Question:
What are the easiest Vitamins and Calcium Citrate to swallow?

I have been using the chewables but am ready to switch to pill form in Vitamins and Calcium Citrate, but I don't want to waste a lot of money trying to find the smallest ones.    — Tracy S. (posted on March 13, 2002)

March 13, 2002
The dietician I saw said to use Citrical for calcium. They are fairly big, but she said it's ok to break it into smaller pieces and take those over the course of the day.
   — garw

March 13, 2002
Because calcium tablets are very difficult to break down and absorb, I highly suggest a liquid calcium. I have a friend who is a chiropractor and he said that when he takes X-rays he can see calcium tablets lined up in the intestines like boxcars. They are extremely difficult for the body to breakdown. If they aren't breaking down it is impossible for any absorption to take place. The only calcium I take is in a predigested form that absorbs within minutes after drinking and it tastes great too. The entire vitamin line is in a liquid predigested form (ready for immediate absorption). There are multivitamins, children's multivitamins, calcium, Vit. C, B12, digestive enzymes, etc. These vitamins are more cost effective because the absorption is about 95% within 5-10 minutes. If interested in additional info you can email [email protected]
   — Patti S.

March 13, 2002
I use a calcium citrate in a capsule. The capsule dissolves in about 4 minutes, so the powder goes on down without effort. I use a regular multi vite that dissolves within 5 minutes.
   — vitalady

March 13, 2002
There is a great multi-vit at Kmart called Vitasmart. Someone on this site recommended them to me and I love them!! Now I have lots of people using them after showing them to my nutritionist. They are half the size of an M&M, if not smaller. They go down very well. You can also view the pill before buying as the bottle is clear, dark blue. Has a hot pink top and bright orange label. Very bright, you can't miss 'em. And also, they are on sale here this week, maybe where you are too. Buy one get one half price. That would be about $3 or $4 for two bottles of 100.
   — Cheri M.

March 13, 2002
I use CalSure. To me they are easy to swallow and not too big. They seem to have a super-smooth coating and don't dissolve too fast in my mouth. (I have a heck of a time trying to swallow pills--always have.) For multi-vit I use the drug store One a Day knock-off. They are about the size of a plain M&M.
   — ctyst

March 14, 2002
I use Centrum Performance. They are a fairly small size. Walmart also sells their off-brand version, which I plan to try when I've finished my huge COSTCO bottle of the name brand. I've also tried Michelle Curran's calcium citrate capsules (well, not hers per se, but the ones she sells) and have found that I like the capsule much more than the Citracal pills. Oh, and I take a fewer number of hers to get the right amount, which makes me very happy!
   — PT LawMom

March 16, 2002
I use those large Citrical tabs too. They're well coated. So, I break them into 2 or 3 pieces and swallow with a good amount of water. No problem. The coating keeps the tab pieces from dissolving too quickly, so there's no unpleasant after taste. I didn't start swallowing pills until 5 weeks post-op, though. I was too afraid I'd vomit. Until then, I tried to use the Citrical Liquitab. The liquitabs are like an alka-seltzer tablet that dissolves in water. I didn't particularly like the flavor, but others seem not to mind it. I had to order the Liquitabs through my local drugstore; they were stocked as a normal item. I got them in only 2 days with no problem.
   — Kathy J.