Anyone been prescribed calcium tablets?

[Finvola]

I’ve just been prescribed calcium tablets but on checking side effects, I find first on the list of common side effects is irregular heartbeat. 😩

I’d be interested in anyone’s experience as it seems like such an unusual aspect of a common substance.

[P0rtnahapp1e]

Hi Finvola , my husband takes them as he’s in a great deal of pain and waiting for an MRI scan. He calls them his chalk tablets. No irregular heartbeats yet, (except when he sees me) 😂

[Finvola in reply to P0rtnahapp1e]

Ha - so you set his heart a-flutter!!

My concern is that it may upset the stability I currently have but on reading up on calcium, too low a level is as bad for the heart as the supplements. You can’t win!

It looks like there might be some good weather coming your way for the Open - not my sport but hope it goes well.

[Hidden]

I take Accrete D3 twice a day, prescription.

It doesn’t list irregular heartbeat on leaflet.... maybe switch?

[Finvola in reply to Hidden]

Thank you - I have just talked to my pharmacist who said it can cause some bumps until the heart gets used to the dose but if it happens, it is usually mild.

[10gingercats]

Been taking Calcichew and Vit D combo. via GP for 10 years....my very quiet perm. afib. is happy with it ...no problems

[Finvola in reply to 10gingercats]

Great news and thank you for it - the ones I’ve been given are combos of calcium and vit D.

[secondtry]

Interesting point you raise Finvola as I have, until just last month, always had a high calcium diet - I love cheese, cream and full milk and we are lucky enough to get it all from a biodynamic organic farm source. However, that has stopped now not because of AF but seen a small trend of rising PSA re prostate, where high calcium is also rumoured to be not good. I look forward to anybody else's comments.

[Finvola in reply to secondtry]

I reduced my intake of some dairy products to keep my cholesterol levels in range and had hoped that increasing that again would have done the trick - love full fat (real) milk too.

[opal11uk]

I was prescribed 11 years ago when I had breast cancer, the oncologist said that every woman over 50 should take them and I take two daily. I have had P/A/F since 1998 now under control with drugs and a trusty pacemaker.

[Finvola in reply to opal11uk]

Thank you opal - that’s very positive.

[CALady95747 in reply to opal11uk]

My Oncologist told me the same thing. I take two calcium tablets, plus two D3's every day. Received a Pacemaker/Defibrillator Oct. 2018. Hmm, maybe there is a correlation between the two?

[morpheo in reply to opal11uk]

Started taking Natecal D3 last April, today I have been diagnosed AFib.

[jennydog]

I have had no problem with calcium supplements. As I have not gone grey it is likely that I have strong bones. Hitherto whenever I have fallen I have bounced - but that could be the padding!

My son told me that he had started taking Vit D tablets and was pleased with the results so I started to take them too. Recently I have read that everyone should take them daily. Certainly Vit D is important for bone health.

[Buffafly in reply to jennydog]

That is very interesting - I didn't know there was a correlation between hair state and bone strength? I haven't gone grey except in streaks and people often comment on it - some people assume it is a very expensive colour treatment job! I am quite slim but I have 'bounced' too, I really should have broken something a couple of times but cracked ribs were the worst injury.

[jennydog in reply to Buffafly]

I read some time agonthat there was a correlation. I, too, now have to explain that I don't dye my mop!

My brother, a red head who has gone a bit grey, had his bone strength tested last year. He was told that his result was the best that they had ever had. It must be an inherited thing!

[Finvola in reply to jennydog]

I never knew there was a link between grey hair and bone condition. I started going grey in my 30’s but have never broken a bone. I flop rather than bounce. 😀

[opal11uk in reply to jennydog]

really laughed at this Jenny because I can relate hehehe however I have just lost almost 5 stone and know that I must not go falling over cos the padding has gone and I will no longer bounce, I have also now let my hair become au natural so have a beautiful head of blonde or is it silver hair lol

[Buffafly]

I think quantity is a factor. My sister-in-law had metastatic bone cancer and we were told the high level of calcium in her blood would stop her heart. As she had very good insurance she was able to have regular blood treatment to counteract that - not a good thing as it turned out. Sorry if that is TMI 🤗

[Finvola in reply to Buffafly]

From what I’ve read, the data on calcium’s role in heart health is quite recent - especially the effect of high levels. I have a couple of weeks on these tabs, then another blood test.

