Expert: Tonja Wells - 12/31/2006

Question
My husband takes coral calcium along with his blood pressure/cholesterol medicine.  My question is does he need to take this coral calcium at a different time then his other medicine?  A doctor told me that calcium citrate would bind with medicine and affect the effectiveness of it, so to take it 30-60 minutes afterwards, so my husband needs to know if this is applicable to coral calcium too.

Answer
Here is a little more information I found. Hope it helps.

Calcium citrate and calcium carbonate essentially have the same effects on the body at different absorption rates.  Pending on the medical doctors advise it would be okay to take the Coral Calcium one hour to one half hour after the medications but I would still question the reason as to why he is talking coral calcium.


I always suggest taking medication and nutrients at a different time.  Often they do the same thing which can be to much.  
I personally don't suggest coral calcium as it is ONLY for a person with an EXTREMLY acid pH. It is a short term supplment which can push calcium out of solution.

I don't have an answer to your question but really question why you are doing coral calcium. Coral Calcium is from coral not calcium citrate but carbonate whihc supresses hydrocloric acid in the stomach.  Ask your doctor or pharmacist if carbonate binds with this medication as well. I have three sources of contraindications and none show this information so please check with your pharmacist as well.