Phillips Milk of Magnesia

Do not use magnesium hydroxide without a doctor's advice if you have stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting.

Ask a doctor or pharmacist if it is safe for you to take this medicine if you have other medical conditions, especially kidney disease.

It is not known whether magnesium hydroxide will harm an unborn baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are pregnant.

It is not known whether magnesium hydroxide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Ask a doctor before using this medicine if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

The chewable tablet must be chewed before you swallow it.

Measure liquid medicine with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

You may need to shake the oral suspension before each use.

Do not use magnesium hydroxide for longer than 7 days without medical advice.

Call your doctor at once if you have if you have a sudden change in bowel habits that persists over a period of 2 weeks.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may include severe diarrhea, muscle weakness, mood changes, slow or irregular heartbeats, and little or no urinating.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using magnesium hydroxide and call your doctor at once if you have:

• rectal bleeding;

• no bowel movement after using the medicine as a laxative;

• severe nausea, vomiting;

• slow heartbeats; or

• a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

Common side effects may include:

• drowsiness; or

• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In the U.S.

• Almora
• Citrate Of Magnesia
• Dewee's Carminative
• Elite Magnesium
• Mag-Gel 600
• Maginex
• Mag-Tab SR
• Phillips Milk of Magnesia

In Canada

• Citracal Slow Release
• Liquid Calcium-Magnesium Strawberry Flavor
• Mag 2
• Magnelium
• Magnesium
• Magnesium-Rougier

Available Dosage Forms:

• Capsule
• Powder for Suspension
• Liquid
• Tablet
• Capsule, Liquid Filled
• Tablet, Enteric Coated
• Tablet, Extended Release
• Packet
• Powder
• Syrup

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain magnesium supplement. It may not be specific to Phillips Milk of Magnesia. Please read with care.

Magnesium supplements should be taken with meals. Taking magnesium supplements on an empty stomach may cause diarrhea.

For individuals taking the extended-release form of this dietary supplement:

• Swallow the tablets whole. Do not chew or suck on the tablet.
• Some tablets may be broken or crushed and sprinkled on applesauce or other soft food. However, check with your health care professional first, since this should not be done for most tablets.

For individuals taking the powder form of this dietary supplement:

• Pour powder into a glass.
• Add water and stir.

Dosing

The dose medicines in this class will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of these medicines. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For oral dosage form (capsules, chewable tablets, crystals for oral solution, extended-release tablets, enteric-coated tablets, powder for oral solution, tablets, oral solution):
  • To prevent deficiency, the amount taken by mouth is based on normal daily recommended intakes (Note that the normal daily recommended intakes are expressed as an actual amount of magnesium. The salt form [e.g., magnesium chloride, magnesium gluconate, etc.] has a different strength.):
    For the U.S.
    • Adult and teenage males—270 to 400 milligrams (mg) per day.
    • Adult and teenage females—280 to 300 mg per day.
    • Pregnant females—320 mg per day.
    • Breast-feeding females—340 to 355 mg per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age—170 mg per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age—120 mg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age—40 to 80 mg per day.
    For Canada
    • Adult and teenage males—130 to 250 mg per day.
    • Adult and teenage females—135 to 210 mg per day.
    • Pregnant females—195 to 245 mg per day.
    • Breast-feeding females—245 to 265 mg per day.
    • Children 7 to 10 years of age—100 to 135 mg per day.
    • Children 4 to 6 years of age—65 mg per day.
    • Children birth to 3 years of age—20 to 50 mg per day.
  • To treat deficiency:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children—Treatment dose is determined by prescriber for each individual based on severity of deficiency.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

If you miss taking your magnesium supplement for one or more days there is no cause for concern, since it takes some time for your body to become seriously low in magnesium. However, if your health care professional has recommended that you take magnesium, try to remember to take it as directed every day.

Storage

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Dizziness or fainting
• flushing
• irritation and pain at injection site—for intramuscular administration only
• muscle paralysis
• troubled breathing

• Blurred or double vision
• coma
• dizziness or fainting
• drowsiness (severe)
• increased or decreased urination
• slow heartbeat
• troubled breathing

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Diarrhea

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Very upset stomach or throwing up.
• Very loose stools (diarrhea).
• Not hungry.
• Muscle weakness.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Bad taste in your mouth. This most often goes back to normal.
• Loose stools (diarrhea).

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.