Magnesium hydroxide: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

What is Magnesium Hydroxide?

What is magnesium hydroxide for?

Magnesium hydroxide is a drug that can be used to treat constipation or constipation.

These drugs include laxatives (osmosis type) which work by drawing water into the intestines. This will trigger movement in the intestines and soften the stool. As a result, it will be easier for you to defecate.

Apart from being a laxative, this drug is also an antacid that helps neutralize excess stomach acid. This is why, this drug can also be used to relieve symptoms of ulcers,heartburn (a burning sensation in the chest or pain in the gut), as well as various digestive disorders caused by high stomach acid.

Magnesium hydroxide is an over-the-counter medication that is available in many brands. You can find this drug easily at pharmacies, drug stores, supermarkets, or even convenience stores. However, make sure you use this drug with caution. Use that is not as recommended can actually decrease the effectiveness of the drug and trigger a number of dangerous side effects.

How is magnesium hydroxide used?

Follow all the instructions for using the medicine listed on the prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets carefully. Don't hesitate to ask a doctor if you don't really understand how to use it.

This medicine is available in two forms, namely chewable tablets and liquid. For chewable tablets, chew the medicine until it breaks before swallowing. Crushed drugs will be easier to enter the stomach so they can work faster to relieve symptoms. Drink a glass of water to make it easier for you to swallow all the medicine and reduce bad taste in your mouth.

As for the liquid form, shake the medicine well before you consume it so that the medicine can be mixed evenly. After that, just pour the liquid into the spoon or glass of medicine according to the recommended dosage.

Measure the dose carefully using a special measuring tool / spoon. Don't use a regular tablespoon as you may not get the correct dose.

Medicines in liquid form are best taken without being accompanied by other fluids, except plain water. Water helps the drug flow into the body.

This medicine is usually taken 30 minutes before meals and before bedtime according to their needs and conditions. Make sure you take the medicine according to the instructions or drinking rules from the doctor, pharmacist, or those listed on the drug packaging label. Also find out the schedule for taking the best medication. Especially when you have to take some kind of medicine at once. This is done to prevent health problems.

Make sure you do not increase or decrease the dose of the drug. Long-term use or taking too much of this medicine may become addictive and cause persistent diarrhea. It doesn't stop there. This drug can also cause dehydration and increase the levels of magensium in the body when used in large quantities and long term.

If an ulcer or indigestion complaint that you experience does not improve for more than 1 week, immediately consult a doctor. You should also see a doctor immediately if the condition gets worse.

How is magnesium hydroxide stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it.

Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed.

Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Magnesium Hydroxide Dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of magnesium hydroxide for adults?

As a drug for high stomach acid, the recommended dosage ranges up to 1 gram per day. Its use can be combined with aluminum hydroxide.

As for laxatives, the dosage of the drug is 2.4 to 4.8 grams per day. The dosage of the drug can be given once or divided into several times.

In principle, the dosage of drugs for each person may be different. The dosage of drugs is usually adjusted according to the patient's age, overall health condition, and their response to treatment.

Be sure to always consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking any type of medication. This is solely to ensure that you are taking the drug according to the recommended dosage.

What is the dose of magnesium hydroxide for children?

There is no definite dosage requirement for children. This drug can be dangerous for children if used improperly. Therefore, to understand the safety of drugs before use. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

In what dosage is magnesium hydroxide available?

This drug is available in chewable tablet and liquid medicine.

Magnesium Hydroxide side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to magnesium hydroxide?

All drugs may cause side effects. Even so, not everyone experiences side effects. The side effects of this drug can range from mild to severe.

Some of the most common side effects that people complain about after using this medicine include:

• Discomfort in the stomach
• Diarrhea
• Sleepy
• Sensation of numbness or numbness
• The skin feels warm or looks reddish

In rare cases, this medication can cause serious side effects, such as bleeding in the anus, persistent vomiting, weak heart rate, feeling faint, severe dehydration, and high magnesium levels. These conditions can make you feel weak and helpless.

