Calcium: When to Take It & How to Track It

What is Calcium?

Calcium is the mineral that builds and maintains bones and teeth, and it also helps muscles, nerves and blood vessels work. Dairy foods, canned fish with bones, leafy greens and fortified foods are the main sources. Calcium supplements mostly come in two forms, carbonate and citrate, and they behave differently with food. Calcium also gets in the way of a few medicines and of iron, so where it sits in your day matters. Many people split calcium into more than one dose, which adds another reminder to keep straight.

When to take Calcium: general timing information

• Calcium carbonate is absorbed best with food. Calcium citrate is absorbed well with or without food. [1]

• The body absorbs calcium best in smaller amounts at one time, so a daily amount is sometimes split into two doses. Follow the split on your label or from your doctor. [1]

• Levothyroxine is not absorbed well when taken within 4 hours of a calcium carbonate supplement. [1]

• Calcium can lower blood levels of the HIV medicine dolutegravir, and long-term lithium use with calcium can raise blood calcium too high. Ask your pharmacist about timing. [1]

• Calcium might interfere with iron absorption, so taking calcium and iron at different times of day can help. [2]

How to set a Calcium reminder in Pillzy

1. 1

   Tap + in Pillzy and add your calcium supplement, noting whether it is carbonate or citrate.

2. 2

   For calcium carbonate, set Meal Timing to During meal.

3. 3

   If your doctor split the dose, choose Twice daily and set each time at a meal.

4. 4

   If you take levothyroxine or iron, set those reminders at different times and add a note with the gap.

5. 5

   Mark each dose taken so you can see whether you are getting both doses or just one.