Magnesium Health Article

Precautions

Preparations containing magnesium should not be given as laxatives to patients with kidney disease, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, symptoms of appendicitis, or symptoms of intestinal obstruction or perforation. In addition, these preparations should not be used routinely to relieve constipation, as the patient may become dehydrated, lose calcium from the body, or develop a dependence on them. Antacids containing magnesium should be used with caution in patients with kidney disease.

Side effects

Magnesium preparations taken internally may cause hypermagnesemia, especially with prolonged use; electrolyte imbalance; and abdominal cramps when taken as a laxative. Milk of magnesia occasionally produces nausea or diarrhea. There are no known side effects of Epsom salts when used externally.

Interactions

Milk of magnesia will decrease the patient's absorption of chlordiazepoxide, digoxin, isoniazid, quinolones, or tetracycline antibiotics. Because it increases the gastrointestinal tract's mobility, magnesium can also decrease the absorption (and thereby the effectiveness) of many other drugs and supplements as well. Magnesium sulfate, if given intravenously, is incompatible with calcium gluceptate, clindamycin, dobutamine, polymyxin B sulfate, procaine, and sodium bicarbonate.

BOOKS

Baron, Robert B., MD, MS. "Nutrition." In Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2000. Edited by Lawrence M. Tierney, Jr., MD, et al. New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill, 2000.

Beers, Mark H., MD, and Robert Berkow, MD, eds. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck Research Laboratories, 1999.

Burton Goldberg Group. Alternative Medicine: The Definitive Guide. Fife, WA: Future Medicine Publishing, Inc., 1995.

Murray, Michael, ND, and Joseph Pizzorno, ND. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing, 1991.

Okuda, Toshihiro, MD, PhD, Kiyoshi Kurokawa, MD, MACP, and Maxine A. Papadakis, MD. "Fluid & Electrolyte Disorders." In Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment 2000, edited by Lawrence M. Tierney, Jr., MD et al. New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill, 2000.

Russell, Percy J., and Anita Williams. The Nutrition and Health Dictionary. New York: Chapman & Hall, 1995.