magnesium citrate
Magnesium citrate is a oral laxative solution that can ease the occasional constipation. It's available over the counter (OTC) and can help produce a bowel movement in 30 minutes to 6 hours. Magnesium citrate might not be a safe option if you have kidney problems or electrolyte levels that are out of balance.
What is Magnesium citrate?
What is Magnesium citrate used for?
- Occasional constipation
How Magnesium citrate works
Magnesium citrate is a saline laxative. It helps your intestines hold onto water, making it easier to have a bowel movement.
Drug facts
More on Magnesium citrate essentials
Side effects of Magnesium citrate
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
The following Magnesium citrate side effects have also been reported
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:
Rare
Dizziness or fainting
flushing
irritation and pain at injection site—for intramuscular administration only
muscle paralysis
troubled breathing
Symptoms of overdose (rare in individuals with normal kidney function)
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:
Less common (with oral magnesium)
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.
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Pros and cons of Magnesium citrate
Pros
- Works fast, produces a bowel movement within 30 minutes to 6 hours
- Available OTC without a prescription
- Comes in different flavors
- Many generic products available
Cons
- Only for use with occasional constipation
- Might not be a good option for people with kidney problems or those who need to limit magnesium or sodium intake
- Can cause nausea and vomiting
- Needs to be separated from other medications
Pharmacist tips for Magnesium citrate
- Magnesium citrate can start to work 30 minutes after you take it. Only take this medication when you know you'll have access to a bathroom. Avoid taking it too close to bedtime to avoid having to go to the bathroom at night.
- Shake the bottle before drinking your magnesium citrate dose so you get the correct amount of medication. You can take the dose all at once, or separate it into smaller doses and take it throughout the day.
- Drink a full 8 oz glass of liquid with each magnesium citrate dose to help the medication work. Doing so can help lower your risk for dehydration (low fluids in your body) and related symptoms, such as dizziness and weakness.
- Talk to your provider before using magnesium citrate if you have kidney problems or need to limit how much magnesium or sodium you eat. You want to avoid having electrolyte imbalances which can worsen other health conditions.
- Take your other medications at least 2 hours before or after magnesium citrate because laxatives like magnesium citrate can affect how other medications work. If you take a lot of medications, talk to your provider or pharmacist to see how long they should be separated from magnesium citrate.
- Stop taking magnesium citrate and call your provider if you have taken laxatives for longer than 1 week or if your constipation lasts longer than 2 weeks. You might need more medical attention.
Common questions about Magnesium Citrate
Magnesium Citrate is typically available as 10 fluid ounce (fl oz) bottles. The maximum dose for adults and children age 12 years and older is one 10 fl oz bottle of Magnesium Citrate by mouth in 24 hours, either as a single dose or divided into smaller doses and taken throughout the day. Some people might need to drink the whole bottle to produce a bowel movement, but this isn't always the case. If it's your first time taking Magnesium Citrate, start at the lower end of the dosing range (for example, 6.5 fl oz for adults) to see how your body responds. Always ask your provider for guidance if you're not sure how much you should take. If you're giving Magnesium Citrate to your child, follow their provider's instructions on how much to give them.
It can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 6 hours to have a bowel movement after you take Magnesium Citrate. Contact your provider if you still don't have any bowel movement 6 hours after you take this medication. Don't take more than the recommended dose of Magnesium Citrate because doing so can cause side effects, such as stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting. In some cases, your provider might recommend other medications to help you have a bowel movement. Other times, not having a bowel movement can be a sign of a more serious problem, like a gut blockage, and you need more immediate medical attention.
Magnesium Citrate is typically stored at room temperature. Check your product's label to see if it's ok to put it in the fridge. Some people find that it tastes better when it's chilled.
No, you should avoid Magnesium Citrate if you have kidney problems or electrolyte levels that are out of balance. If you have kidney problems, talk with your provider about what medications are safe for you to take to relieve constipation.
Magnesium Citrate isn't FDA-approved as a bowel prep for use before colonoscopy. But sometimes, healthcare providers prescribe Magnesium Citrate off-label (not FDA-approved) in combination with other bowel prep agents in order to make "low-volume solutions" for people who can't tolerate the standard bowel prep solutions. If you're getting a colonoscopy, ask your provider about your options for bowel prep. Make sure to tell them about your medical conditions because Magnesium Citrate should be avoided by people with kidney problems or electrolyte levels that are out of balance. If your provider do prescribe Magnesium Citrate for your colonoscopy, follow the instructions from your provider's office rather than the directions on the medication bottle.
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Risks and warnings for Magnesium citrate
Magnesium citrate can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Complete or partial blockage of intestines
Stop taking magnesium citrate and call your provider if you have rectal bleeding (blood that comes from your anus) or can't have a bowel movement after taking magnesium citrate. These could be signs of a more serious problem.
Kidney and other health conditions
Before you start taking magnesium citrate, talk to your provider first if you have stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or if you've noticed sudden changes in your stool for more than 2 weeks. Magnesium citrate may not be the best medication for you, and your provider should make sure there's not a more serious problem going on.
Also, if you have kidney problems don't take magnesium citrate unless you've first talked with your provider. This medication might not be safe for you if you've kidney problems.
Magnesium citrate dosage
Bottle of oral solution| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 296ml | 1 bottle | $3.74 | $3.74 |
Typical dosage for Magnesium citrate
Magnesium citrate oral solution made by different manufacturers might have slightly different instructions. Make sure to read the label on your bottle before you take the medication. Typically, magnesium citrate oral solution comes in 10 fluid ounce (fl oz) bottles, and each fluid ounce of solution usually contains 1.745 grams of magnesium citrate.
- Adults and children age 12 and older: The typical recommended dose is 6.5 fl oz to 10 fl oz by mouth in 24 hours, either as a single dose or in divided doses.
- Children age 6 to 11: The typical recommended dose is 3 fl oz to 7 fl oz by mouth in 24 hours, either as a single dose or in divided doses.
- Children age 2 to 5: The typical recommended dose is 2 fl oz to 3 fl oz by mouth in 24 hours, either as a single dose or in divided doses.
- Children under 2 years of age: Ask your child's provider.
Interactions between Magnesium citrate and other drugs
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking any of these dietary supplements, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using dietary supplements in this class with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Acalabrutinib
- Amphetamine
- Baloxavir Marboxil
- Benzphetamine
- Bictegravir
- Cabotegravir
- Dextroamphetamine
- Digoxin
- Dolutegravir
- Eltrombopag
- Elvitegravir
- Erdafitinib
- Gefitinib
- Ketoconazole
- Ledipasvir
- Levomethadyl
- Licorice
- Lisdexamfetamine
- Mefenamic Acid
- Methamphetamine
- Mycophenolate Mofetil
- Mycophenolic Acid
- Neratinib
- Octreotide
- Pazopanib
- Phenytoin
- Quinine
- Raltegravir
- Rilpivirine
- Selpercatinib
- Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate
- Vismodegib
How much does Magnesium citrate cost?
$3.74
What are alternatives to Magnesium citrate?
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