Magnesium Oxide to Treat Constipation

Magnesium is a naturally occurring mineral that the human body needs. Magnesium oxide is a compound of magnesium and oxygen. It is typically used as a dietary supplement to increase the amount of magnesium in the body, as an antacid to relieve heartburn, sour stomach or acid indigestion and as a laxative to treat constipation.

How to Take Magnesium Oxide

• Magnesium oxide may used occasionally to relieve acute constipation. It usually causes rapid emptying of the bowel. The website Life Extension recommends taking 4 to 8g of vitamin C powder and 1,500mg of magnesium oxide powder mixed with the juice of a freshly squeezed grapefruit to induce colon peristalsis (the action of the bowel that causes it to empty). The mixture should be taken on an empty stomach. Magnesium oxide also may be taken as a tablet, capsule or premixed liquid.

Magnesium Oxide and Other Medications

• Magnesium oxide should not be taken to treat constipation at the same time other medications are taken. It may interfere with the other medications' effectiveness. Magnesium oxide and other medicines should be taken at least two hours apart, recommends Medline Plus, a website published by the U.S. Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health.

Precautions

• Medline Plus lists some precautions related to using magnesium oxide, advising people to tell their doctor about other prescription and over-counter medications they take, if they have liver, heart, kidney or intestinal disease or high blood pressure and if they are or may be pregnant.

Possible Side Effects

• Possible side effects of taking magnesium oxide to relieve constipation are diarrhea and cramping. A rash, itching, hives, dizziness, mood changes, tiredness, weakness, numbness, nausea or vomiting should be reported to a doctor immediately, according to Medline Plus.

Proprietary Brands

• Some of the proprietary brand names of magnesium oxide are Mag-200, Mag-Ox 400, MagGel, Uro-Mag and Phillips' Cramp-free.