Drug interactions
Calcium carbonate + Carbonyl iron
Severity: Moderate
Calcium carbonate 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 carbonate reduces absorption of oral iron, partly because higher gastric pH impairs iron solubility and partly through competition at absorption sites. This can blunt response to iron therapy.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcium carbonate 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 carbonate belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract; Carbonyl iron belongs to Miscellaneous.
Why it happens
Increased gastric pH and calcium competition reduce solubility and intestinal uptake of non-heme iron.
What to do
Separate calcium carbonate and iron by at least 2 hours, and 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?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Calcium carbonate and Carbonyl iron, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Calcium carbonate
Other interactions of Carbonyl iron
- Aluminum hydroxide + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Baloxavir marboxil + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Calcium acetate + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Calcium + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Carbidopa-entacapone-levodopa + Carbonyl iron Moderate
- Carbidopa-levodopa + Carbonyl iron Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcium carbonate with Carbonyl iron?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Calcium carbonate 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 carbonate reduces absorption of oral iron, partly because higher gastric pH impairs iron solubility and partly through competition at absorption sites. This can blunt response to iron therapy.
How serious is the interaction between Calcium carbonate 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 calcium carbonate and iron by at least 2 hours, and monitor hemoglobin and ferritin response.
What other medicines interact with Calcium carbonate?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Calcium carbonate with, for example, Acalabrutinib, Alendronate, Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan. The full list is on the Calcium carbonate page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
