Welcome to our comprehensive patient handout on “Calcium – Dietary Sources and Drug Interactions.” This valuable tool has been specifically designed to assist pharmacists in patient consultations.  

 

As pharmacists, you play a crucial role in patient education, and this handout will supplement your patient counselling with information to help guide your patients on the use of milk and dairy products to meet their nutritional needs, while also addressing potential interactions with medications. 

 

Within this resource, your patients will find: 

  • Recommendations on the daily intake amount of calcium based on their age. 
  • Examples of calcium content in common milk and dairy products to help them reach their calcium needs through dietary intake. 
  • Common drug interactions with milk and/or dairy products to inform them on appropriate timing and spacing between medication administration and the consumption of milk and dairy products. 

Remember, this resource serves as a starting point to facilitate your patient consultations. It is essential to combine this information with your professional expertise and personalized guidance. Empower your patients with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their nutrition and medication management. 

Disclaimer: This resource was developed by the Ontario Pharmacists Association (OPA) with a grant provided by the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. This material is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide or take the place of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, or legal advice. Patients should always speak to their pharmacist, doctor, or other qualified healthcare professional for more information and/or guidance. This information is up to date as at the date of publication. OPA makes every effort to provide information that is accurate and timely but makes no guarantee in this regard. It is provided without warranty of any kind by OPA and OPA assumes no responsibility for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies therein. The decision for use and application of this document is the responsibility of the user. OPA expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of reliance on the information contained in this resource.