Magnesium supplement

What are magnesium supplements?

Magnesium supplements increase the levels of magnesium in your child's blood. There are two main types of magnesium

• magnesium oxide
  
• magnesium hydroxide.
  

Magnesium oxide comes in a tablet. Magnesium hydroxide can come in a chewable tablet or in a white or pink liquid. Many brands of chewable magnesium are mint-flavoured. Liquid magnesium hydroxide is also known as Milk of Magnesia.

Before giving magnesium to your child

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if your child has:

• an allergy to magnesium salts
  
• kidney disease
  
• heart disease
  
• intestinal (bowel) disease
  
• neuromuscular disease (disease affecting the nerves and muscles).
  

How should you give your child magnesium supplements?

Give this medicine exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, even if your child seems better.

Give the supplements to your child one hour before or two hours after they have milk or dairy products.

Magnesium oxide tablets

These tablets have a bitter taste. Your child should swallow them whole or take them crushed and mixed in a spoonful of apple sauce. It is ok to cut a tablet in half if your child cannot swallow a full tablet whole.

Magnesium hydroxide tablets

• Your child can chew the tablets or swallow them whole.
• Your child can also take the tablets crushed and mixed with water.

Magnesium hydroxide liquid

• Shake the bottle well and then measure your child's dose in a syringe.
• Never mix magnesium in pudding or yogurt. The calcium and phosphorous in these products reduce the amount of magnesium absorbed by the body.
  

What should you do if your child misses a dose of magnesium supplement?

• Your child can take the missed dose as soon as you or they remember it.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, your child can skip the missed dose. They can take the next dose at the regular time.
• Your child should never take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What are the possible side effects of magnesium supplements?

Your child may have some side effects while they take magnesium supplements. Check with your child's doctor if the following side effects do not go away or if they bother your child:

• stomach upset (cramping, diarrhea, or gas).

Magnesium supplements can also cause more serious side effects. Most of these are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem.

Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to the nearest Emergency Department if your child has any of these side effects:

• severe skin rash or hives (raised, red itchy areas on the skin)
• trouble breathing, such as wheezing or shortness of breath
• swelling of face, lips, tongue or throat
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• watery diarrhea.

What safety measures should you take when your child is using magnesium supplements?

Check with your child's doctor or pharmacist before giving your child any other medicines (prescription, non-prescription, herbal or natural products).

Magnesium supplements can interfere with how your child's body absorbs some other medicines and minerals. Your child should have magnesium supplements at least two hours before or after antacids, mycophenolate mofetil or calcium, phosphorous and iron supplements.

Some of the side effects listed above are due to high levels of magnesium in your child's blood. Your child will be checked now and then to make sure their magnesium levels are in a safe range.

Keep magnesium supplement out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much magnesium supplement, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.