Do calcium supplements cause stomach upset?

[BWVDenise]

I have been taking them after I eat, so it isn't on an empty stomach. Are they known to be "hard" on stomachs?

 

[bananiem]

I have heard that they can cause upset stomach. I take one 600 one with breakfast OOPS! I just realized I forgot this morning! and one with dinner. I had read somewhere that splitting it up seems to help and I don't notice any stomach upset.
Another type might be better for you too. There's different types like calcium carbonate and such.

 

[browneyes]

I'm not sure. I've started taking the Viactiv chews and they don't upset my tummy. And the caramel ones are sooooooooooo good!

 

[BWVDenise]

browneyes, that is the one I've been taking. I can't seem to sleep through the night without feeling like the day's meals aren't going to stay down! I'm just trying to figure out what it might be.

 

[jfulcer]

Since Calcium is the main component in tums, etc... and they are designed to help your tummy feel better, I'm not sure that they would make you feel bad. Have you checked with your doctor to see if 600 mg is too much for you? It's possible to get sick if you're getting TOO much of a certain vitamin in your diet...

 

[whirlsy]

too much calcium can make you sick and even throw up, when I had my thyroid removed they also removed a few of the glands that produce calcium, so they gave me supplements, well let me tell you I couldnt stop getting sick we couldnt figure out why until I forgot to take my pills one day and it was the best I felt in days so I called the doc and they said my other calcium glands (apparently we have a few inside us) must have taken over and I had too much calcium in my body , so I stopped, and felt much better.

 

[newmousecateer]

Actually, my calcium pills say to take them at least 1/2 hr to an hr BEFORE eating. It does say that they can cause upset stomach and heartburn. It says not to lay down at least a 1/2 to and hour after taking them.

 

[BWVDenise]

Well, I'm going to stop using them and see if it makes a difference. I don't lay down after taking them since I usually take one after lunch (and I don't feel sick until the middle of the night). Who knows. I'll see what happens!

 

[BethR]

Here is something that my Ob/Gyne told me the last time I was there to see him.

The body can only absorb about 400 mg of calcium at one time, so you should break up your intake of calcium throughout the day. More than that is just wasted.

So I started taking a multi-vitamin that has calcium in the AM, chew one 400 mg tums in the afternoon, and one 400 mg tums in the evening.

He told me not to forget about including the calcium that you may be getting in your foods as well.

 

[catsrule]

I cannot take calcium supplements, they make me very sick. Not only did they upset my stomach, they made my blood pressure go way up, made me shake, and made me quite sick, all when I started taking these things. I quit taking them and haven't had any of these problems and feel much better. I may be allergic to them or sumpin', all I know is they made me very sick. I will not touch another one, I won't even drink the orange juice or anything like that with the added calcium.