All of this arose from my routine blood test for kidney function as an Apixaban patient. It shows how important it is to have those tests regularly.

[Auriculaire]

If taking calcium supplements in high doses then it is advisable to take vit K2. This helps the calcium go to where it should ie bones and teeth and not where it shouldn't - artery walls, breast tissue and kidneys. There has been some controversy about whether calcium supplements promote artery calcification. You would be better going back to trying to get a good level of calcium in your diet and not worry about cholesterol levels. Large epidemiological studies show that older women live longer with higher than current 'normal' range choesterol. The latest one from Scandinavia even shows they have less heart disease!

[secondtry in reply to Auriculaire]

Totally agree on cholesterol levels. I have had around 7 on tests for 20+ years and resisted suggestions by medics to take pills. Due to AF I had my heart and carotid scanned and all clear! As mentioned in a posted link here yesterday, you would do more good by reducing inflammation levels in the body by simply taking your shoes and socks off and grounding - no cost no side effects!

[KMRobbo in reply to secondtry]

I have "high" cholesterol 6.5 ish, but not on any medication cos my good cholesterol is higher than the bad. Whether cholesterol is bad for you is a lot more compliicated than just the total reading. There were studies posted several months ago (one by me) which explained that.

[secondtry in reply to KMRobbo]

Thanks Robbo, I should have said that. My good stuff (HDL) over my total percentage wise is going up, which is good news I believe.

[KMRobbo in reply to secondtry]

Yes I think that "high cholesterol" is often ( Not always) a bit of a scam

[Finvola in reply to Auriculaire]

A few years back my cholesterol levels were raised and I had to resist my GP's efforts to prescribe statins. I agree that diet is the best way to cope long term and hopefully, this is just a glitch.

[Auriculaire in reply to Finvola]

I just don't see raised cholesterol levels as a bad thing for women . My total cholesterol and my LDL are always slightly over the top of the so called normal range. It does not bother me. But my HDL is quite high and triglycerides well within range. Luckily my doc is too sensible to suggest a statin. He knows me well and knows what reaction he would get! Last lot of blood tests he prescribed he did not even include a lipid profile.

[Stobban]

Hi Finvola,

Yes I can say that they do cause some side effects as they did with me. I read of the benefits of Calcium tablets as well as others but solely the Calcium were exceptionally good for the heart, arteries etc; so I went ahead and bought a bottle. After a week I did get uncomfortable side effects so stopped taking them and have never tried them again since. If the side effects had been mild or short-lived I would have continued but decided sensibly, to discontinue them.

[Finvola in reply to Stobban]

Thank you for sharing your experience Stobban. Very often the fillers in tablets are a source of problems and I notice sucrose is listed in the ingredients of the ones I am taking. It’s something I normally try to avoid. Time will tell if they have been effective . . .

[Hidden]

One of the listed side-effects of the pills I take to control my irregular heart, is irregular heart beats 🤷‍♂️⁉️

[Finvola in reply to Hidden]

😂😂😂. Love that one - you really can’t win!!

[vovvarna22]

Hello,

I have AF and SVT and have taken calcium medication for several years now It's called "Ad Cal". I don't think I've noticed any difference in my irregular pulse rate.

[Finvola in reply to vovvarna22]

Hello

Yes, that’s what I have been prescribed too and I’ve noticed no ill effects from it either. 🙂

[opal11uk]

I was diagnosed with P/A/F over 20 years ago, I started taking the D3 twice a day when I got breast cancer 12 years ago, the Oncologist stating that every woman over the age of 50 should taken them..........I have, to my knowledge, suffered no ill effects and having had 3 or 4 bad falls have never broken a bone so thankful for that.