From Antibiotics to Calcium: 8 Magnesium Interactions to Be Aware Of
Learn common interactions to know about when taking magnesium, including medications and supplements.
magnesium oxide
Used for Nutritional Deficiency
Used for Nutritional Deficiency
Magnesium oxide is an antacid that's used to relieve symptoms of acid reflux, such as heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach. Some other magnesium oxide products can also be used as a supplement for many other health problems, including low magnesium levels. Some side effects can include diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramping. Magnesium oxide is available as a tablet that you take by mouth and is found over the counter.
What is Magnesium oxide?
What is Magnesium oxide used for?
- Heartburn
- Indigestion
- Upset stomach
- Dietary supplement for low magnesium levels
How Magnesium oxide works
Magnesium oxide is an antacid. It neutralizes the acid in your stomach. This helps relieve heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach.
Magnesium oxide can also be used as a dietary supplement for people who have low blood magnesium levels. Magnesium is important to your health. It helps your body systems, like your nerves, muscles, and heart, work well.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | None available |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Antacid |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Over-the-counter |
More on Magnesium oxide essentials
Side effects of Magnesium oxide
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
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach cramping
Magnesium oxide serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Dehydration: dry mouth, not urinating as much, lightheadedness, dizziness
- Magnesium toxicity: dizziness, flushed skin, low energy, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, abnormal heartbeat
The following Magnesium oxide side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- High magnesium level—confusion, drowsiness, facial flushing, redness, sweating, muscle weakness, fast or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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$7.350
GoodRx discount
$7.35
Pros and cons of Magnesium oxide
Pros
- Available over the counter
- Has many health uses, such as heartburn relief
Cons
- Interacts with many medications, including certain antibiotics and thyroid medications
- Might cause diarrhea and other stomach-related side effects
Pharmacist tips for Magnesium oxide
- Magnesium is available in many different forms and dosage strengths. Read the package label carefully to make sure you have the correct form of magnesium that you need and confirm that you're taking the correct dose. If you have questions about your dose, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider for guidance.
- If you're taking magnesium oxide for acid reflux and your symptoms last for more than 2 weeks, stop taking it and contact your healthcare provider. There might be a more serious health problem going on that your provider should check out.
- If you're using magnesium oxide as a supplement to boost up your magnesium levels, eating foods that are high in magnesium can also help restore your nutrient levels.
- Stay hydrated as much as possible to avoid dehydration from possible diarrhea. During treatment, let your provider know if you get dehydrated (e.g., dry mouth, not urinating as much, lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches).
- Magnesium can interact with certain medications. Tell your pharmacist or provider about all the medications you're taking before starting magnesium oxide. This is especially important if you're taking osteoporosis medications called bisphosphonates, doxycycline (Vibramycin), or fluoroquinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin (Cipro). Don't start any new medications while taking magnesium oxide without talking to your provider or pharmacist first. They can make sure your medications are safe to take and whether you need to space out when you take your medications to avoid interactions.
Risks and warnings for Magnesium oxide
Magnesium oxide 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.
Diarrhea
A possible side effect of magnesium oxide is diarrhea. Since you can lose a lot of fluids from your body when you have diarrhea, you might be at risk of getting dehydrated. Contact your provider if you feel dehydrated or have signs of dehydration (e.g., dry mouth, not urinating as much, lightheadedness, dizziness, headache). If you experience diarrhea that's bothersome or if you get dehydrated, your provider can recommend ways to help manage these problems.
Magnesium toxicity
- Risk factors: Kidney problems | Taking more magnesium than recommended
Having kidney problems or taking too much magnesium oxide can cause your blood magnesium levels to be too high and lead to serious side effects. Early symptoms of high magnesium levels can include dizziness, flushed skin, nausea, vomiting, and having lower energy. Call your healthcare provider right away if you experience any of these symptoms. Sometimes high magnesium levels can become more serious and lead to difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, and abnormal heartbeat. If this happens, get emergency help right away.
Magnesium oxide dosage
The average cost for 90 tablets of 400mg of Magnesium oxide is $7.35 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 0.00% off the average retail price of $7.35. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400mg | 90 tablets | $7.35 | $0.08 |
Typical dosage for Magnesium oxide
-
Magnesium oxide 400 mg tablets
- Antacid: The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth twice per day, or as directed by your provider.
- Supplement: The typical dose is 1 to 2 tablets by mouth per day, or as directed by your provider.
-
Magnesium oxide 420 mg tablets
- Supplement: The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth once per day with food, or as directed by your provider
How much does Magnesium oxide cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Magnesium oxide (generic)
$7.35
What are alternatives to Magnesium oxide?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Magnesium oxide. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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