Tums Dosages for Adults: Your GoodRx Guide

Tums (calcium carbonate) is one of the most well-known antacids on the market. You may even have a bottle of this over-the-counter (OTC) product in your medicine cabinet. It’s a popular choice for heartburn relief, since it works fast and is safe for most adults to take.

But Tums isn’t just a single medication. It’s the brand name for a line of chewable antacids. Tums come in different flavors and doses. If you venture down the heartburn-relief section of your pharmacy, you’ll have many options to choose from.

But with all these versions, it’s important to know how much to take. To make it easier, we’ve put together this guide to review recommended Tums dosages for adults.

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Note: The labeling for Tums doesn’t provide dosage information for children under 12 years old. Discuss safe antacid options with your child’s healthcare provider. The same active ingredient in Tums (calcium carbonate) is available at lower doses for kids in other OTC products, like Pepto Kids.

What’s the typical Tums dosage for adults?

All Tums products (and their generic versions) contain the antacid calcium carbonate. But the amount of medication per tablet varies between products. There’s also a combination product that combines this antacid with a gas relief medication.

Regardless of which product you choose, it’s important to stay within the daily dose limits. The maximum daily dose for calcium carbonate is 7,500 mg per day for most adults. But if you’re pregnant, this maximum dose is lower. Speak with a healthcare provider if you’ve been taking Tums for more than two weeks.

Be sure to look at all medications and supplements you take when it comes to daily dose limits. Calcium carbonate is found in many vitamins and heartburn relief products.

Tums Regular Strength 500

Each tablet of Tums Regular Strength 500 contains 500 mg of calcium carbonate. This product no longer comes as a brand-name medication. But generic versions are available.

Recommended dosing for Tums Regular Strength 500 is:

• Adults and adolescents ages 12 years and older: Chew 2 to 4 tablets (1,000 to 2,000 mg) when symptoms happen.

• Maximum dose: Don’t take more than 15 tablets (7,500 mg) in 24 hours.

• Maximum dose during pregnancy: Don’t take more than 10 tablets (5,000 mg) in 24 hours.

Tums Extra Strength 750

Each tablet of Tums Extra Strength 750 contains 750 mg of calcium carbonate. The recommended dosing is:

• Adults and adolescents ages 12 years and older: Chew 2 to 4 tablets (1,500 to 3,000 mg) when symptoms happen.

• Maximum dose: Don’t take more than 10 tablets (7,500 mg) in 24 hours.

• Maximum dose during pregnancy: Don’t take more than 6 tablets (4,500 mg) in 24 hours.

In addition to the traditional chewable tablets, Tums offers other dose forms for their Extra Strength line. These allow you to pick a product based on personal preferences. They contain the same amount of calcium carbonate (750 mg per tablet or chew). Their directions are the same across all Tums Extra Strength 750 products.

Other available versions include:

• Tums Sugar-Free Extra Strength 750

• Tums Smoothies Extra Strength 750: These tablets feel less chalky than the original tablets.

• Tums Chewy Bites: These tablets have a chewy texture that’s similar to fruit chew candies.

Tums Ultra Strength 1000

Each tablet of Tums Ultra Strength 1000 contains 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate. The recommended dosing is:

• Adults and adolescents ages 12 years and older: Chew 2 to 3 tablets (2,000 to 3,000 mg) when symptoms happen.

• Maximum dose: Don’t take more than 7 tablets (7,000 mg) in 24 hours.

• Maximum dose during pregnancy: Don’t take more than 5 tablets (5,000 mg) in 24 hours.

In addition to the regular tablets, these other Tums versions also contain 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate per tablet:

• Tums Naturals: These tablets contain no artificial flavors or dyes.

• Tums Chewy Bites Cooling Sensation: These tablets have the same texture as the lower-dose Tums Chew Bites. But they create a cold feeling in your throat and esophagus (food pipe) after you chew and swallow them.

Tums Chewy Delights

Each chew of Tums Chewy Delights contains 1,177 mg of calcium carbonate. This product has a texture similar to taffy. So be careful if you have trouble chewing this type of candy. And you may want to avoid them if you have certain dental devices like braces.

The recommended dosing for Tums Chewy Delights is:

• Adults and adolescents ages 12 years and older: Take 2 to 3 chews (2,354 to 3,531 mg) when symptoms happen.

• Maximum dose: Don’t take more than 6 chews (7,062 mg) in 24 hours.

• Maximum dose during pregnancy: Don’t take more than 4 chews (4,708 mg) in 24 hours.

Tums Chewy Bites with Gas Relief

Tums Chewy Bites with Gas Relief combines calcium carbonate and simethicone (an anti-gas medication). Each tablet contains 750 mg of calcium carbonate and 80 mg of simethicone. It might be helpful if you have both heartburn and gas or bloating.

The recommended dosing for Tums Chewy Bites with Gas Relief is:

• Adults and adolescents ages 12 years and older: Chew 1 to 2 tablets when symptoms happen.

• Maximum dose: Don’t take more than 6 tablets in 24 hours.

• Maximum dose during pregnancy: Don’t take more than 6 tablets in 24 hours.

Are there any dosage adjustments for medical conditions?

We’ve already mentioned different doses for pregnant women above. But there are other times where dosage adjustments need to be made.

People with chronic kidney disease

People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) should talk with their healthcare provider before taking Tums. The kidneys are responsible for balancing multiple minerals, including calcium. For people with CKD, your provider may need to closely regulate how much additional calcium you add to your diet.

It can be hard to know how much calcium is safe to take if you have CKD. Discuss this with your healthcare provider. They may recommend a different dose of Tums. Or they may suggest alternative heartburn medications.

Potential interactions

Be sure to talk with your pharmacist and healthcare provider if you take other medications. Tums have many drug interactions. They can prevent some medications from being absorbed properly, potentially making them less effective.

Often, you can still take Tums when an interaction is present. But you may need to separate them from other medications by a few hours. Share a current medication list with your healthcare team. They can let you know if dosage adjustments are needed.

What happens if you miss a dose of Tums?

Missing a dose of Tums isn’t usually a major concern. They’re usually taken as needed for symptom relief. So most people don’t typically follow a set schedule to take them. Just be sure to follow the maximum daily doses. Taking more Tums than recommended can raise the risk of side effects, such as constipation.

What should you do if you take too many Tums?

Tums are generally safe for most people when taken appropriately. But taking too many Tums long-term can lead to a number of problems. These can include muscle weakness, kidney stones, and heart rhythm problems.

If you think you’ve taken too many Tums, contact your healthcare provider. You can also call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If anything seems severe or life-threatening, seek emergency medical help.

How to save on Tums

There are many ways to save on Tums, which are available as both brand-name and generic medications. By having your healthcare provider write a prescription for OTC Tums, GoodRx can help you save over 60% off the average retail price. Generic Tum's price at certain pharmacies is as low as $5.92 with a free GoodRx discount.

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Written by:

Clay M. Cooper, PharmD

Clay Cooper, PharmD, has over 10 years of pharmacy practice experience in a variety of healthcare settings, including in independent community pharmacy, retail pharmacy, and long-term care pharmacy. He is a licensed pharmacist in Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Edited by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

Reviewed by:

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh

Tegan Smedley, PharmD, APh, has 10 years of experience as a pharmacist. She has worked in a variety of settings, including retail, hospital, and ambulatory care.

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