So much for taking vitamins to stay healthy!

[jbeany]

My vitamins have added phosphate and calcium.  I never read the labels before.  My zinc and B-12 both have dicalcium phosphate listed as an ingredient, which means between the two pills, I've been getting an extra 60 mg of calcium a day, when my calcium is already too high.  I don't know how much phosphate that works out to, but any amount is too much for my lab work!  Yeesh, and just when you think you're doing something that's good for your health. . . 

[okarol]

Good to know, I never really thought about it - I guess that's why Jenna's nephrologist always wanted to know EVERYTHING Jenna was taking.

[BigSky]

My vitamins have added phosphate and calcium.  I never read the labels before.  My zinc and B-12 both have dicalcium phosphate listed as an ingredient, which means between the two pills, I've been getting an extra 60 mg of calcium a day, when my calcium is already too high.  I don't know how much phosphate that works out to, but any amount is too much for my lab work!  Yeesh, and just when you think you're doing something that's good for your health. . . 

Are you taking regular vitamins?   Once one dialysis people usually are moved to vitamins made just for renal patients.

[Chicken Little]

My doctor has me on Hillestad's Dialyvite 800.  It's made for dialysis patients.  I buy it online at www.dialyvite.net

[jbeany]

I was taking the zinc and B-12 before I started dialysis, and the neph said it was fine to keep taking them.  He didn't know about the additives.  I need to look for some without the added calcium and phosphates if I want to keep doing it.  I'm also on a Nephrocap vitamin that's just for dialysis patients.

[bolta72]

I take the nephrocap also.

[boxman55]

I have been prescribed by my Nepth Folbee Plus each tab contains 5 mg Folic Acid  1 mg B-12  1.5 mg B-1  1.5 mg B-2  50 mg B-6  20 mg Niacin  60 mg Vit-C  300 mcg Biotin  and  10mg calcium pantothenate. It's a prescription multi vitamin. Is it doing its job?? Who knows..Boxman

[Black]

Oh crap!  Beany, someone should have told you NOT to take regular vitamins.  Another time when the medical professionals dropped the ball.   

There are two choices with the renal vitamins.  The OTC ones are cheaper, BUT if you get the neph to write a script for one of the Rx only kind, your insurance or Part D may pay most of it.

[MyssAnne]

I've been on Folbee or its equivalent since diagnosed with ESRD, and especially now, that I'm on dialysis (PD).

My neph said the same thing...specialized vitamins ONLY.

[jbeany]

Wow!  I got my lab results back today after a week of no vitamins.  My calcium has been running high - 11.0 or more, and my phos has been a constant battle, usually around 5.0 or higher.  My calcium was 10.3 and my phos was down to 2.9.  Good grief, who would have thought it would make that much difference, two tiny little pills with a lot of punch!

[okarol]

That is amazing! Glad you discovered this!

[KT0930]

Wowsers! What a difference, indeed! I was on Nephrovite from the time I was put on dialysis. You may need to ask your neph about a vitamin formulated for dialysis patients.

[mikey07840]

Thanks for this post. I got RX renal vitamins but was going to change to over the counter ones that the pharmacist recommended. Not anymore.

[Ohio Buckeye]

I'm on regular vitamins.  I have never been told not to take them.

[Sluff]

Thanks JB for bringing this to the forum for those who didn't know.

[paris]

Good information.  Thanks for sharing

[Russ]

I take Renaplex which is identical to Nephro-Vite except it also has zinc.  My renal nutritionist recommended it as my insurance will not pay for prescription vitamins.  Renaplex is $9.00 per bottle of 100 at http://www.nephrotech.com.

[2_DallasCowboys]

Hi,

Les takes Diatzin, a renal vitamin prescribed by the nurse-prac. at
dialysis unit.  As soon as he went on dialysis we were told not
to give him any type of over the counter vitamin, or any meds
that are over the counter without checking with them first.
Has anyone heard of this renal vitamin?  It is about $25 per month
which is not overly expensive but if I can pursue an online source
to get it plse post about it

Anne

[kitkatz]

The dietician just last week shows me the vitamins I should be taking, instead of the ones I am taking.  Mine were doctor prescribed.  Holy smokes!