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When taken by mouth: Magnesium is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth appropriately. Doses less than 350 mg daily are safe for most adults. In some people, magnesium might cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other side effects. When taken in very large amounts (greater than 350 mg daily), magnesium is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Large doses might cause too much magnesium to build up in the body, causing serious side effects including an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, slowed breathing, coma, and death.
When given as a shot or by IV: Magnesium is LIKELY SAFE for most people when the prescription-only, injectable product is used correctly by a healthcare provider.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Magnesium is
LIKELY SAFE for pregnant or breast-feeding women when taken by mouth in doses less than 350 mg daily. Magnesium is
POSSIBLY SAFE when the prescription-only, injectable product is given by IV or as a shot for up to 5 days before delivery. But prescription-only magnesium is given only to pregnant women with certain serious health conditions. There is evidence that using magnesium to suppress early labor might cause serious problems in the infant. Magnesium is
POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in high doses or when the prescription-only, injectable product is given by IV or as a shot for longer than 5 days. Taking magnesium by mouth in high doses can cause diarrhea and too much magnesium in the blood. Receiving prescription-only magnesium by IV or as a shot for longer than 5 days might cause bone and brain problems in the infant.
Children: Magnesium is
LIKELY SAFE for most children when taken by mouth appropriately or when the prescription-only, injectable product is used correctly. Magnesium is safe when taken by mouth in doses less than 65 mg for children 1-3 years, 110 mg for children 4-8 years, and 350 mg for children older than 8 years. Magnesium is
LIKELY UNSAFE when taken by mouth in higher doses.
Alcoholism: Alcohol abuse increases the risk for magnesium deficiency.
Bleeding disorders: Magnesium seem to slow blood clotting. In theory, taking magnesium might increase the risk of bleeding or bruising in people with bleeding disorders.
Diabetes: Diabetes increases the risk for magnesium deficiency. Poorly controlled diabetes reduces how much magnesium the body absorbs.
Elderly: The elderly are at risk for magnesium deficiency due to reduced magnesium absorption by the body and often the presence of diseases that also affect magnesium absorption.
Heart block: High doses of magnesium (typically delivered by IV) should not be given to people with heart block.
Diseases that affect magnesium absorption: How much magnesium the body absorbs can be reduces by many conditions, including stomach infections, immune diseases, inflammatory bowel disease and others.
A condition called myasthenia gravis: Magnesium given intravenously (by IV) might worsen weakness and cause breathing difficulties in people with a condition called myasthenia gravis.
Kidney problems, such as kidney failure: Kidneys that don't work well have trouble clearing magnesium from the body. Taking extra magnesium can cause magnesium to build up to dangerous levels. Don't take magnesium if you have kidney problems.
A disorder that causes a strong urge to move ones legs (restless legs syndrome; RLS): People with restless legs syndrome might have high magnesium levels. But it's not clear if magnesium is the cause for this condition, as people with restless legs syndrome have also had magnesium deficiency.
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