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You are here : 3-RX.com > Drugs & Medications > Detailed Drug Information (USP DI) > Magnesium Supplements

Magnesium Supplements (Systemic)

Description and Brand Names | Before Using | Proper Use | Side Effects

Description

Magnesium is used as a dietary supplement for individuals who are deficient in magnesium. Although a balanced diet usually supplies all the magnesium a person needs, magnesium supplements may be needed by patients who have lost magnesium because of illness or treatment with certain medicines.

Lack of magnesium may lead to irritability, muscle weakness, and irregular heartbeat.

Injectable magnesium is given only by or under the supervision of a health care professional. Some oral magnesium preparations are available only with a prescription. Others are available without a prescription.

Magnesium supplements are available in the following dosage forms:

Oral

Magnesium Chloride
- Tablets (U.S.)
- Enteric-coated tablets (U.S.)
- Extended-release tablets (U.S.)
Magnesium Citrate
- Oral solution (U.S. and Canada)
Magnesium Gluceptate
- Oral solution (Canada)
Magnesium Gluconate
- Oral solution (U.S.)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Magnesium Hydroxide
- Tablets (U.S.)
- Chewable tablets (U.S. and Canada)
- Oral solution (U.S. and Canada)
Magnesium Lactate
- Extended-release tablets (U.S.)
Magnesium Oxide
- Capsules (U.S.)
- Tablets (U.S. and Canada)
Magnesium Pidolate
- Powder for oral solution (Canada)
Magnesium Sulfate
- Crystals (U.S.)

Parenteral

Magnesium Chloride
- Injection (U.S.)
Magnesium Sulfate
- Injection (U.S. and Canada)

Importance of Diet

The best dietary sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, nuts, peas, beans, and cereal grains in which the germ or outer layers have not been removed. Hard water has been found to contain more magnesium than soft water. A diet high in fat may cause less magnesium to be absorbed. Cooking may decrease the magnesium content of food.

The daily amount of magnesium needed is defined in several different ways.

For U.S. -

Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amount of vitamins and minerals needed to provide for adequate nutrition in most healthy persons. RDAs for a given nutrient may vary depending on a person's age, sex, and physical condition (e.g., pregnancy).
Daily Values (DVs) are used on food and dietary supplement labels to indicate the percent of the recommended daily amount of each nutrient that a serving provides. DV replaces the previous designation of United States Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDAs).

For Canada -

Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) are used to determine the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to provide adequate nutrition and lessen the risk of chronic disease.

Normal daily recommended intakes in milligrams (mg) for magnesium are generally defined as follows:

Persons

U.S.

(mg)

Canada

(mg)

Infants and children

Birth to 3 years of age

40-80

20-50

4 to 6 years of age

120

65

7 to 10 years of age

170

100-135

Adolescent and adult males

270-400

130-250

Adolescent and adult females

280-300

135-210

Pregnant females

320

195-245

Breast-feeding females

340-355

245-265

Brand Names

Some commonly used brand names are:

In the U.S. -

Almora ⁴
Chloromag ¹
Citroma ²
Concentrated Phillips" Milk of Magnesia ⁵
Mag-200 ⁷
Mag-L-100 ¹
Magonate ⁴
Mag-Ox 400 ⁷
Mag-Tab SR ⁶
Magtrate ⁴
Maox ⁷
MGP ⁴
Phillips" Chewable Tablets ⁵
Phillips" Milk of Magnesia ⁵
Slow-Mag ¹
Uro-Mag ⁷

In Canada -

Citro-Mag ²
Mag 2 ⁸
Maglucate ⁴
Magnesium-Rougier ³
Phillips" Magnesia Tablets ⁵
Phillips" Milk of Magnesia ⁵

Note:

For quick reference, the following magnesium supplements are numbered to match the corresponding brand names.

This information applies to the following:
1.	Magnesium Chloride (mag-NEE-zhumKLOR-ide)†‡
2.	MagnesiumCitrate # (mag-NEE-zhum SIH-trayt)‡
3.	MagnesiumGluceptate (mag-NEE-zhum gloo-SEP-tate)*
4.	Magnesium Gluconate (mag-NEE-zhum GLOO-ko-nate)‡
5.	Magnesium Hydroxide # †† (mag-NEE-zhumhye-DROX-ide)‡
6.	Magnesium Lactate (mag-NEE-zhum LAK-tate)†
7.	Magnesium Oxide # (mag-NEE-zhum OX-ide)‡§
8.	Magnesium Pidolate (mag-NEE-zhum PID-o-late)*
9.	Magnesium Sulfate # ** (mag-NEE-zhum SUL-fate)‡§
* Not commercially available in the U.S.
† Not commercially available in Canada
‡ Generic name product may be available in the U.S.
§ Generic name product may be available in Canada

# See Laxatives (Oral) for laxative use of magnesium citrate, magnesium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, and magnesium sulfate.

** See Magnesium Sulfate (Systemic) for use in seizures and uterine tetany.

†† See Antacids (Oral) for antacid use of magnesium hydroxide and magnesium oxide.

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		Magnesium Supplements: Before Using

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Magnesium Supplements (Systemic)

Category

Description

Importance of Diet

Brand Names