Drug interactions
Calcium + Carbonyl iron
Severity: Moderate
Calcium and Carbonyl iron: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Calcium salts, especially calcium carbonate, reduce absorption of oral iron. This can blunt the response to iron therapy and delay correction of iron deficiency anemia.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcium and Carbonyl iron can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Calcium belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Carbonyl iron belongs to Miscellaneous.
Why it happens
Calcium competes with iron for intestinal uptake and the antacid effect of carbonate raises gastric pH, reducing iron solubility.
What to do
Separate oral iron and calcium by at least 2 hours. Monitor hemoglobin and ferritin response.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Calcium
- Calcium + Ceftriaxone Contraindicated
- Acalabrutinib + Calcium Moderate
- Alendronate + Calcium Moderate
- Atazanavir + Calcium Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Calcium Moderate
- Bendroflumethiazide + Calcium Moderate
Other interactions of Carbonyl iron
- Aluminum hydroxide + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Calcium acetate + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Calcium carbonate + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Carbidopa-levodopa + Carbonyl iron Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcium with Carbonyl iron?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Calcium and Carbonyl iron can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Calcium salts, especially calcium carbonate, reduce absorption of oral iron. This can blunt the response to iron therapy and delay correction of iron deficiency anemia.
How serious is the interaction between Calcium and Carbonyl iron?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Separate oral iron and calcium by at least 2 hours. Monitor hemoglobin and ferritin response.
What other medicines interact with Calcium?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Calcium with, for example, Ceftriaxone, Acalabrutinib, Alendronate. The full list is on the Calcium page.
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