Adcal3 confusion

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i've got myself in a twist. Apparently I shouldn't take  Adcal 3 with foods high in Oxalate because it affects absorption of the calcium -  nuts, seeds, whole grains, spinach, leafy greens, raspberries etc etc. The wording in the leaflet is   don't take them within 2 hours of eating these foods, so can I breakfast with cereal at 8 - have Adcal3 at ten - and then more Oxidates at one? What have people found to work best? Is it good to take it with orange juice or yoghurt as I read somewhere it's better with food? Apparently we're trying to avoid kidney stones...aargh! 😀

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10 Replies

  • Posted

    I read somewhere a while back that it was better to take adcal at a different time from pred so started to take my pred in the morning and my adcal in the evening. I recently had a blood test and all was well. I have not heard about foods high in oxalate but maybe that is why it is better to take it in the evening as you are less likely to have eaten those foods at that time. I am no expert just thought would let you know what I do. Hadn't heard the kidney stone thing either... There is so much to think about isn't there...

    • Posted

      There certainly is. We're such complicated organisms I suppose it's surprising that more doesn't go wrong. Thanks Elizabeth -  hope all contours good for you!

  • Posted

    Having looked up high oxalate foods I found:

    Beans.

    Beer.

    Beets.

    Berries.

    Chocolate.

    Coffee.

    Cranberries.

    Dark green vegetables, such as spinach.

    Nuts.

    Oranges.

    Rhubarb.

    Soda (cola).

    Soy beans.

    Soy milk.

    Spinach.

    Sweet potatoes.

    Tea (black).

    Tofu.

    Wheat bran.

    Unless your cereal is one packed with wheat bran and nuts and you put a load of berries on top - I really don't think it matters that much! I have in the past seen not to take it close to spinach or rhubarb - as particularly high oxalate foods - but otherwise it rarely mentioned particular foods. 

    Anyway - I took mine with lunch and dinner for years without thinking about it and my bone density is still fine despite 7 years of pred, gallons of black tea and a fair dose of chocolate. You can overanalyse everything.

    • Posted

      And a PS - taking your calcium dose as 2 x smaller doses will mean you absorb more.
    • Posted

      Another PS - having done some more reading. I think that actually the prescence of the oxalate in most foods is not so important but according to National osteoporosis Society (and they should know)

      "Like beans, wheat bran contains high levels of phytates which can prevent your body from absorbing calcium. However, unlike beans 100% wheat bran is the only food that appears to reduce the absorption of calcium in other foods eaten at the same time. For example, when you have milk and 100% wheat bran cereal together, your body can absorb some, but not all, of the calcium from the milk. The wheat bran in other foods like breads is much less concentrated and not likely to have a noticeable impact on calcium absorption. If you take calcium supplements, you may want to take them two or more hours before or after eating 100% wheat bran."

      There are foods that are high in calcium AND oxalate - but the oxalate interferes with absorbing the calcium from that particular food. And it is more the overall concentration that is important. So cut the wheat bran ...

    • Posted

      I like the chocolate bit, common sense and experience! And of course you're completely right about over analysis. I'll go and watch Wimbledon....…smile

  • Posted

    Hi Celia

    i take adcal I think someone on one of the forums said to take out at lunchtime and before bedtime, this is how I have been taking mine, i did not know that certain foods affect taking adcal.

    i would like to know if anyone takes HRT , before taking Pre I did not having any of the sweat systems, now I find it really hard, certainly in this heat to keep from sweating, I am drinking plenty of water keeping out of the sun as much as possible and have fans going throughout the house to no avail I find this one of the worst side affects. I also asked about the mauve blood spots that appear for no reason, does anyone else have any and they bleed as I have had two in the last couple of days and have noticed that I have two that started bleeding and had not knocked myself.

    On a very positive note I had a 10 day holiday in America and found by pacing myself 

    Which was Eileen recommendation I managed to walk with no real ill affects have now dropped down to 12mg now feeling very optimisti for the future. 

     Keep well everyone and hydrated with the warm weather.

    • Posted

      Hi Margaret, I have had some sweating but no bleeding as yet! I think Eileen's right about watching the wheat bran and not worrying too much. The only thing that I've taken note of as a licorice lover is that it inhibits pred. My daughter has my stash! Keep cool!

    • Posted

      I was on HRT until not that long before PMR appeared but haven't taken any since. The sweats in PMR are probably a different mechanism. I had sweats with PMR - and many people suffer them with pred. I, on the other hand, rarely have significant sweats now and if I do suspect my dose is slightly too low.and going up 1mg usually sorts them.

      The blood spots are called petechiae when they are less than 2-3mm in diameter and purpura when they are larger. They are caused by bleeding into the skin because pred makes the capillaries fragile and they break easily. It should improve as the dose reduces. They do sometimes leave a slightly darker area of skin - like a freckle or an age spot.

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