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Doctor insights on: Benefits Of Calcium Carbonate

Yes: Please discuss this with your doctor.

AGN: Calcium & phosphorus r important for healthy bones, muscles, and nerves; however, in renal disease phosphorus may accumulate leading to unwanted consequences (including lowered calcium); thus calcium supplements (citrate/ carbonate/et al) r given to bind excess phosphate for excretion.

There is no specific: ...contraindication to taking these two supplements in the same 24 hour period. 1800 mg of calcium is 2x higher than the total recommended from food and supplements. Taking calcium supplements WITH food increases their absorption. At high doses, calcium can cause digestive problems. It's important to stay hydrated when taking calcium supplements of any kind. Dr. Anne.

Not really: Using antacid will reduce acicidity in your stomach briefly but not change course of gastroesophageal reflux disease per se. If you have gerd then the symptom relief will be least relieved in degree and duration by antacids, more by type 2 histamine blockers e.g. Zantac/ranitidine, pepcid/famotidune; & best with proton pump inhibitors (ppi's) like nexium, prilosec/omeprazole, dexilant, (dexlansoprazole) prevacid.

Calcium: You can take calcium carbonate or calcium citrate. Make sure and follow the directions on the bottle as to whether or not to take it with food. Natural calcium is even more important than supplements however.

Seek medical help: Tums is calcium carbonate. Too much in the system can lead to digestive irritations, constipation and diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, muscle twitching, irregular heartbeat, confusion, depression, even coma. Treatment is activated charcoal, or gastric lavage.

Tums (calcium carbonate): Tums (Calcium Carbonate) can help reduce symptoms from indigestion, stomach upset & heart burn. It can be used for calcium deficiency.

Best not to: How long expired? If a day or 2 ok but should get new tums (calcium carbonate).

Not a problem: Your body will effectively deal with the extra calcium and antiacid character of more Tums (calcium carbonate) than the usual dose. This is not dangerous.

What R U treating?: If for GERD, there are far better choices. If for treatment of osteopenia, there are far better choices here too. Excessive calcium intake may backfire--hyperacidity, kidney stones, more (see Dr. Heidi Fowler's excellent HealthTap answer on the subject).

Possibly: Taking in too much Tums (calcium carbonate) can greatly increase your serum calcium levels which can be dangerous. Make sure you discuss with your doctor some other options of acid suppression if that is the case.

Tums (calcium carbonate) overdose: Can lead to nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain/ cramping, decreased appetite, constipation, diarrhea, confusion, delirium, coma, depression, involuntary muscle twitching & cardiac arrhythmia. Serious effects from Tums (calcium carbonate) (especially with chronic use) could include rebound hyperacidity, gall stones, calcinosis, hypercalcemia, metabolic acidosis & renal injury)

Many: There are many alternatives such as zantac, (ranitidine) pepcid, prilosec, prevacid. If you require theses meds chronically you should speak to your doctor or see a GI doc.

Nothing really: Tums is calcium carbonate. Eating too many once is probably fine, but how many is too many? I would not chronically ingest "too many" as this can lead to medical problems. If you're having symptoms you probably should be on another medication and see your gi doctor.

No but....: Tums (calcium carbonate) is calcium and can often be used to supplement calcium intake for people who are at risk for thin bones. However, if you are taking Tums (calcium carbonate) daily for heartburn or indigestion or some other symptom that you are treating, then you could be masking a more serious problem and you should talk to your doctor.

Typically immediate: Typically immediately.

Yes: You can. Lansoprozol is a proton pump inhibitor

Yes: Too many tums (or other antacids containing calcium carbonate) over an extended period of time can lead to "milk alkali syndrome" in which there are high levels of calcium in the blood & a shift in the body's acid-base balance towards alkaline. This can lead to calcium deposits in the kidneys & other tissues as well as kidney stones. Limit calcium intake to 1500 mg/day in divided doses.

Be careful: If you are taking it for acid reflux, there are better options such as proton pump inhibitors. Regular use of TUMs (calcium carbonate) can lead to high levels of calcium which can be dangerous. Talk to your doctor about this.

Please don't eat: Medications for fun. There can be serious effects from Tums (calcium carbonate) (especially with chronic use or taking too much) such as rebound hyperacidity, constipation, gall stones, calcinosis, hypercalcemia, metabolic acidosis & renal injury)