HOW DO CALCIUM SALTS WORK?
Calcium salts are nutritional supplements given to people with calcium deficiency. Calcium is an essential mineral required by the body for various functions, including:
- Preservation of bone mass
- Maintenance of good bone health
- Growth and maintenance of bones and teeth
- Contraction of muscles and heart
- Clotting of blood
- Secretion of hormones and enzymes
- Conduction of nerve impulse
Calcium salts can treat hyperphosphatemia (an electrolyte disorder in which there is an elevated level of phosphate in the blood) by binding to phosphates in the intestine. This combination results in the formation of an insoluble phosphate that is easily excreted through feces, thus reducing the concentration of phosphate in the blood. Calcium salts also prevent kidney stone formation by binding to oxalate crystals in the intestine and preventing its absorption. Oxalate crystals are responsible for stone formation in the kidney.
HOW ARE CALCIUM SALTS USED?
Calcium salts are used to treat calcium deficiency. They are also useful in treating:
- Hyperphosphatemia
- Osteoporosis
- Osteomalacia
- Rickets
- Myasthenia gravis
- Acidity
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
- Lambert-Eaton syndrome
WHAT ARE SIDE EFFECTS OF CALCIUM SALTS?
Calcium salts can cause the following side effects:
- Headache
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Gas
- Vomiting
- Low phosphate level
- Low magnesium level
- Anorexia
- Coma
- Confusion
- Lethargy
The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.
WHAT ARE NAMES OF CALCIUM SALTS?
Generic and brand names of calcium salts include:
- CaCl or CaCl(2)
- Cal-C-Cap
- Cal-Cee
- Calci-Chew
- Calcium acetate
- Calcium carbonate
- Calcium chloride
- Calcium citrate
- Calcium gluconate
- Calcium/vitamin D
- Calphron
- Caltrate 600
- Caltrate 600+D3
- Children's Pepto
- Citracal
- Eliphos
- Gluconate, Ca
- Os-Cal Calcium + D3
- Os-Cal Extra D3
- Os-Cal Ultra
- Oysco 500
- PhosLo
- Phoslyra
- Tums
- Tums Chewy Delights
- Tums Extra
- Tums Freshers
- Tums Kids
- Tums Regular
- Tums Smoothies
- Tums Ultra
