Hello CFrance,
you can try "les pastilles Rennie" they mostly contain calcium carbonate Rennie® | Informations sur le produit.
Yet, you would better ask the pharmacist for advice, it's part of his/her job and he/she will normally gladly provide it.
Cheers

 

Thank you, Matou. I will check that out. I wish I had the language skills to give that much explanation to the pharmacist. Usually I can ask the question, but then I have trouble understanding the answer! I always keep trying in French, though.

 

If you don't mind an advice, for such an important matter (as health) you can try to start in French and then skip to English. Pharmacists have a doctorate and they should also have a decent command of basic English...
Anyway, you can try "je voudrais savoir quel médicament sans ordonnance je peux prendre pour un complément de calcium" (I would like to know which drug that does not need a prescription I can take as a calcium source).
Cheers

 

What I've done is to bring in to the pharmacy a bottle/box/container of whatever OTC med I'm looking for and just ask what the local equivalent is. That seems to work just fine - and the pharmacists are normally quite happy to check it out for you.

But if you're looking for a calcium supplement, go talk to your doctor in France. If the doc is convinced you should be taking a calcium supplement (may involve getting an osteodensimetrie done), you'll get the whole thing paid for by the sécu and your mutuelle. My doctor prescribed something called Flixical, for which I get the generic variety which is considerably cheaper. Don't know if it's available without a prescription, but you could always ask.
Cheers,
Bev

 

A bit late but....



In case anyone is still interested I just ordered Tums from Amazon UK, not cheap and I wish I'd thought of it a week ago in England

Cheers

 

You can check which products contain calcium carbonate here (it also gives price and whether available without prescription)

Carbonate de calcium - Santé AZ