calcuim/magnesium citrate for IC?

[massagedoula]

Has anyone had any experience taking calcium citrate for IC? i know it is reccomended for vulvodynia, but I thought under the same reasoning it may work for IC? I heard lots of things about Coral Calcium, but I am very wary of that, because through my research it seems a little like a scam. Would Calcium Citrate do the same thing...making the urine more alkaline? I know it is called citrate, but my research says that it binds to citrate and pulls it out of the body....I still dont want to take it until I know other people's good/bad experience with it.

The one I bought (It was only 6 dollars so not a big deal if I don't take it) is by Nature's Plus called Cal/Mag Citrate.

[Shalai]

The cal/mag I take is a calcium carbonate made by Solaray, with the cal/mag being in amino acid chelated form. I've been taking it for awhile, and I haven't had any bad effects from it. I don't know about the citrate...I was always afraid of it because it began with c i t r, and that made me think of citrus, so I never did try it. I do know the magnesium is supposed to help with muscle spasms, and I can tell a difference in the number of bladder spasms I was having.
Maybe someone else can be of more help. I'm curious about the citrate form too.

:)
Sherry

[windwalker]

I tried it, ended up w/more urethral burning. I dont get that w/things like viactiv.

[Specs]

I take a Calcium/Magnesium supplement with a 1:1 ratio (250 mg calcium citrate, 250 mg magnesium citrate), with added vitamin D for absorption of the calcium. I chose the 1:1 ratio on the advice of a dietician - she said a 2:1 ratio would be too much calcium for my system to handle as it can cause constipation (and if you're on other meds, such as Elavil, the last thing you want is more constipation!)

As far as I can see, the cal/mag supp works well for me. When I feel a flare coming on, I take an extra one.. and my symptoms seem to dissipate quickly.

FYI - calcium citrate is 2.5 times more available to the body than calcium carbonate (the calcium available in Tums) and is more easily absorbable than calcium obtained from dairy sources. As for coral calcium, don't waste your money.. there is no solid proof that this highly marketed form of calcium is better. In fact, coral and the shells of sea creatures are made from calcium carbonate (which is less effective than calcium citrate.)