A 48-year-old member asked:
What will milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) do for constipation?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Thomas Rohdeanswered
Anti-Aging Medicine 37 years experience
Laxative: Cheap forms of mg like the oxide in milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) are good laxatives. We are all low on mg andleads to all sort of health concerns including hypertension, muscle aches, leg cramps, poor sleep, so i like adding mg glycinate 1 cap 2 x daily to support heaalth - it as a chelated form has less bowel effect and is a better replacement supplement.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
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A 35-year-old member asked:
Can i get some advice because milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) is not working for constipation?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Eric Kaplananswered
Colon and Rectal Surgery 44 years experience
Low fiber: And not enough fluids especially if much of your fluid intake is caffeine and or alcohol both of which dehydrate and constipate. Excess foods with calcium or iron such as cheeses and dairy products can constipate. Even if you ate the right foods but didn't drink the correct amount and types of fluids you could get constipated. Fluids are critical! stop the caffeine!
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old member asked:
Can someone tell me if milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) is bad to take for constipation?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Eric Kaplananswered
Colon and Rectal Surgery 44 years experience
Careful: With taking excess fiber, as too much fiber along with inadequate fluids can make the constipation worse. Milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) and a liquid diet only until passing stool is best. Then avoiding recurrent constipation requires 80-100 oz of caffeine free, alcohol free fluid daily with no more than 25 grams of fiber daily. If keeps recurring, you may need a colonoscopy if you haven't had one recently.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
What should I do if milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) gave me diarrhea & i'm still constipated?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Axel Martinez-Irizarryanswered
Family Medicine 19 years experience
See your doctor.: The safest laxatives for the elderly population is Senna S. If it's safe for the elderly, it's safe for adults. If you are having diarrhea while taking 'laxatives' but still know you are 'constipated', see your doctor as an 'impaction' of stool could cause similar symptoms.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Can you have a milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) overdose?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Danny Proffittanswered
Family Medicine 45 years experience
Yes: Especially if you have renal/kidney disease. It will also give you a great case of diarrhea. Magnesium is an essential mineral. It is poorly absorbed by the GI tract, thus it's use as a laxative. It is excreted by the kidneys, thus with renal disease, use caution. A good dose (overdose) by mouth will usually just give a really bad case of diarrhea.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Can I use milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) daily?
1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in
Dr. Tarek Naguibanswered
Nephrology and Dialysis 42 years experience
Not for long term: Side effects include hypermagnesemia which could cause heart rhythm trouble. Hypermagnesemia occurs specially in persons with slow kidneys. Would suggest alternating it with other cathartics if you have constipation. Several options exist i.e. Senna preparations, plymerizedethylene glycol preparations called MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol) or its generic form, flaxseed oil, and prune juice. May check with pharmacist too.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Tarek Naguib commented
Nephrology and Dialysis 42 years experience
Provided original answer
Also, if you have long term constipation, you need to make sure a physician has cleared long term treatment i.e. cancer colon was excluded by a scope.
Jun 4, 2012
Last updated Nov 5, 2016
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