Question:
Question about when to take vitamins...

My nutritionist info says I can't take my calcium citrate within 2 hours of meds, I have to take the sublingual B-12 on a full stomach and must take the chewable daily vitamin at night. Has anyone else been told these restrictions? They really aren't working for me and wondered if anyone else has a different schedule that works for them. Thank you!    — gclark918 (posted on June 12, 2008)

June 12, 2008
my vitamin schedule is pretty strict also. i can't combine iron and calcium(they dont work when taken together. my b12 is monthly injection,most of them work with food in your stomach.just set a schedule and get a pill sorter or whatever will help you remember when to take them. good luck erica
   — JACKIESMOM

June 12, 2008
The only restriction I'm aware of is: don't take calcium citrate with iron tablets, or with vitamins if labelled WITH IRON. Iron bonds to the calcium citrate, and you don't get much benefit out of the iron. I took a sublingual B12 for a few months after surgery, but rely on the high B12 content of my liquid vitamins. B12 might upset some people's "pouch" but not everybody has that issue. I don't know why they want the vitamins at night. I take calcium citrate along with my prescription meds and also take my liquid vitamins within the same hour as breakfast. The liquid vitamins are noted on my profile page. DAVE
   — Dave Chambers

June 12, 2008
Hi Gayla! I have a hard time with this one too. I'm glad you asked it. I hope you're doing great, other than the vitamin struggle. I just figure if I miss one, than I make sure I'm getting it the next day. Hopefully somebody posts some great ideas! Take care, surgery buddy---Kathy V.
   — purplek78

June 13, 2008
Kaiser Fontana told us to take the multivitamin in the morning and afternoon and take the Calcium at least an hour after the multi. I haven't heard of restrictions on B12, but give myself shots of it for fibromyalgia every Wednesday--the pills didn't work for me.
   — MKPstamps

June 13, 2008
my only restriction is no calcium and iron @ same time. so here is my schedule which my nut has approved. I have breakfast - 1/2 hour after I eat I take my multi & iron. 1-2 hours later I take my calcium & vit D. after lunch I take B-12. (my b-12 and vit d were on the verge of being low my last blood work - just like before surgery - so I am just taking them now to error on the cautious side). works well with my schedule. I falter a bit on the weekends with the calcium, vit d and b-12. but always seem to get my multi and iron. during the week, being at work - makes the schedule easy to adhere to. my schedule on the weekends are all mixed up. good luck.
   — jammerz

June 14, 2008
Something that might help is divide up with your meals and take prior. As you go it will be easier to eat and drink closer together so timing with meals will be easier. I am 3 years out- I take some in Am when I get up, some at lunch and some at bedtime. I keep calcium at work-I use cinammon flavored so it acts as a breath freshner too. I take when I get to work, chocolate when I leave- it also helps with cravings on my drive home.so it doesn't interfere with iron. I still do B shots because it's easier for me. But I take my meds either in am or pm so its not with calcium. BUT when worse comes to worse- sometimes you have to do what you have to d. they dont completely cancel each other out- but meds could be a different topic. An FYI all nutritionists are not created equal. Nutrition is a cutting edge science- changing ALL the time. Go by what your blood work shows and how you feel.If your doctor aren't checking at least every 6 months- insist on it. or change them.
   — Cdavis226

July 15, 2008
I can't tolerate the iron (liquid or pill) so my doctor gave me vitamin C pills and told me to take that and the iron with a meal. I use the liquid iron and the vit C tablet helps I don't get sick anymore when taking it. As for the rest I just space them out throughout the day.
   — Melanie C.