Question:
Multi + Calcium or Multi + Iron + Vit C

Also Calcium at bedtime? Anyone do this or have a problem with it not disolving or backing up while you sleep? I have so many supps to take, I'm trying to work out a better schedule than I had. I have to work in 2 CentrumSelect multi vites, 4 iron tablets, 4 calcium citrate tablets, 2-3 senakot, 1 Nexium(taken in the evening). Of course I want to get the most benefit from all of these and don't want anything to cancel out anything else. How does this schedule sound: Wake 7 am--1 multi, 2 iron, 1 vit C........... BF 8-10 am--would include a whey protien shake........... 11-12 noon--1 multi, 2 calcium............ 12-2pm Lunch........... 3-4pm whey protien shake........... 5-6pm Supper and vites--2 iron, 1 vit C........... 8pm Nexium........... 11pm 2 calcium............. when I get up for a pee during the night---2 senakot....... The 2 hour span for meals is due to variences in my schedule not that I'm eating for 2 hours LOL. I'm on 4 iron(ferrous gluconate 300mg/35mg elemental) due to very low labs and I NEED the senokot so I can go #2. I get a b-12 shot at the docs every 2 weeks also due to low labs. Protein shakes are made with water. Water consumption is at least 80 oz a day, not including tea or milk. Comments and advice welcome.    — mary ann T. (posted on April 7, 2004)

April 7, 2004
Iron should ONLY be taken with vitamin C. I take mine either right at bedtime or when I wake up in the middle of the night to pee! Make sure it's got about 2 hours between it and anything else. Calcium should be taken with D but I don't get too worried about anything else. I dump my daily pile of vitamins in a Ziploc snack baggie and throw it in my purse every morning. I just take some throughout the day whenever I think of it - taking 500 mg calcium citrate 4 times a day though. The only thing I seperate are the calcium does and the iron/C. I also do 4-5 protein shakes a day at least. I love them, so I don't have to WORRY about getting them in! I keep a jug of it in my desk drawer, baggies of it in the car, etc.
   — ediecat

April 8, 2004
In the am I take a childrens chewable and 2 iron. Sometime during the day I have my 4 calcium wafers or 5 calcium tabs. Then in the evening I have another cc and 2 iron and prilosec/prevacid. The main thing is to not take calcium and iron together. OJ helps absorb the vitamins, so I take the am and pm ones with OJ.
   — Calleigh Q.

April 13, 2004
I take all crewable vits and cal pills. I take 1 vit and cal after I eat in the morning (can't drink any liquids so I know I'm not washing the vits away). I take my second vit and cal after lunch. You want to take your vits in the morning so that you getting the best benfit from them.
   — Linda R.

April 13, 2004
Just to add to something I recently discovered. You shouldn't take Iron with coffee or tea either. It "binds the iron" I'm having trouble with low labs and had to stop that. In order to get all my vits (3 iron) in and keep them spaced properly I get up 2x/night too. Lucky I can get back to sleep quick.
   — ZZ S.