Hydroxy combined with Calcichew D3 Forte question

katat1
katat1 Bots Posts: 43
edited 20. Aug 2009, 18:52 in Living with Arthritis archive
Please bear with me as this may seem like a daft question but it is bugging me and I am hoping somebody with more knowledge and experience than me can answer this one!
I am taking hydroxychloroquine, mtx and calichew D3 forte as my vit D level is low.
The info says you should not take antacids within 4 hours of the hydroxy as the active ingredient in antacids (tums, rennies, etc.) is 500mg of calcium carbonate and this can reduce the effectiveness of the hydroxy by as much as 53%.
Calcichew D3 forte contains 1200 mg of calcium carbonate in each tab and I am supposed to take 2 each day. I had been taking all my meds at the same time mornings and evenings but when I read this info I separated the calcichew to be on the safe side. A few weeks ago I asked the rheumy nurse and she thought it was unnecessary as she said it is not the same thing but I was not convinced because as far as I know, calcium carbonate is calcium carbonate? I asked my GP and she said she had never thought of that one before but it made sense and I should keep them separate as it would not do any harm to do that, so that is what I am doing. I cannot find out any definite info on this and wondered if anyone else has any knowledge of this? I am not confident of my rheumy nurse as she has made a few mistakes in the past, one being that she wrote a prescription for one of my weekly meds as a daily one and the pharmacy gave me a ton of the stuff. When I queried it the pharmacist showed me the prescription but when I told the rheumy nurse she was not in the least apologetic but said the pharmacist was at fault as he should have spotted the error! Ever since then she has been a bit off with me and rushes through my appointments, ticks the boxes and gets me out as fast as she can so I am not sure that her response to my hydroxy/calichew question is any good. If the calcium carbonate in the calcichew does reduce the effect of the hydroxy then others taking them both could also be affected by this. Any answers would be much appreciated!

Comments

  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,397
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Kat,

    I feel I must comment on this but it will add to your Calcichew dilemma rather than help it - sorry :(

    On reading the leaflet I noticed that when eating wholefoods you must wait 2 hours before taking the Calcichew as they interfere with it's absorbtion.

    I eat Shredded Wheat for breakfast or Porridge - both wholefoods - so I used to take my 'morning' Ccw around lunchtime - then it dawned on me the other day that I have brown bread and fruit, usually with my lunch and these are also wholefoods, so now I'm having to try to take them 2 hours after breakfast which can be a nuisance if I'm out and about.

    Did you know this about the wholefoods - because by my reckoning 4 hours after breakfast is around lunchtime? :shock:

    I suppose you could take them 2 hours before you take you Hydroxy whilst you're still in bed and have one eye open:?

    Luv Legs :)
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • katat1
    katat1 Bots Posts: 43
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    lindalegs wrote:
    Hi Kat,

    I feel I must comment on this but it will add to your Calcichew dilemma rather than help it - sorry :(

    On reading the leaflet I noticed that when eating wholefoods you must wait 2 hours before taking the Calcichew as they interfere with it's absorbtion.

    I eat Shredded Wheat for breakfast or Porridge - both wholefoods - so I used to take my 'morning' Ccw around lunchtime - then it dawned on me the other day that I have brown bread and fruit, usually with my lunch and these are also wholefoods, so now I'm having to try to take them 2 hours after breakfast which can be a nuisance if I'm out and about.


    Did you know this about the wholefoods - because by my reckoning 4 hours after breakfast is around lunchtime? :shock:

    I suppose you could take them 2 hours before you take you Hydroxy whilst you're still in bed and have one eye open:?

    Luv Legs :)


    Hi Legs,
    Thanks for that tip - I didn't know that either about the wholefoods so will bear it in mind. It is certainly a difficult juggling act getting the timings right with all these meds! Good idea about taking the calcichew while still in bed. I can set my alarm, wake up and take it then nod off again for a couple of hours - it will be like having a lie in! I always use wholemeal bread at breakfast and sometimes at lunch too so this will have to be factored in now!
    :?
    Luv Kat