and maintenance. Vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium from the stomach and for the functioning of calcium in the body.

Calcium and vitamin D combinations are used to prevent or to treat a calcium deficiency.

Calcium and vitamin D combinations may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.


Precautions

Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you

  • have kidney disease;
  • have (or have had in the past) kidney stones;
  • have heart disease;
  • have circulation problems;
  • have parathyroid gland disease;
  • take a tetracycline antibiotic such as tetracycline (Sumycin, Achromycin V, Tetralan, and others), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin, Monodox, Doryx, Doxy, and others), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin, and others), or oxytetracycline (Terramycin, and others).

You may not be able to take calcium and vitamin D combinations, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions, or take any of the medications, listed above.

Talk to your doctor before taking calcium and vitamin D combinations if you are pregnant.

Talk to your doctor before taking calcium and vitamin D combinations if you are breast-feeding.

If you take other medicines, do not take calcium and vitamin D combinations without first talking to your doctor.

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Instructions

Seek emergency medical attention.

Symptoms of a calcium overdose include irregular heartbeats, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, a metallic taste in the mouth, confusion decreased appetite, constipation, weakness, headache, delirium, stupor, and coma.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take only your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medicine unless your doctor directs otherwise.

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Side-effects

If you experience any of the following side effects, seek emergency medical attention or talk to your doctor:

  • an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives);
  • an irregular heartbeat;
  • nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite;
  • dry mouth;
  • constipation;
  • weakness;
  • headache;
  • a metallic taste;
  • muscle or bone pain; or
  • drowsiness.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

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Interactions

Before taking calcium and vitamin D combinations, tell your doctor if you are taking

  • digoxin (Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps);
  • antacids containing calcium, aluminum, or magnesium;
  • other calcium supplements;
  • calcitriol (Rocaltrol) or other vitamin D supplements; or
  • a tetracycline antibiotic such as tetracycline (Sumycin, Achromycin V, Tetralan, and others), demeclocycline (Declomycin), doxycycline (Vibramycin, Monodox, Doryx, Doxy, and others), minocycline (Minocin, Dynacin, and others), or oxytetracycline (Terramycin, and others).

You may not be able to take calcium and vitamin D combinations, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during your treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.

Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with calcium and vitamin D combinations. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

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Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04

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