Magnesium is a mineral element that is found in many different foods and is essential in the normal functioning of many different bodily processes. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in your body and is essential to good health. Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in your body, including maintaining muscle, nerve and heart function; supporting a healthy immune system; promoting bone health; energy metabolism; blood sugar maintenance; and blood pressure regulation. Despite its benefits, excess magnesium can have adverse side effects. Consult your physician before taking any supplement containing magnesium.
Toxicity
Magnesium is generally well-tolerated, and side effects are generally not associated with dietary magnesium, such as the magnesium that is naturally found in the foods you eat throughout the day. However, magnesium supplements contain concentrated doses of magnesium and can easily lead to an overdose, which might cause a wide range of side effects. According to the Institute of Medicine, the upper level, or UL, of magnesium is set at about 350 mg per day for most individuals. If you ingest more than the UL, you increase your risk of developing side effects related to a magnesium overdose.
Gastrointestinal Side Effects
The most common side effects associated with a magnesium overdose are associated with gastrointestinal distress as a result of your body's inability to absorb such concentrated amounts of magnesium at once. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, gastrointestinal side effects of magnesium include nausea, upset stomach, diarrhea and vomiting, although these side effects are usually mild. These side effects might be more likely to occur if you suffer from weak kidneys or kidney disease.
Other Side Effects
According to the Linus Pauling Institute, a magnesium overdose might lead to several potentially serious side effects, including a drop in blood pressure, called hypotension, which might cause fatigue, dizziness and fainting. Other symptoms of magnesium toxicity include lethargy, confusion, irregular heartbeat, kidney damage, muscle weakness and difficulty breathing. Although rare, a magnesium overdose might also lead to a slowed heart rate, deficiencies in other minerals, coma and death.
Drug Interactions
Due to its high bio-availability, magnesium might interfere with the absorption and function of several drugs and medications used to treat a variety of conditions. Magnesium might interfere with the absorption of certain heart medications, antibiotics and anti-malarial drugs, which might reduce their effectiveness. Certain medications for the treatment of osteoporosis might be inhibited due to high concentrations of serum magnesium, as might the effectiveness of some tranquilizers and laxatives. Consult your physician before taking any magnesium supplement to make sure it will not interfere with the normal function of any medications you might be taking.
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