Like other oral laxatives, magnesium citrate works by drawing water into the intestines, which places pressure on and stimulates the intestines and helps produce a bowel movement. People use the medication for occasional constipation or as a prep for a bowel exam. In addition to the desired results, taking magnesium citrate may cause harmful effects, including developing a dependence on the medication, and can adversely affect existing medical conditions.
Possible Side Effects
Side effects may occur when taking magnesium citrate. Possible adverse reactions include gastrointestinal distress, including abdominal cramping, flatulence, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Additional reactions that may occur include heart palpitations, sweating and weakness. The increased magnesium may cause an imbalance in fluids and electrolytes. To combat the diarrhea and fluid volume loss, you should continue to drink water when taking magnesium citrate.
Overdose
Taking too much magnesium citrate may cause a buildup of too much magnesium in the body. This is most likely to occur for people with kidney damage, because the kidneys filter out excessive magnesium from the body. Symptoms of a possible magnesium overdose include severe drowsiness, low blood pressure, a change in urinary frequency, blurred or double vision, decreased heart rate, difficulty breathing, dizziness and fainting.
Parameters
Magnesium citrate is generally safe for use by adults and children over the age of 2. Children under 2 years old should not take magnesium citrate. An infant developed magnesium poisoning following the administration to treat constipation, according to Drugs.com. Children using magnesium citrate should drink lesser amounts of the product than adults would. An adult can drink a 240-milliliter glass of a magnesium citrate solution, while a child between the ages of 6 and 12 should drink only between 50 and 100 milliliters and a child 2 to 6 years old should ingest only 4 to 12 milliliters of the laxative. People drinking more than the recommended dose increase the risk of developing adverse reactions.
Contraindications
If you are allergic to ingredients in magnesium citrate, you should not use the medication. People suffering from abdominal or intestinal problems, including appendicitis, intestinal bleeding, recent surgery on the abdomen and nausea or vomiting, should not use magnesium citrate without consulting a physician. Taking the medication under these circumstances may increase the risk of developing complication, such as increased pain. Anyone suffering from kidney disease should avoid taking magnesium citrate because of possible magnesium overdose. Chronic use of laxatives may cause a dependency on the medication to produce a bowel movement and can cause complications such as vitamin deficiencies.
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