Calcium supplements and alendronic acid

[Fruitjuice41]

I have just read a comment on Facebook where someone had questioned taking alendronic acid with bottled water with a high calcium content: "If calcium is taken at the same time as AA it will block the absorption of AA and so it won't be effective"

My GP told me to continue to take over the counter calcium (magnesium and Vitamin D) supplements when I started my Alendronic Acid prescription.

I take my AA every Friday morning before I take the dog out for a walk. About 45 minutes later I have my breakfast and take my daily calcium tablet.

Will this block the AA absorption?

[cocoa]

I was in hospital when I was diagnosed with osteoporosis.

On the day that I took the alendronic acid in the morning, they missed the morning dose of calcium and resumed it in the evening. This continued for the two months that I was hospitalised.

[Rooruby]

You should try and take Adcal D3 I was told it has to be D3. Also you must leave it for at least 1 hour or more I used to miss my calcuim and take it in the evening tbh.

[Motown_1960]

Hi I was in alendronic acid along with Adcal-D3., I was told by the nurse from the Rheumatology department to take the AA with plenty of tap water and wait 4 hours before l took the vitamins .

I am now on Teriparatide injections.

Take care

[Lunasgran]

I have been told not to take my calcium supplement on the day I take the alendronic acid tablet.

[Fruitjuice41 in reply to Lunasgran]

Thanks I’ll stop taking it on Friday

[1000Miler]

As an absolute minimum, you definitely should not be taking a calcium supplement within less than 2 hours of taking alendronic acid. Ideally, you should wait considerably longer than 2 hours.If you're taking calcium every morning and evening, skip the morning one on the day you take your alendronic acid, or just don't take any calcium on that day.

Pharmacists and GPs should make this much clearer on the labels that they stick onto the prescription boxes, as many people read the instruction leaflet inside the box.

[Fruitjuice41 in reply to 1000Miler]

Thank you, I only take one a day so I’ll skip Fridays