Magnesium Hydroxide

Magnesium Hydroxide is used in the treatment of:

• Constipation
• Duodenal Ulcer
• Dyspepsia
• Esophagitis, Peptic
• Gastroesophageal Reflux
• Heartburn
• Kidney Failure, Chronic
• Metabolic Diseases
• Stomach Ulcer

Magnesium Hydroxide is used in the prevention of:

• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage
• Magnesium Deficiency

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Magnesium Hydroxide is part of the drug class:

• Magnesium compounds

Usual Adult Dose for Constipation:

Oral liquid:
30 to 60 mL orally once a day or in divided doses.

Chewable tablet:
8 tablets orally once a day or in divided doses.

Usual Adult Dose for Dyspepsia:

Oral liquid:
Initial dose: 5 to 15 mL orally 1 to 4 times a day as needed.
Alternatively, 1 to 3 oral tablets 1 to 4 times a day as needed.

Chewable tablet:
2 to 4 tablets orally every 4 hours as needed up to 4 times in a 24 hour period.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Constipation:

Oral liquid:
1 year or less: 0.5 mL/kg per dose.
2 to 5 years: 5 to 15 mL orally once a day or in divided doses.
6 to 12 years: 15 to 30 mL orally once a day or in divided doses.
13 to 18 years: 30 to 60 mL orally once a day or in divided doses.

Chewable tablet:
3 to 5 years: 2 tablets orally once a day or in divided doses.
6 to 11 years: 4 tablets orally once a day or in divided doses.
12 to 18 years: 8 tablets orally once a day or in divided doses.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Dyspepsia:

Chewable tablet:
12 to 18 years: 2 to 4 tablets orally every 4 hours up to 4 times in a 24 hour period.

• Magnesia Magma
• Milk of Magnesia
• MOM

Promotes bowel evacuation by causing osmotic retention of fluid which distends the colon with increased peristaltic activity; reacts with hydrochloric acid in stomach to form magnesium chloride

Absorption

Oral: Up to 30%

Excretion

Urine (up to 30% as absorbed magnesium ions); feces (as unabsorbed drug)

Hypersensitivity to any ingredient

Refer to adult dosing.

Antacid: OTC labeling: Oral:

Liquid: Magnesium hydroxide 400 mg/5 mL: Children ≥12 years: Refer to adult dosing.

Tablet, chewable: Magnesium hydroxide 311 mg/tablet:

Children <12 years: Use not recommended.

Children ≥12 years: Refer to adult dosing.

Laxative (occasional constipation): Oral:

Liquid:

OTC labeling:

Children <2 years: Use not recommended.

Children 2 to 5 years: Magnesium hydroxide 400 mg/5 mL: 5 to 15 mL/day once daily at bedtime or in divided doses

Children 6 to 11 years:

Magnesium hydroxide 400 mg/5 mL: 15 to 30 mL/day once daily at bedtime or in divided doses

Magnesium hydroxide 1,200 mg/5 mL: 5 to 10 mL/day once daily at bedtime or in divided doses

Children ≥12 years: Refer to adult dosing.

Tablet, chewable:

OTC labeling:

Magnesium hydroxide 311 mg/tablet:

Children <3 years: Use not recommended.

Children 3 to 5 years: 2 tablets/day once daily at bedtime or in divided doses

Children 6 to 11 years: 4 tablets/day once daily at bedtime or in divided doses

Children ≥12 years: Refer to adult dosing.

Magnesium hydroxide 400 mg/tablet:

Children <2 years: Use not recommended.

Children 2 to 5 years: 1 to 3 tablets/day once daily or in divided doses (maximum daily dose: 3 tablets)

Children 6 to 11 years: 3 to 6 tablets/day once daily or in divided doses (maximum daily dose: 6 tablets)

Some products may contain sodium.

Disease-related concerns:

• Neuromuscular disease: Use with extreme caution in patients with myasthenia gravis or other neuromuscular disease.

• Renal impairment: Use with caution in patients with renal impairment; accumulation of magnesium may lead to magnesium intoxication.

Other warnings/precautions:

• OTC use: For occasional use only; serious side effects may occur with prolonged use. For use only under the supervision of a health care provider in patients with kidney dysfunction, a magnesium-restricted diet, stomach pain/nausea/vomiting, or with a sudden change in bowel habits which persist for >2 weeks. Patients should stop use as a laxative and notify health care provider of any rectal bleeding, if bowel movement does not occur after using product, or if use is needed for >1 week. Stop use as an antacid and notify health care provider if you have taken the maximum dose for >2 weeks. Not for OTC use in children <2 years of age.