Magnesium Hydroxide

Registered South African indications:

• Indigestion
• Dyspepsia
• Heartburn
• Hyperacidity
• Gastritis
• Oesophageal reflux
• Peptic ulceration
• Constipation

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to the active ingredient or any of its excipients

Cautions

• Pregnancy
• Renal impairment
• Prolonged use
• Children

Forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: sus

Dyspepsia
Heartburn
Hyperacidity
Gastritis
Oesophageal reflux with peptic ulceration

• Oral (sus): 400-1200mg (5-15ml), 6hrly Max duration: 2 weeks; Max: 4800mg (60ml)/24hrs

Occasional constipation

• Oral (sus): 2400-4800mg (30-60ml), dly at bedtime or upon rising; Max duration: 3 days

Patient to drink a full glass of water after administration

Bowel movement is produced in 30min to 6 hours

Paed. forms avail. in SA and covered in this monograph: sus

Dyspepsia
Heartburn
Hyperacidity
Gastritis
Oesophageal reflux with peptic ulceration

Younger than 12 years

• Not established for use

Older than 12 years

• See adult dosage

Occasional constipation

Younger than 2 years

• Not established for use

Between 2-5 years

• Oral (sus): 400-1200mg (5-15ml), dly at bedtime or upon rising; Max duration: 3 days

Between 6-11 years

• Oral (sus): 1200-2400mg (15-30ml), dly at bedtime or upon rising; Max duration: 3 days

Older than 12 years

• See adult dosage

Patient to drink a full glass of water after administration

Bowel movement is produced in 30min to 6 hours

Pregnancy

• Caution
• Magnesium crosses the placenta
• Serum magnesium hydroxide concentrations in the foetus are comparable to those in the mother. Magnesium hydroxide is considered acceptable for treating heartburn of pregnancy, as well as aspiration prophylaxis during labour
• Chronic use is not recommended during pregnancy

Breastfeeding

• Compatible
• Magnesium hydroxide containing antacid is considered low risk in breastfeeding women. Oral absorption of the agent is not expected to affect the breastfed infant's serum magnesium. Chronic use is not recommended during breastfeeding
• Magnesium is endogenous to breast milk and the concentration is sustained during the first year of breastfeeding and are not influenced by dietary intake under normal conditions

Renal Impairment

• Caution; no dose adjustment recommended

Hepatic Impairment

• No dose adjustment recommended

Elderly

• No dose adjustment recommended

Porphyria Information

• Not yet classified (NC)

Drugs in Sport

• Non-regulated product
• Non-regulated products are not subjected to rigorous controls to verify its efficacy, safety, nor that the ingredients, dosages and claims listed on the label are indeed accurate, therefore authorities caution athletes against the risk of using these products

Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Diarrhoea

Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

• Magnesium toxicity

• Tetracyclines
• Digoxin
• Dicoumerol
• Cimetidine
• Ibuprofen
• Penicillamine
• Bisphosphates
• Ketoconazole
• Salicylates
• Sodium polystyrene sulphonate

None routine. Specific cases may require

• Serum magnesium levels

Magnesium hydroxide acts as either an antacid or a laxative, depending on the dose ingested. As an antacid, it binds to gastric hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride and water, which neutralises stomach acid. As a laxative, it creates an osmotic effect (as it is not absorbed in the intestinal tract) and draws water into the gut lumen, which both softens faeces and increases intraluminal faeces volume, stimulating intestinal motility.

Magnesium hydroxide is available in several formulations. Please note the list below gives examples of products which are available and is not necessarily comprehensive. The listing of a product does not constitute endorsement of the product by EMGuidance; likewise, failure to list a product does not imply that EMGuidance disapproves of the product. This information is put together on the basis of the National Government's Medicines Price Registry at the time of publication

Suspension (per 5ml) 425mg

• Phipps Milk of Magnesia (Adcock)