<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

I received ~20 responses and will try my best to summarize as succinctly as
possible.

Only 2 out of 20 people wrote that they had experienced similar symptoms:
sluggish, headachy and lifeless.  I actually felt like I was on some sort
of drug.  Suggestions:  check that calcium is GF (mine is), check that I
don't have an allergy to something else in the supplement ("classic allergy
symptoms"), build up to the 1000 mg (I was taking ~250 mg cal/125 mag in
one sitting. One person reportedly nibbles on a supplement all day until
it's gone and thereby avoids these symptoms).  Someone said that you can
only absorb 500 mg of calcium at once.

The vast majority of people said that 1000 mg is not too high -- other
people's dosages are 1000 mg, 1200 mg, 1500 mg, and even 2000 mg daily.

Then there is a tremendous variability in people's thinking about calcium.
One person said calcium citrate did not agree with her and that calcium
carbonate did.  Another person said she takes Oystercal by Natural Wealth
with good effect.  Another person said you should take calcium citrate, not
carbonate or oyster shell.  Some people said they take calcium at bedtime
(one because she feels that the fiber in a meal interferes with calcium
absorption).  Another person reported that a dietitian she knows says you
should always take calcium with a meal.

People report that magnesium, zinc, Vit D, and boron are substances that
increase absorption of calcium.  Also, making sure you are getting calcium
rich foods, like greens, fortified OJ, and some dairy. Alcohol and caffeine
decrease calcium in system.  Another person said that it took a while to
feel better once she started actually absorbing the calcium.

There were many brands mentioned, both prescription and nonprescription.
One should be careful if you are avoiding starch, maltodextrine, etc.,
because some brands will contain these. In short, it boils down to checking
the ingredients out with the company re GF and starch-free, etc status --
then see how you feel on it.

I thank all the people who took the time and caring to respond!  Each
response was much appreciated.

Latimer


--- Latimer Kells
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