Magnesium is an important mineral found throughout the body; it is particularly vital for healthy heart, muscle, kidney and bone function. Magnesium deficiency is common, and many people take magnesium supplements to treat or prevent it. It is also used as a laxative and antacid and to treat a number of other conditions. Magnesium does cause side effects and may pose risks for some people, particularly at high doses. Talk to your doctor before taking magnesium supplements.
Side Effects
Magnesium supplements usually cause few side effects when taken at recommended doses of less than 350 mg per day, according to MedlinePlus. When side effects are experienced, they may include upset stomach, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Overdose
High doses of magnesium can cause an overdose, though this is rare in people with normal-functioning kidneys, according to MayoClinic.com. An overdose of magnesium can cause serious symptoms, including vision problems, coma, nausea, vomiting, severe drops in blood pressure, confusion, dizziness or fainting, severe sleepiness, an increase or decrease in the rate of urination, slowed or irregular heartbeat and breathing problems. Magnesium overdose can be fatal, so if you have any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical care.
Precautions
If you have heart disease or heart block, a condition that causes irregularities in your heartbeat, magnesium supplements may aggravate your condition. If you have kidney problems, your kidneys may not be able to effectively remove excess magnesium, which could cause magnesium levels in your blood to build up to dangerous levels. If you have any of these conditions, talk to your doctor before taking magnesium supplements. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you may be able to take magnesium, but you should check with your doctor to determine the correct dose, which can vary with age.
Interactions
If you are taking any prescription medications, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking magnesium supplements. Magnesium can raise the risk of side effects or change the effectiveness of your medication. Some common drugs that are affected by magnesium include the heart medication digoxin, antibiotics such as tetracycline, the blood pressure drugs known as calcium channel-blockers, diabetes medications, muscle relaxants, diuretics, the thyroid medication levothyroxine, osteoporosis medications such as tiludronate, the blood platelet booster eltrombopag, certain drugs used after organ transplantation and the malaria medication quinine.
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