Magnesium levels that rise drastically can also lead to poisoning in patients with kidney disorders. If you have this, immediately stop using the drug and go to a doctor to prevent more dangerous side effects.

This drug can also cause anaphylactic shock. Anphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can lead to loss of consciousness or even death if not treated promptly. This condition is usually characterized by:

• Itching in part or all over the body
• Hard to breathe
• Weak and fast heartbeat
• Swelling of the throat, lips and face
• Red rash on the skin

There may be some side effects not listed above. If you want to know about side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Magnesium Hydroxide Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using magnesium hydroxide?

Although including over-the-counter drugs, this drug should not be used carelessly. Some things you need to know and do before using this drug include:

• Do not use this drug if you have an allergy to magnesium hydroxide, antacid drugs, or other drugs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a constituent list of drugs before you use them.
• Avoid this drug if you experience persistent stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can still use this drug if you are experiencing these conditions.
• Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines you are taking and will be taking regularly. This information will help your doctor and pharmacist to prescribe other drugs that are safer and more suitable for your condition.
• You should first ask your doctor about the safety of this drug if you have or have a history of liver and kidney disease.
• It is not yet known whether this drug is safe to drink for pregnant or lactating women. Therefore, you should tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
• This medicine may cause a drowsy effect. For that, avoid driving or operating machinery until the effect of the drug is completely gone.

This medicine may also cause lightheadedness when you get up too quickly from lying or sitting. This usually happens when you first drink it.

To help avoid this problem, get out of bed slowly. Place your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.

If while taking this medicine you experience diarrhea, vomiting, and sweating profusely, be careful. Because this condition can lower blood pressure to make you pass out. Tell your doctor if you have this problem or experience it during your treatment

Be sure to follow all doctor's advice and / or therapist's instructions. Your doctor may need to change your medication dose or monitor you carefully to prevent certain side effects.

Is magnesium hydroxide safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication.

Magnesium Hydroxide Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with magnesium hydroxide?

Drug interactions may change how medications work or increase the risk of serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions.

Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change your dose without your doctor's approval.

For this drug, please be careful if you are being treated with any of the following drugs:

• Anticoagulants (eg warfarin) because magnesium hydroxide increases the risk of anticoagulant side effects such as flatulence or gas.
• Azole antifungals (eg ketoconazole), bisphosphonates (eg alendronate), cassion replacement resins (eg sodium polystyrene sulfonate), cephalosporins (eg cephalexin), mycophenolate, penicillamine, quinolone antibiotics (eg ciprofloxacin), or tetracycline (eg doxycycline) reduce the effectiveness of these drugs.

There may be other drugs that can interact with this drug. It is a good idea to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all medicines you have been regularly taking recently. Your doctor and pharmacist may prescribe other drugs that are safer for you.

Can food or alcohol interact with magnesium hydroxide?

Certain drugs cannot be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with a healthcare professional about using drugs with food, alcohol, or cigarettes.

What health conditions can interact with magnesium hydroxide?

The presence of other drug problems may affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Appendix
• Stomach ache
• Bowel obstruction
• Nausea and vomiting constantly
• Diarrhea
• Impaired kidney function
• Liver disfunction
• Rectal bleeding for no apparent reason
• Bowel surgery

There may be a number of other conditions that have not been mentioned above. It's good to tell the doctor and pharmacist about your actual health condition. By providing this information, your doctor and pharmacist may prescribe other drugs that are safer for you.

Magnesium Hydroxide Overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department. Bring a medicine box, container, or label with you when you go to the hospital to help the doctor with any necessary information.

When someone has an overdose, various symptoms that may arise are:

• Too low blood pressure (hypotension) which makes the head dizzy
• Fainting
• Fast and irregular heartbeat
• Slower than normal heart rate

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your dosing schedule. Do not use extra doses to make up for a missed dose.

If you continue to miss doses, consider setting an alarm or asking a family member to remind you.

Please consult your doctor to discuss changes in your dosing schedule or a new schedule to make up for a missed dose, if you have missed too many doses recently.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.