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Magnesium is a mineral that is important for normal bone structure in the body. People get magnesium from food, but sometimes supplements are needed.

Magnesium is needed for many bodily functions. Low levels in the body have been linked to diseases such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure, and stroke. An easy way to remember foods that are good magnesium sources is to think of fiber. Foods that are high in fiber are generally high in magnesium.

People commonly use magnesium for constipation, as an antacid for heartburn, for low magnesium levels, for pregnancy complications called pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, and for a certain type of irregular heartbeat (torsades de pointes). It's also used for many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these other uses.

NatMed Pro rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate.
  • Cerebral palsy.  Most evidence shows that antenatal magnesium reduces the risk of cerebral palsy in preterm infants, although there are some inconsistent results.
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  • Seizures.  Intravenous magnesium sulfate is used for treating seizures of various etiologies.
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  • Torsades de pointes.  Intravenous magnesium sulfate is the first-line treatment for torsades de pointes after measures to correct precipitating factors have been unsuccessful.
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  • Arrhythmia.  Magnesium sulfate is effective for the specific type of ventricular tachycardia known as torsades de pointes, and seems to be helpful for treating other types of arrhythmias. Evidence for the role of oral or intravenous magnesium in preventing postoperative arrhythmias is conflicting.
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  • Asthma.  Parenteral magnesium sulfate can help to reverse severe acute asthma attacks and reduce the need for hospital admission. Oral or nebulized magnesium, however, does not seem to be beneficial.
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  • Colorectal cancer.  Increasing dietary magnesium intake seems to lower the risk of colon cancer but not rectal cancer.
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  • Diabetes.  Low dietary magnesium may increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but evidence on the use of supplements for treating type 2 diabetes is conflicting.
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  • Hypercholesterolemia.  Magnesium may help improve lipid levels by a small amount in people with this condition.
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  • Metabolic syndrome.  Low dietary and serum levels of magnesium seem to be associated with the development of metabolic syndrome.
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  • Osteoporosis.  Increased dietary and supplemental magnesium intake seems to increase bone mineral density and decrease bone loss in postmenopausal patients.
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  • Postoperative pain.  Injectable magnesium has been used with promising results for reducing pain postoperatively.
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  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).  Taking magnesium orally seems to relieve symptoms of PMS.
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  • Vasospastic angina.  Intravenous magnesium seems to prevent coronary spasm in patients with this condition.
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When taken by mouth: Magnesium is likely safe for most people. Doses less than 350 mg daily are safe for most adults. In some people, magnesium might cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other side effects. When taken in doses greater than 350 mg daily, magnesium is possibly unsafe. Large doses might cause too much magnesium to build up in the body, causing serious side effects including an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, slowed breathing, coma, and death.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Magnesium is likely safe for those pregnant or breast-feeding when taken by mouth in doses less than 350 mg daily. Magnesium is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth in doses greater than 350 mg daily. High doses can cause diarrhea and too much magnesium in the blood.

Children: Magnesium is likely safe when taken by mouth in daily doses of less than 65 mg for children 1-3 years, 110 mg for children 4-8 years, and 350 mg for children older than 8 years. Magnesium is likely unsafe when taken by mouth in higher doses.

Alcohol use disorder: Alcohol abuse increases the risk for magnesium deficiency.

Bleeding disorders: Magnesium seems to slow blood clotting. Taking magnesium might increase the risk of bleeding or bruising in people with bleeding disorders.

Diabetes: Diabetes increases the risk for magnesium deficiency.

Kidney conditions: Kidneys that don't work well have trouble clearing magnesium from the body. Taking extra magnesium can cause magnesium to build up to dangerous levels. Don't take magnesium if you have kidney problems.

Antacids

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Antacids might reduce the laxative effects of magnesium. People taking magnesium as a laxative might require a higher dose.

Antibiotics (Aminoglycoside antibiotics)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some antibiotics can affect the muscles. These antibiotics are called aminoglycosides. Magnesium can also affect the muscles. Taking these antibiotics and getting a magnesium shot might cause muscle problems.

Antibiotics (Quinolone antibiotics)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Magnesium might decrease how much antibiotic the body absorbs. Taking magnesium along with some antibiotics might decrease the effectiveness of some antibiotics. To avoid this interaction, take these antibiotics at least 2 hours before, or 4 to 6 hours after, magnesium supplements.

