The TUM's ad "what your body needs anyway" implies that there is no side effects for long term use of calcium antacid. Is this true?
REPLY:
Your local public library (and possibly Prodigy) should have an article which appeared in the July 1994 issue of Consumer Reports entitled ANTACIDS - Which Beat Heartburn Best? The article nicely summarizes the rationale of antacid use and compares 29 top-selling antacids.
The article points out that calcium carbonate is a good acid neutralizer but not without side-effects if taken in a dose above that recommended by your doctor. "In fact, ingesting too much of the mineral can lead to constipation."
Of more importance, however, is the fact that "calcium may also cause "acid rebound," in which the stomach produces even more gastric acid-and heartburn-after the antacid has exhausted itself."
The American Hospital Formulary Service 1995 Drug Information publication elaborates further on this issue as follows:
"The major limiting factor to the chronic use of calcium carbonate is gastric hypersecretion and acid rebound. Increased gastric acid secretion begins within 2 hours after administration of the drug and has occurred following a single 500-mg dose of calcium carbonate. In one study of peptic ulcer patients receiving large doses of calcium carbonate (500 mg/kg daily), hypercalcemia (increased levels of calcium in the bloodstream above normal levels) occurred in 14% of patients within 3 days of initiating therapy. Calcium carbonate may cause the milk-alkali syndrome which is characterized by hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis and, rarely, renal insufficiency (kidney failure); hypercalcemia may cause nausea, vomiting, anorexia, weakness, headache, dizziness, and changes in mental status. Patients with renal impairment or dehydration and electrolyte imbalance are predisposed to develop- ing the milk-alkali syndrome.
For many of these reasons gastroenterologists tend to discourage the use of this powerful group of antacids or to at least counsel patients about these potential problems especially when the drugs are taken in large amounts on a regular basis by persons who believe that there are few side-effects.
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Bruce Sckolnick, M.D.
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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