Pred and Calcium thanks!

[Roltuba]

Thanks everyone. Heaven preserve us from unspecific information. Heard about the Thyroxine suggestion before but nothing on that leaflet either except “before breakfast”. Suppose I’d better take the Adcal around 5pm in case it does matter, but it’s a flippin’ job to remember everything all over the place including 4 sets of eyedrops at the right intervals. Just wish it would all leave me in peace! Feeling better at the moment so should count my blessings, even booked a holiday, first in the motorhome for 4 years.

[Hidden]

Well at least you can’t do any harm that way!

[Blearyeyed]

Sounds good , a holiday after so long will build up the mental strength to cope with it all.

Taking the Calcium at dinner sounds sensible too as it is likely to be well away from anytime you take other medications.

Big hug from a fellow constant eye dropper!!😘

[Roltuba in reply to Blearyeyed]

As long as I’m not eating spinach, brown rice, wholemeal anything etc.... 😖

[Blearyeyed in reply to Roltuba]

Do you have gastric problems as well or is that just for combination reasons?

[Roltuba in reply to Blearyeyed]

No, that’s what it says on the Adcal leaflet.

[Blearyeyed in reply to Roltuba]

Yes , just checking, it's the combination reasons then 👍

[HeronNS]

Don't take any more than 500 mg calcium, max, in a single dose. If you need two doses try one near bedtime (provided it's not interfering with any other med). Your body can only properly absorb that amount at one time so it will be wasted, either excreted or deposited in the wrong places, if you take a larger dose.

I'm having a similar problem, trying to take three doses of calcium, two doses of liquid iron and one dose of pred all of which should be taken with food. Fortunately can take one dose of iron with pred. But I forget, and then I have to not take something. Today it's calcium. Yesterday it was iron. Sigh.

[Cross-stitcher in reply to HeronNS]

Please can you give me the official basis for this recommendation (of not taking more than 500mg calcium in a single dose)? My calcium/vit D3 (from my GP) are 1000 mg/880IU, in a single tablet, not splitable and "to be taken each morning". However, as I also take levothyroxine and (currently) 11.25mg Pred, I always take the calcium just after lunch (together with vit K2 and co-enzyme Q10) so as to leave at least 4 hours between the pred/thyro and the calcium.

[HeronNS in reply to Cross-stitcher]

Here's one:

mayoclinic.org/healthy-life...

Section on "absorbability".

[Cross-stitcher in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks HeronNS. It does seem odd, then, that my GP-prescribed these tablets which are 1000mg each (actually 2500mg calcium carbonate) and they cannot be split AND that I have been told to take one (suck or chew) every morning, especially as I am taking Pred and levothyroxine in the mornings. Luckily, I don't seem to have side-effects if I take the tablet immediately after lunch, when hopefully there is enough acid in my stomach to react with the calcium carbonate. I understand that calcium citrate tablets are available but are considerably more expensive.

[HeronNS in reply to Cross-stitcher]

If you have no alternative I would suggest you also take Vitamin K2. Unfortunately that is going to be expensive. Food sources available - grass fed animals including dairy and eggs (never grain fed, not even for "finishing") and fermented foods supply a little. Our own gut can convert some K1, but apparently not very efficiently. Also available from Japanese fermented soy, natto, actually the source of the supplements. Look for supplement or natto which is "organic" as you want to avoid GMO and glyphosates.

Vitamin K2 (and magnesium, btw) send calcium to the bones where we want it, so it doesn't float around and then settle in organs on walls of blood vessels where it can do harm.

Is this supplement available in 500 mg tablets? You could ask for a change next time prescription renewed.

[Cross-stitcher in reply to HeronNS]

I am already taking vit K2, at the same time (with lunch) as I take the calcium, D3, and also co-enzyme Q10. I do worry about unnecessary "drug cocktails" and I will be interested to see what my DEXA scan next week shows. My mother and sister both had/have osteoporosis and broke bones on falling. My last DEXA scan in 2011 showed that I had strong bones, but I am nonetheless happy to take any precautions I can at this stage in my life (I am 71), and so I will follow GP's advice if Alendronic Acid gets recommended, especially as I am now on Pred which neither of my relatives had to cope with. I am also on low-dose HRT and have been for years, partially for bone protection.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Cross-stitcher]

Just tell your GP you want the 2x daily dose and why. Why can't they be split?

At a guess you have the HRT to thank - I'm pretty sure that is why my bone density has been fine and barely shifted in over 7 years on pred.

[Cross-stitcher in reply to PMRpro]

My GP practice prescribes Theical rather than Adcal, probably because they are cheaper, but you get the whole daily dose in a single tablet (large, round, white, no break line). They are a bit chalky but dissolve OK in the mouth, especially if taken with an after-lunch cup of coffee !! I can try asking for Adcal instead.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Cross-stitcher]

Bet you could cut them with a sharp knife - doesn't have to be exact.

[Constance13 in reply to Cross-stitcher]

I cut tablets with my very sharp nail scissors.

[Pippah45]

I understand it is standard practice to leave an hour before breakfast after taking thyroxine. I take NDT on my early trip to the bathroom so often 2-3 hrs before breakfast. It is also important to keep iron supplements as far away from thyroid meds as poss. I am beginning to think I need an alarm set on my mobile for these things.

[Hidden in reply to Pippah45]

Yes, afraid a lot drugs can interact, that’s why l recommend keeping to the same Pharmacist then whenever l have a new med l would always ask them to check for interactions.

Phone alarms are a really helpful.

I’ve just come off Antibiotics 4 times a day, One hour before food or Two after, l had to set my Alarm for 5am to start the day with one, then every six hours, it was the only way l could make it work!