Drug interactions
Calcium citrate + Prednisone
Severity: Minor
Calcium citrate and Prednisone: minor 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
Corticosteroids reduce intestinal calcium absorption and increase urinary calcium loss, which can lessen the benefit of calcium supplements. This matters for bone protection during long-term prednisone.
What this interaction means in plain words
Calcium citrate and Prednisone have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised.
Why it happens
Glucocorticoids decrease gastrointestinal calcium absorption and increase renal calcium excretion.
What to do
Continue calcium with vitamin D during prolonged prednisone therapy and monitor bone health and serum calcium.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there anything I should notice while taking both?
- Do I need to tell my doctor at the next visit?
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Other interactions of Prednisone
- Bcg vaccine live + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Measles vaccine + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Mifepristone + Prednisone Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Radium-223 dichloride Contraindicated
- Prednisone + Smallpox vaccine live Contraindicated
- Adenovirus types 4 and 7 live + Prednisone Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Calcium citrate with Prednisone?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Calcium citrate and Prednisone have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised. Corticosteroids reduce intestinal calcium absorption and increase urinary calcium loss, which can lessen the benefit of calcium supplements. This matters for bone protection during long-term prednisone.
How serious is the interaction between Calcium citrate and Prednisone?
MediHelp rates it minor, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Continue calcium with vitamin D during prolonged prednisone therapy and monitor bone health and serum calcium.
What other medicines interact with Prednisone?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Prednisone with, for example, Bcg vaccine live, Measles vaccine, Mifepristone. The full list is on the Prednisone page.
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