calcium carbonate & thyroid replacement

[spazkat]

I'm  levothyroxin daily, and need calcium for osteopinia.  Was instructed to take Citracal, so assumed the calcium in carbonate form has a negative reaction with thyroid meds.  I recently bought the Slow Release Citracal, and only now read that it is mostly calcium carbonate.  Should I stop taking it?
Thanks for taking my question.

[gimel]

Are you taking the calcium for bone issues?

[Nanna19542020]

I understand your question bc I have the same one, folks are not understanding that  slow release means throughout the day, so far I haven’t found an answer either

[Barb135]

spazkat has not participated on the forum since this thread, which is over 2 yrs old.

Calcium citrate is the best (most easily absorbed) type of calcium to take.  The thing to remember is that supplements, particularly, calcium, magnesium, etc should be separated from thyroid medication by at least 4 hours, since they interfere with absorption of thyroid med.  

Another thing to keep in mind is that the body can't absorb more than about 600 mg calcium, at one time, so it's best to take it in 2 doses.

If you take your levo in the morning, it would be safe to take one 600 calcium at noon and another at bedtime.  Of course, it all depends on your personal schedule -- just be sure to keep the 4 hour separation between thyroid med and supplements.

[justgirl]

Still don't know the answer to your original question.  I am on Levo and need additional calcium plus d and can't decide whether the slow release Citracal or the maximum Citracal is best.  Can someone answer this?

[spazkat]

The thyroid problem came first. Synthetic medication destroys the thyroid, so it's a life-long condition.  I need calcium for osteopenia, early stage of osteoporosis. I was told to get at least 1200 mg of calcium, in the citrate form so as not to interfere with the thyroid replacement med. Citracal was specified, but in its 12 hour release form (supposedly more easily assimilated), it's mostly calcium carbonate, not all calcium citrate.  thus my question.
  
    As for reflux being a side effect of low thyroid, reflux isn't even mentioned in "Living Well With Hypothyroidism" by Mary Shomon...a very good manual for the topic.   I'd recommend it for anyone just diagnosed with low thyroid. A reflux diagnosis for me several years ago turned out to be diverticulosis instead. Reflux treatment was only aggravating it!  
  Your question actually caused me to refer back to it this morning, and it helped with my original calcium  question!    thanks!   Hope some of this helps.

[Nanna19542020]

So what did you decide about the slow release Citracal? I’ll be seeing my RA doc soon, plan on discussing it with him.

[flyingfool]

Do not know about interaction of medicines.

but I'm curious as to why you are taking Calcium Carbonate?  The reason I ask is that I recently learned that there is a connection between acid reflux and low Thyroid.