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When to Take Calcium Lactate

Calcium lactate is a preventative supplement used to help eliminate existing calcium deficiencies in the body. Calcium is needed by the body for bone generation and maintenance, and it is a mineral that aids in binding other minerals in the body so that they can be readily removed. There is a specific time when calcium lactate should be taken and when it should be avoided. Appropriate dosages are beneficial to the body, but improper dosages can prove dangerous.

  1. Who Needs Calcium Lactate?

    • Women might require additional calcium intake while they are pregnant to ensure the healthy growth of the child in utero. Breast feeding women can also benefit from the supplement's use. The elderly might also require a calcium supplement to help in preventing the onset of osteoporosis and to ensure the health of their bones. In addition, because calcium is derived from milk products and milk, those who have lactose intolerance might not get all of the calcium needed by the body via natural sources. This makes a calcium lactate supplement ideal for the lactose intolerant. Although it is true that calcium lactate is a type of calcium in milk and milk products, the supplement does not produce the same allergic reactions that consuming milk or milk products do because the supplement does not contain lactose.

    Dosing

    • Your doctor will prescribe calcium lactate, and the mineral should be consumed as your physician prescribes. The pills are to be consumed whole, not chewed, and can be taken with an eight-ounce glass of water. People ages 19 to 50 are often prescribed a dose of calcium lactate that consists of 1,000 milligrams a day, but older individuals are usually prescribed 1,200 milligrams daily. It is best if you consume calcium lactate with a meal to ease digestion and to assist in its absorption by the body.

    Potential Drug Interactions

    • You must tell your doctor if you are taking certain medications because the calcium lactate supplement can interact with digoxin, other calcium supplements, antacids with aluminum or calcium in their ingredients, vitamin D supplements, and antibiotics such as tetracycline, demeclocycline, coxycycline, minocyclcline and oxytetracycline. You might require a limited dosage of the supplement, or you might need to be closely observed for potential drug interactions if you are taking any of the above medications. In the case of antibiotics, you cannot take calcium lactate until you have used the full course of the antibiotics because the supplement will diminish their effect. The mineral has the ability to bind to certain medications and to alter the medication's acidity, thereby weakening their effect.

    Allergic Reactions and Overdose Symptoms

    • If you are taking calcium lactate and you note allergic symptoms or symptoms of an overdose, you will have to stop taking the product immediately. Allergic symptoms include things such as hives, respiratory difficulties, throat swelling, a swelling of the face, tongue and lips and a rash. Overdose symptoms include confusion, stomach upset, vomiting, poor appetite, dehydration, frequent urination, delirium, stupor, constipation and coma.

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