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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Adverse Effects Of Calcium Supplements On Fetus

Hi, I had been taking gemcal for 2 weeks as a calcium suppliment during pregnancy (at 6 weeks pregnancy). This was not prescribed by my doctor. Today, I came to know from the drugs information that it has adverse affect on fetus. I am very upset about it. My question is what are the adverse affects and what do i do next?
Thu, 15 Oct 2015
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OBGYN 's  Response
Hello and I hope I can help you today.

I am located in the United States and reviewed the drug information for Gemcal in both the US manufactured form and the product in India. It is FDA approved in the US for general sales under a different name, and is used safely in both pregnant and non-pregnant women without a doctor's prescription.

Gemcal is just a supplement of Calcium and vitamin D. Both these nutrients are healthy and good for supplementation during pregnancy.

Unless you are looking at a local product recall, I am not sure what drug information you are reading about. Gemcal is pregnancy category C, which means there are no studies done to confirm its safety in pregnant humans, but that does not mean it is dangerous. Category C just means that there are no scientific studies in the product in pregnant humans but many supplements are not tested specifically in pregnant women. So there are no documented adverse effects for this product and the whole reason it is available without a doctor's prescription is because it is generally accepted as being safe for anyone. So you do not have to worry about having taken this medication so far, and it will not hurt you or the baby if you continue to take it.

Most prenatal vitamins also have calcium and vitamin D in them, so if you just buy a prenatal vitamin, it will have enough vitamins and calcium that you do not need to take any additional supplements unless recommended by your doctor.

I hope that my answer was helpful to you and that my advice was reassuring.

Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy, Dr. Brown
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Suggest Adverse Effects Of Calcium Supplements On Fetus

Hello and I hope I can help you today. I am located in the United States and reviewed the drug information for Gemcal in both the US manufactured form and the product in India. It is FDA approved in the US for general sales under a different name, and is used safely in both pregnant and non-pregnant women without a doctor s prescription. Gemcal is just a supplement of Calcium and vitamin D. Both these nutrients are healthy and good for supplementation during pregnancy. Unless you are looking at a local product recall, I am not sure what drug information you are reading about. Gemcal is pregnancy category C, which means there are no studies done to confirm its safety in pregnant humans, but that does not mean it is dangerous. Category C just means that there are no scientific studies in the product in pregnant humans but many supplements are not tested specifically in pregnant women. So there are no documented adverse effects for this product and the whole reason it is available without a doctor s prescription is because it is generally accepted as being safe for anyone. So you do not have to worry about having taken this medication so far, and it will not hurt you or the baby if you continue to take it. Most prenatal vitamins also have calcium and vitamin D in them, so if you just buy a prenatal vitamin, it will have enough vitamins and calcium that you do not need to take any additional supplements unless recommended by your doctor. I hope that my answer was helpful to you and that my advice was reassuring. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy, Dr. Brown