What calcium can I buy from the regular drugstore? My Nutritionist said the Viactiv is not the "right kind" of calcium. What are you all taking? The cost and tastes? Thanks

I take Os cal with vitamin D in chewable. You can get it almost anywhere.

Mine are the Chewable Calcium + D, Walgreen's "Well" house brand.

you need calcium citrate, not calcium carbonate...that's what you need to look for. The drugstore at my hospital (I go once a month for bariatric meetings) has the calcium chews...just like having a caramel!!! SO YUMMY!!! Check to see if your local hospital drugstore carries them.

Edited November 25, 201411 yr by BigGirlPanties

Thanks! I'll check all these suggestions out. I didn't want to always be dependent on my surgeon's office to supply my vitamins... ????

Most of the chewy ones in Walmart, Costco, etc are calcium carbonate, not the right kind. I take Walmart brand calcium citrate pills. They are pretty large but I have no problems. The pills are whole lot cheaper than the chews. If you want the chewy ones you can try the Bariatric Advantage ones(a little pricey) or Calcet Creamy bites. I found them on drugstore.com. They are a little cheaper than the Bariatric Advantage and drugstore.com wil email you with discounts. They come in chocolate and lemon. The lemon tasted the way lemon Pledge smells to me.....No Bueno!!!! The chocolate was not bad.

Chele H, are the pills able to be swallowed? Or only chewed?

The calcium citrate pills are to be swalloed whole. You can also get Citrical Petites if you have a hard time with large pills but I think you have to take 4 over the course of a day. You should only take 500mg of calcium at one time any way so whether it is a chewy or a pill, you are going to be taking multiple doses per day. I just didn't want to pay so much for the chews and save a bundle using the pills.

I used Solaray Calcium citrate capsules. opened them and sprinkled in my Greek yogurt. They were obviously effective because my 6 month bloodwork showed high calcium so I stopped taking them. I'm getting my 1 year bloodwork done next month, so I will see how my levels are without the supplementation.

Citrical (calcium citrate) now has some really AWESOME chewies out. They are three flavored gummies, but they aren't really chewy gummy, they break down really easy and almost dissolve. They are purple. pink, and orange. They are delish, and like candy to me! I get them right at Wal-Mart. they are the ONLY calcium citrate chewables i have found in a regular store.

Citrical (calcium citrate) now has some really AWESOME chewies out. They are three flavored gummies, but they aren't really chewy gummy, they break down really easy and almost dissolve. They are purple. pink, and orange. They are delish, and like candy to me! I get them right at Wal-Mart. they are the ONLY calcium citrate chewables i have found in a regular store.

I just looked on their website because I was so excited about a more affordable option that isn't gigantic pills. They list the Calcium as "tricalcium phosphate" on the calcium gummies. Not sure what that is and how easily out bodies absorb this. I was told specifically calcium citrate because it does not need a lot of stomach acid to be absorbed.

Anyone take these Citrical gummies? Anyone get the OK from their surgeon or nutritionist? I woukd love to take them instead of the pills.

Edited November 29, 201411 yr by Chele H

i got the ok from my surgeon, and have had my calcium levels checked 3x since starting them, levels are within normal findings. i also drink serious milk every day in my shakes, so that could be helping too.