Magnesium Chloride

Magnesium is a mineral that is important for normal bone structure in the body. People get magnesium from their diet, but sometimes magnesium supplements are needed if magnesium levels are too low. Dietary intake of magnesium may be low, particularly among women. Magnesium deficiency is also not uncommon among African Americans and the elderly. Low magnesium levels in the body have been linked to diseases such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure, clogged arteries, hereditary heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Foods that are high in fiber are generally high in magnesium.

Magnesium chloride is available under the following different brand names: MgCl or MgCl₂.

Adult and Pediatric Dosages:

Injectable solution

• 200 mg/5ml

Tablet, extended release

• 535 mg ( 64 mg elemental)

Dosing Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

Recommended Daily Average (Elemental Magnesium)

Males: 400-420 mg orally each day

Females 18-30

• 310 mg orally each day
• Pregnancy: 350 mg orally each day
• Lactating: 310 mg orally each day

Females over 30

• 320 mg/day
• Pregnant women: 360 mg/day
• Lactating women: 320 mg/day

Children:

• Infants under 6 months: 30 mg/day
• Infants 6-12 months: 75 mg/day
• Children 1-3 years: 80 mg/day
• Children 3-8 years: 130 mg/day
• Children 8-13 years: 240 mg/day
• Children 13-18 years: 410 mg/day (men); 360 mg/day (women); 400 mg/day (pregnant women); 360 mg/day (lactating women)

Hypomagesemia

• 4 g (in 250 ml D5W) intravenous infusion; no more than 3 ml/min
• Usual range: 1-40 g intravenously each day
• Use serum levels as guide to continue therapy

Common Side effects of Magnesium Chloride include:

• respiratory depression
• low core body temperature (hypothermia)
• flushing
• significant decrease in blood pressure
• stupor
• sweating

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

Magnesium Chloride has no known severe interactions with any drugs.

Serious Interactions of Magnesium Chloride include:

• demeclocycline
• doxycycline
• eltrombopag
• lymecycline
• minocycline
• oxytetracycline
• tetracycline

Moderate Interactions of Magnesium Chloride include:

• ciprofloxacin
• fleroxacin
• gemifloxacin
• levofloxacin
• moxifloxacin
• norfloxacin
• ofloxacin
• penicillamine
• rilpivirine

Magnesium chloride has mild interactions with at least 44 different drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns or for more information about this medicine.

Warnings

This medication contains magnesium chloride. Do not take MgCl or MgCl₂ if you are allergic to magnesium chloride or any ingredients contained in this drug.

Keep out of reach of children

In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately

Contraindications

• Renal impairment
• Significant myocardial disease
• Comatose patients

Effects of Drug Abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Magnesium Chloride?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Magnesium Chloride?"

Cautions

• Administer with caution if flushing and sweating occurs
• Keep calcium salt antidote for intravenous injection ready
• Risk of developing respiratory paralysis if long tendon reflux is not present
• Contains benzyl alcohol (toxic in children)

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use magnesium chloride during pregnancy with caution if benefits outweigh risks
• Animal studies show risk and human studies are not available, or neither animal nor human studies were done
• Magnesium chloride is excreted in breast milk; use caution if breastfeeding