Get Informed: Magnesium
Active Ingredient(s)
Magnesium Hydroxide
What does it do?
This product is used in the treatment of constipation. It works by drawing fluids into the bowel and stimulating it.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Mar-12 9:03 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Mar-12 9:01 PM
Other Names
- Magnesium
- Milk of Magnesia
- Magnesia
- Magnesium Hydroxide
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
- Please log in
- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- N/A
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 13 Mar 2010
- Est US Patients*
- 751,400
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- Yes
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Magnesium or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Magnesium Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Magnesium interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Magnesium used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 4,900 patients that use Magnesium (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Dietary Supplement | 33% | 
|
| Muscle Spasms | 29% |
|
| Constipation | 17% | 
|
| Osteoporosis | 17% | 
|
| Pain-Generalized | 13% | 
|
| Weight Loss | 13% |
|
| Fibromyalgia | 13% |
|
| Migraine/Headache | 8% |
|
| Neuropathic Pain | 8% |
|
| Atrial Fibrillation | 4% |
|
How well does Magnesium work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 4,900 users taking Magnesium (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 75%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Magnesium outweigh the bad things.
- 4%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Magnesium.
Common Side Effects of Magnesium
iGuard regularly polls our more than 4,900 users taking Magnesium (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
9% of patients experience side-effects on Magnesium
4% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Magnesium
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Dizziness
-
Diarrhea
-
= 10%
Global Patient Feedback for Magnesium (Magnesium Hydroxide) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Is there an upper limit on magnesium? I've heard you shoudl take 1:2 ratio of mag to calcium. Then I read in some places as much as 1:1. My naturaopath said as long as you don't get diaharea you're ok with your magnesium dose.
48 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-15 12:34:26
iGuard Answer/Reply:
The upper limit of magnesium for a healthy adult is 350 mg per day of elemental magnesium. If you have kidney problems, this amount is lower. There can be serious side effects of taking too much magnesium, worse than diarrhea, such as muscle paralysis or respiratory arrest.
Posted: 2010-02-17 22:10:22
Question/Comment:
Is there a specific type of magnesium that is better to take (for example is Oxide absorbed less)?
48 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-15 12:33:03
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Magnesium oxide is not absorbed as well as magnesium lactate or magnesium hydroxide. However, any of the magnesium salts, if taken as directed, should help your condition. Make sure to keep your follow-up appointments with your physician and have any lab work that is ordered done promptly to make sure your magnesium level is where it is supposed to be. There are serious medical issues with both a low and high magnesium level.
Posted: 2010-02-17 22:26:52
Question/Comment:
Ihave diabetis not high level -- 140 and lower I TAKE ALTROXIN DOES IT INTERFER
54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-14 13:06:31
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Eltroxin is a brand name for levothyroxine and is available in several countries outside of the United States. Products containing Magnesium may decrease the absorption of Levothyroxine by your body. Since this can reduce the effectiveness of Levothyroxine, Levothyroxine treatment/dose should be regularly reviewed when these drugs are used together. Sometimes this interaction can be minimized if you separate the two medicines by at least 2 hours. Please follow up with your doctor to review the use of magnesium products while taking medications that contain levothyroxine as an active ingredient.
Addition of levothyroxine or an increase in your levothyroxine dose may increase your blood sugar levels. You will want to closely monitor your blood sugar and report your levels to your doctor so that adjustments can be made to your diabetes treatment if needed.
Posted: 2010-02-22 14:50:00
Question/Comment:
research showed me that taking coumadin and magnesium at the same time will render the coumaden ineffective. they must be taken at least 3 hours apart. same effect with iron
57 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-02-10 23:33:27
Question/Comment:
I have osteoporosis, plus disc problems, muscle spasms, etc. I have had facet injections and also injections in my lower back that have helped somewhat. However, I take Vitamin D, Calcium and Magnesium together.
Since reading the warning about this, should I take Magnesium alone later in the day to avoid interaction problems. I had to go over Fosamax and similar medications because they were doing more harm than good but my vitamin supplements are helping. Thank you.
65 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-01-26 07:45:23
iGuard Answer/Reply:
It is fine to take vitamin d, calcium, and magnesium together. In fact, there are products that contain those 3 ingredients in one pill.
Posted: 2010-01-31 15:49:52
You may post comments for the benefit of other patients or post questions other patients might be able to answer. Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Only your age and gender will be published with your comment, although your other user details will be securely recorded for verification purposes.
Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
49
Patient Comments about
Magnesium