Pseudogout is a condition in which small crystals made of calcium pyrophosphate build up in the fluid that fills the joints, also known as the synovial fluid. These crystals can cause intense pain and inflammation in the affected joint similar to gout, though the crystals that form in patients with pseudogout are made of a different substance. Magnesium carbonate is a compound that has been studied as a treatment for pseudogout, and it appears to have some efficacy although it is rarely used as a sole method of treatment.
Step 1
Have your magnesium levels checked. You have a greater risk of developing pseudogout if your blood magnesium levels are low, The Merck Manuals explains. If your magnesium levels are already low, you may be more likely to benefit from taking magnesium carbonate supplements.
Step 2
Talk with your doctor about the limitations of magnesium carbonate therapy. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that magnesium carbonate can help dissolve crystals but that some of the larger hard deposits in your joints may remain. This means that although magnesium carbonate can help treat pseudogout, it is unlikely to be effective when used alone.
Step 3
Consume approximately 600 mg of magnesium carbonate per day. The only scientific literature that lists a standard dose of magnesium carbonate is a 1983 article in the "Annals of Rheumatic Diseases," which noted a dosage of 30 mEq of magnesium per day, which amounts to approximately 600 mg of magnesium carbonate. According to DailyMed, this is approximately 12 tablets of magnesium carbonate-containing antacids. Your physician may be able to suggest alternate sources of magnesium carbonate.
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