Is Calcium Safe with Efavirenz?
Free · No account · based on published sources including NIH ODS, FDA drug labels, and peer-reviewed literature
Because Efavirenz depletes Vitamin D (which regulates calcium absorption), ensure adequate Vitamin D levels are maintained. Calcium supplementation alone is insufficient without correcting Vitamin D status. Discuss bone health monitoring with your provider.
Why this interaction occurs
Efavirenz-induced CYP24A1 induction depletes Vitamin D, which is essential for intestinal calcium absorption. This secondary calcium deficiency increases the risk of reduced bone mineral density, a known complication in HIV-positive patients on long-term Efavirenz therapy.
Evidence
Evidence level: strong.
Reported safety data
The FDA’s adverse event reporting system (FAERS) has received 13,808 reports mentioning Efavirenz. This reflects reported cases involving the medication in general — not confirmed causation, and not specific to the Efavirenz + supplement combination on this page.
FAERS reports are voluntary and cannot prove that a drug caused an event. Do not use report counts to assess the safety of this specific drug-supplement pair.
Frequently asked questions
Related interactions
All Calcium interactions → · All Efavirenz interactions →
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Educational only — not medical advice.
Always confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.