The side effects of magnesium include nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, arrhythmias, dyspnea, hypotension,... To minimize the risk of side effects and drug interactions, magnesium supplements should only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.
1. Risks of Magnesium Supplements
- Side effects:
Magnesium supplements can cause nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Additionally, this mineral often cause softening of stool. - Magnesium interactions:
Magnesium may not be safe for individuals taking diuretics, heart medications, or antibiotics. Inform your doctor if you are undergoing treatment for any medical condition or taking any medications before taking magnesium. - Impact on other health conditions:
Individuals with diabetes, intestinal disease, heart disease, or kidney disease should avoid magnesium unless specifically instructed by their healthcare provider. - Overdose:
Signs of a magnesium overdose include nausea, diarrhea, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and fatigue. At very high doses, magnesium can be fatal.
When taken orally, magnesium is generally safe for healthy adults at doses below 350 mg per day.
2. Special considerations for certain groups
- Pregnant and Breastfeeding women:
Magnesium is generally safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women when taken at doses below 350 mg per day. For intravenous magnesium, it should only be administered intravenously (IV), and injections should be at least 5 days before the expected delivery date. However, magnesium supplements should only be used in pregnant women experiencing severe medical conditions. Evidence suggests that excessive magnesium may cause severe bone and brain problems in newborns. - Children:
Magnesium is generally safe for most children when taken orally or injection at the appropriate dose prescribed by a doctor. Safe oral magnesium doses are: under 65 mg for children aged 1–3 years, 110 mg for children aged 4–8 years, and 350 mg for children over 8 years. - Alcoholics:
Alcohol abuse increases the risk of magnesium deficiency. - Coagulation disorders:
Magnesium can slow down the blood clotting formation process. In theory, magnesium supplements increase the risk of bleeding or bruising in patients with bleeding disorders. - Diabetic patients:
Magnesium supplements may increase the risk of deficiency. Uncontrolled diabetes reduces magnesium absorption in the body. - Elderly individuals:
Elderly people are at risk for magnesium deficiency due to reduced absorption in the body. Additionally, they often have other health conditions that can affect magnesium absorption. - Heart Block (Atrioventricular Block):
High doses of magnesium, especially when administered intravenously, should be avoided in individuals with heart block. - Diseases affecting magnesium absorption:
Several diseases, such as stomach infections, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory bowel diseases, can reduce magnesium absorption. - Myasthenia gravis patients
Intravenous magnesium can weaken muscles and cause dyspnea in individuals with myasthenia gravis. - Kidney disease (e.g., Renal Failure):
Poor kidney function impairs the body's ability to excrete magnesium, leading to dangerous accumulation of the mineral. - Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS):
People with RLS often have higher-than-normal magnesium levels. Therefore, they should be cautious when taking magnesium supplements.
3. Side Effects of Magnesium
Pregnant women rarely experience magnesium overdose from a normal diet. However, when taking magnesium supplements, they are at risk of exceeding the recommended dosage. Some potential side effects of magnesium overdose include:
- Diarrhea and Dehydration:
Magnesium supplements can stimulate bowel movements in some pregnants, leading to diarrhea, cramps, and loss of appetite. If the diarrhea is not treated, it may result in dehydration, a serious pregnancy complication affecting amniotic fluid levels. Pregnant women experiencing diarrhea for 2-3 days while supplementing magnesium should consult a doctor for appropriate management. - Stomach pain
Common pregnancy symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting (morning sickness). Magnesium supplements can cause symptoms similar to morning sickness. These symptoms typically resolve within a few hours, but if they persist, it is important to consult a doctor.
If any of the following symptoms occur after taking magnesium supplements, it is cruel to attend the emergency department immediately. Magnesium overdose can be fatal if not treated promptly. Serious side effects include:
- Continuous vomiting
- Heart arrhythmias
- Muscle weakness
- Hypotension
- Dyspnea
- Drowsiness
Magnesium should be used in short periods (3-7 days). Long-term use may lead to accumulation in the body, causing respiratory failure and low oxygen levels in the fetus. Furthermore, magnesium can pull calcium from the newborn's bones, increasing the risk of fractures during labor. Pregnant women should stop magnesium supplementation before labor.
4. Risk of Drug Interactions with Magnesium
Magnesium is considered to have a moderate potential for drug interactions. Some drugs that may interact with magnesium and cause unwanted side effects include:
- Aminoglycoside Antibiotics:
Magnesium can affect muscles, and the risk increases when used with aminoglycoside antibiotics.
Common aminoglycosides include amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin, tobramycin. - Quinolone and Tetracycline Antibiotics:
Magnesium can reduce the absorption of quinolone and tetracycline antibiotics, leading to decreased treatment effectiveness. To avoid this interaction, take these antibiotics at least 2 hours before magnesium supplementation or 4 hours after taking magnesium-containing medications.
Common quinolones that interact with magnesium include ciprofloxacin, enoxacin, norfloxacin, sparfloxacin, trovafloxacin, and grepafloxacin.
Common tetracyclines that interact with magnesium include demeclocycline, minocycline, and tetracycline. - Bisphosphonates:
Taking magnesium with bisphosphonates may reduce treatment efficacy. It is advisable to space the administration of these drugs throughout the day. - Calcium Channel Blockers in hypertension treatment:
Magnesium may lower blood pressure, and the risk of side effects increases when used with antihypertensive medications, leading to dangerously low blood pressure. Typical calcium channel blockers include isradipine, felodipine, amlodipine. - Muscle Relaxants:
Magnesium has a muscle-relaxing effect. Using magnesium with muscle relaxants may increase the risk of muscle-related side effects. Common muscle relaxants include pancuronium, succinylcholine. - Potassium-Sparing Diuretics:
These diuretics are commonly prescribed for hypertension but can increase magnesium levels in the body, increasing the risk of magnesium side effects.
To meet magnesium needs, it is not always necessary to use supplements and medications. Instead, a balanced diet and adherence to your doctor's treatment plan can help minimize magnesium-related side effects.
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Sources: webmd.com
