Calcium - how much?

[artisam]

Just beginning my first dose of pred - I realise I need to take calcium too. My question is, is there enough in my daily multi vit or do I need more?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Depends on how much is in it! The recommended supplement for patients on pred is 2x 5-600mg calcium/day taken separately, You can only absorb about 500mg calcium at a time but I think 1200mg is the recommended daily amount. You will have some in your diet too. Vit D is equally as important though and I am sure you will need more than is in most daily multivits.

[artisam in reply to PMRpro]

Thought so, but husband's know best!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to artisam]

Yeah. If you say so ...

[piglette]

I get prescribed vit D with calcium, so don’t bother with multi vitamins some of which I probably do not need anyway.

[artisam in reply to piglette]

Thanks, I'll look into that.

[Blossom20]

Hi Artisam, don't forget you musn't take calcium supplement at the same time as pred because it stops absorption. I am just learning all these little things being a newbie myself!

[artisam in reply to Blossom20]

Blimey this is getting complicated! Thanks for the advice.😊

[Daffodilia]

GP gave me Adcal and Alendronic Acid

[PamJCam]

Please be careful with alendronic acid I now have a sliding hiatus hernia from taking this... and it’s for life😢 it’s changed my life probably more than PMR has.,,,😢 I did exactly what the directions told you but my Gastroenterologist told me it was the AA that directly caused it. I’m now being told I can have it intravenously but very reluctant to have it at all😢😢😢

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PamJCam]

Did he ever explain how it caused it? Just wondering ...

[artisam in reply to PamJCam]

Eek! I'll certainly be aware of that if it arises.

[2020tango]

Hi Artisam, It’s 4 months since my PMR diagnosis, so all the best to you. If you know your food groups you maybe know if you’re taking enough in your food? As women we know the dangers of osteoporosis post-menopause so maybe we have already been adjusting our diet accordingly. This is what I’d said to the GP a couple of months ago, but I had a follow-up telephone discussion a couple of days ago with the GP I originally saw and calcium was discussed again. This time a link to an online calcium calculator was recommended. As I thought, my intake was fine, but I had no idea that oranges were a source of calcium! Chocolate, cake also included 😉but you’ll be eating sardines regularly now as they are the best source. If you have a play around with it maybe you can adjust your intake so you don’t need any supplements. Hope you find the link useful, I’ve seen other online calcium calculators too.

cgem.ed.ac.uk/research/rheu...

[artisam in reply to 2020tango]

That is fantastic. I do have a lot of calcium in my diet already so I will check this out. 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to artisam]

You probably do need more than the RDA when on pred - the reason for the supplements. And you need separate vit D - not a lot in food.

[AdoptMeow]

The additional rule to utilize is that magnesium is essential for incorporating calcium into new bone growth (also essential to keep heart beating). The recommended amount is half the number of mg as calcium, e.g. if calcium is 1200mg then obtain 600mg magnesium. The compounds with better absorption and bioavailability are magnesium lactate, aspartate, chloride or citrate.

[artisam in reply to AdoptMeow]

Ok I'm getting it now I think. Recommended source anyone? Online, Holland and Barratt, pharmacy?

[Whippetygirl]

Be very careful if Adcal AND Alendronic Acid are prescribes , I ended up with kidney stones, twice, three weeks apart I ended up in the back of an ambulance in the early hours of the morning on intravenous morphine.