Tum/Rolaids Supplement a bad idea?

[li10up]

Reading the thread on leg cramps got me thinking about this. I was getting some calf and toe cramps during and after my rides so I started taking Tums on a daily basis. Then I found out that Rolaids has Magnesium which is also needed to prevent cramps. I'm now on my third bottle and I'm starting to find that I am getting heartburn several times a day. I never used to get heartburn at all. I'm not cramping any more but I'm wondering if the daily Rolaids is a bad idea. Any nutritionists out there who can help me on this one?

[TsPoet]

I'm not a nutritionist, I'm a toxicologist (piled as high and deep as it goes). My main field is risk assessment based on pharmacokinetics from environmental exposures. So, drugs are not my field. I never see any reason to ingest something extra. Mixture exposures are where much of the research funding lies right now - so you are exposed to x amount of something and that's not harmful. But, now you've got y as well, which also isn't harmful, but what happens when you put x and y together?
Also, deodorant, throat sprays, dandruff shampoo, and other items like that are “addicting” - once you start using them you get to a point where you have to use them because your body adapts to the use. I don't see why antacids wouldn't be the same way.
I assume my post was what made you put this post up there ;)
Disclaimer - much of this is my opinion, I don't know that tums and rolaids cause an adaptation. I also have looked them up and adverse reactions to them are what you might expect, constipation, upset stomach. I haven't found anything too scary about them. I think if someone needs an antacid, it's probably a pretty safe drug to take, I just wouldn't take it if I didn't need it.

[mimitabby]

TsPoet, I think tums and rolaids DO cause an adaptation because they interfere with the acidity of the stomach. your stomach wants to be acid to digest food... etc..

you might be on to something.

[NJBikeGal]

To add to my post, where I mention using these to avoid cramping. I certainly was not suggesting daily use, rather, carrying them on your person when riding...when the feeling of cramping seems iminent or possible, popping one to try to offset the cramping. I haven't used this tactic...just what I've seen by friends. :)

Then again...I've had doctors suggest a daily intake of Tums for Calcium supplements, so ??? :confused:

[li10up]

I assume my post was what made you put this post up there ;)

Actually it was the post from NJBikeGal that made me ask this...she had mentioned Tums. Plus I had posted in another thread awhile back that I used Rolaids to help with cramps...this was before the heartburn kicked in. Your post was informative though. I'm really starting to think that taking the Rolaids on a daily basis is what is causing my heartburn. I'm going to ween myself off it and try getting my magnesium elsewhere to help prevent the cramps. I just hope the cramps don't come back...those were pretty tough to deal with. But I don't like the idea of messing up my stomach or esophagus.

[mimitabby]

I think there's a big diff between use of Tums for occasional cramps and always cramping and using tums..


Maybe something else is going on that is causing the cramps that tums can't fix?
(like dehydration, overheating?)

[michelem]

Looks like you may be on to something li10up:

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=18156

[li10up]

I think there's a big diff between use of Tums for occasional cramps and always cramping and using tums..


Maybe something else is going on that is causing the cramps that tums can't fix?
(like dehydration, overheating?)

I'm sorry, I'm not following your train of thought. The Rolaids did fix my cramping problems. No more cramps...but now I'm starting to get heartburn and am taking up to 6 Rolaids a day. I was taking the Rolaids to prevent the cramps...not relieve them after the fact. Can you explain what you meant?

[newfsmith]

Yes, taking large amounts of Tums or Rolaids can cause "rebound" heartburn. When I first started taking calcium supplements for osteopenia I used Tums because they were cheap. After a few weeks I started noticing that I had heartburn much more often. I actually wound up in the emergency room with severe back & shoulder pain. At first the concern was a possible heart attack, then gall bladder, finally they decided it was severe heartburn and sent me home on Zantac. One dose cured it. I switched to Caltrate for my supplement and have never had a repeat episode. Since most of the electrolyte drinks don't sit well with me, on longer rides I carry Elete tablets for salts, but I also carry a couple of Citrical Plus, which has magnesium added.

[KnottedYet]

I get the costco brand of "Caltrate/Citrical" with the vit D and magnesium and something else.

when I remember, I take 2 a day. cuz I'm of a certain age, and don't wanna lose any more calcium... cept I forget all the time!

I do notice I get cramps in my calves at night if I'm dehydrated, but haven't tied it in yet with days I remember the calcium supps or not.