CALCIT-Z TAB
— Product

CALCIT-Z TAB

CALCIUM CARBONATE 500MG + ELEMENTAL CALCIUM 200MG + ZINC 7.5MG

CALCIT-Z TAB is a tablet of calcium carbonate 500 mg providing 200 mg elemental calcium, with zinc 7.5 mg. It is used as a calcium and zinc supplement in osteopenia and osteoporosis, in pregnancy and lactation, during growth, and where dietary intake of either mineral is inadequate.

01

Benefits

  • Calcium carbonate is a concentrated and economical calcium source, well absorbed when taken with food.
  • Zinc is a cofactor in bone matrix formation and in the enzymes of bone turnover, and deficiency impairs bone healing.
  • Zinc also supports normal immune function, wound healing and taste perception, all commonly impaired in deficiency.
  • Supplementing both minerals together addresses the deficiencies that often coexist in a limited diet.
  • Useful in convalescence and after fracture, where both minerals are in greater demand.
02

Side effects

Not everyone gets these. Most are mild and settle as the course finishes.

Common
  • Constipation
  • Nausea, particularly on an empty stomach
  • Bloating or flatulence
  • Metallic taste from the zinc
Less common
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Loss of appetite
  • Loose stools
  • Raised blood or urine calcium with prolonged high dosing
Stop and get medical help if any of these occur
  • Severe constipation, or abdominal pain with vomiting
  • Loin pain or blood in the urine
  • Marked thirst, frequent urination, confusion or unusual drowsiness
  • Persistent vomiting with weakness
  • Irregular heartbeat
03

Precautions

  • Contraindicated in hypercalcaemia, hypercalciuria and a history of calcium-containing kidney stones.
  • Take with food. Calcium carbonate requires gastric acid for absorption and is poorly absorbed on an empty stomach or alongside a proton pump inhibitor.
  • Do not combine with another calcium or zinc preparation without checking total intake — prolonged high-dose zinc causes copper deficiency.
  • Calcium and zinc both impair absorption of tetracycline and fluoroquinolone antibiotics, thyroid hormone, iron and bisphosphonates. Separate doses by at least two to four hours.
  • Use with caution in renal impairment and in sarcoidosis.
  • Increase fluid and fibre intake to offset constipation.
  • Prolonged high-dose use warrants periodic checks of serum calcium and renal function.