Medications and Magnesium

Common Medications That Affect Magnesium

Milk of Magnesia taken as a laxative or antacid can increase magnesium intake:

Taking the recommended dose as a laxative (2 to 4 Tbsp.) provides 990 to 1950 mg magnesium.

Taking the recommended dose as an antacid (1 to 3 tsp.) provides 165 to 500 mg magnesium.

Medications that can cause high serum magnesium:

     Lithium Carbonate

Medications that “spare” magnesium, lowering its excretion in the urine:

     Aspirin

Listed below are medications that increase the urinary excretion of magnesium, promoting magnesium loss:

   Drugs used in heart disease

       Antiarrhythmic Drugs

       Quinidine, Sotalol, Aamiodarone, Bretylium

        Digoxin and Strophanthin

        Adrenalin and drugs that mimic its activity, such as isoproterenol

        Diuretics

        Furosemide

        Ethacrynic Acid

        Thiazides

        Osmotic Agents

   Drugs to treat allergies

        Anti-asthmatics

        Adrenalin

        Aminophylline

        Antihistamines: astemizole, terfenadine

   Drugs used in mental disorders

        pimozide

        thioridazine, trifluoperazine

   Antibiotics

        Carbenicillin

        Ticarcillin

        Amphotericin B

        Aminoglycoside group of antibiotics

        Gentamicin

         Tobramycin

   Other medications

        Antineoplastic drugs and radiation

        Immunosuppressants

        Cisplatin

        Cyclosporine

        Hydrocortisone and other cortisone drugs

        Antacids can affect absorption of other drugs, many contain magnesium

        Pentamidine

   Nutraceuticals

        High dose calcium

        High dose vitamin D

        High Intake of caffeine (coffee, tea)

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