Antibiotics (Tetracycline antibiotics)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Magnesium might decrease how much antibiotic the body absorbs. Taking magnesium along with some antibiotics might decrease the effectiveness of some antibiotics. To avoid this interaction, take these antibiotics at least 2 hours before, or 4 to 6 hours after, magnesium supplements.

Bisphosphonates

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Magnesium can decrease how much bisphosphate the body absorbs. Taking magnesium along with bisphosphates can decrease the effectiveness of bisphosphate. To avoid this interaction, take bisphosphonate at least 2 hours before magnesium or later in the day.

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Digoxin helps the heart beat more strongly. Magnesium might decrease how much digoxin the body absorbs. This might decrease the effects of digoxin.

Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Magnesium might decrease how much gabapentin the body absorbs. This might decrease the effects of gabapentin. Take gabapentin at least 2 hours before, or 4 to 6 hours after, taking magnesium supplements.

Levodopa/Carbidopa (Sinemet)

Interaction Rating=Major Do not take this combination.

Levodopa/carbidopa is used for Parkinson disease. Taking magnesium oxide along with levodopa/carbidopa might decrease the effectiveness of levodopa/carbidopa. Do not take magnesium oxide if you are taking levodopa/carbidopa.

Medications for diabetes (Sulfonylureas)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Magnesium hydroxide might increase how much sulfonylurea the body absorbs. By increasing how much sulfonylurea the body absorbs, magnesium hydroxide might increase the risk of low blood sugar in some patients.

Medications for high blood pressure (Calcium channel blockers)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some medications for high blood pressure work by blocking calcium from entering cells. Magnesium might also block calcium from entering cells. Taking magnesium with these medications might cause blood pressure to go too low.

Medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant / Antiplatelet drugs)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Magnesium might slow blood clotting. Taking magnesium along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

Muscle relaxants

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Magnesium seems to help relax muscles. Taking magnesium along with muscle relaxants can increase the risk of side effects of muscle relaxants.

Sevelamer (Renagel, Renvela)

Interaction Rating=Minor Be watchful with this combination.

Sevelamer can increase magnesium levels in the body. Taking sevelamer with a magnesium supplement might cause magnesium levels to get too high.

Water pills (Potassium-sparing diuretics)

Interaction Rating=Moderate Be cautious with this combination.

Some "water pills" can increase magnesium levels in the body. Taking some "water pills" along with magnesium might cause too much magnesium to be in the body.

Boron: In females, taking boron supplements can slow down how quickly the body processes magnesium. This can raise magnesium levels in the blood. This effect appears to be greater in young, inactive females. In postmenopausal females, the effect is greater in those who eat less magnesium in the diet. It's not clear if this is relevant for males.
Calcium: Calcium supplements can decrease the absorption of dietary magnesium, but only at very high doses (2600 mg per day). In people with normal magnesium levels, this doesn't seem to be an issue. People at high risk for magnesium deficiency should take calcium supplements at bedtime, instead of with meals, to avoid interfering with dietary magnesium absorption. Magnesium does not seem to affect calcium absorption.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Magnesium might slow blood clotting and increase the risk of bleeding. Taking it with other supplements with similar effects might increase the risk of bleeding in some people. Examples of supplements with this effect include garlic, ginger, ginkgo, nattokinase, and Panax ginseng.
Vitamin D: Some forms of vitamin D increase magnesium absorption, especially when taken in high doses. This effect has been used to treat low magnesium in people with conditions that make it difficult for them to absorb magnesium.
Zinc: High doses of zinc (142 mg per day) might decrease magnesium absorption and magnesium balance in healthy adult males. Also, moderately high dietary zinc intake (53 mg per day) seems to increase magnesium loss after menopause. This might harm bone health.

There are no known interactions with foods.

Magnesium is an important nutrient. The amount that should be consumed on a daily basis is called the recommended dietary allowance (RDA). The RDA depends on age and gender for both adults and children, and is also different when pregnant or breast-feeding. For adult males, the RDA is 400-420 mg daily, depending on age. For adult females, the RDA is 310-320 mg daily, depending on age.

Magnesium supplements vary depending on the particular salt form used (magnesium aspartate, magnesium citrate, magnesium oxide, etc.). It's also available in many multivitamin products. Speak with a healthcare provider to find out what type of product and dose might be best for a specific condition.

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