magnesium glycerophosphate at a glance
Medicine class
Oral mineral supplement
Main use
Treating medically diagnosed hypomagnesaemia or chronic magnesium loss
Administration
Chewable tablets; instructions differ between products
Frequent side effect
Diarrhoea
What is magnesium glycerophosphate used for?
The products are licensed as oral magnesium supplements.
Treatment of chronic magnesium loss or hypomagnesaemia diagnosed by a doctor.
Treatment in adults of hypomagnesaemia associated with loop or thiazide diuretics, or other medicines that cause magnesium loss.
How does magnesium glycerophosphate work?
The tablet supplies magnesium, an essential intracellular electrolyte involved in enzyme systems, nerve transmission and muscle excitability. Absorbed magnesium replaces a deficiency, and the kidneys help maintain magnesium balance.
How to take magnesium glycerophosphate
Use exactly as prescribed and check the leaflet for your product.
Magnesium 4mmol Chewable Tablets should be chewed.
Neomag may be broken into quarters and chewed or swallowed with water. Its score is for easier swallowing, not equal dose division.
Ask a pharmacist how to separate it from medicines whose absorption can be affected.
magnesium glycerophosphate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Diarrhoea, commonly related to the amount taken
Get urgent medical advice
- Symptoms of excessive magnesium, including flushing, marked thirst, vomiting, drowsiness, confusion or muscle weakness
- Low blood pressure, faintness or an abnormal heartbeat
- Breathing difficulty
magnesium glycerophosphate in pregnancy
Safety and effectiveness have not been established specifically in pregnancy. A prescriber should judge whether the expected benefit outweighs potential risk. Longer-term magnesium experience in pre-eclampsia has not indicated fetal or newborn toxicity. Aminoglycoside antibiotic treatment needs particular review.
magnesium glycerophosphate while breastfeeding
The products can be used while breastfeeding. Magnesium or its metabolites enter breast milk, but effects on the breastfed infant are not anticipated with prescribed use.
magnesium glycerophosphate interactions
Oral magnesium can bind some medicines in the gut or be affected by medicines that alter magnesium balance.
Tetracycline antibiotics and fluorides
Taking them together can reduce absorption, so they should be taken at different times as directed by a pharmacist.
Bisphosphonates, iron, penicillamine and eltrombopag
Magnesium can impair absorption; separate administration is required.
Common questions about magnesium glycerophosphate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is magnesium glycerophosphate used for?
It replaces magnesium in people with medically diagnosed low magnesium or chronic magnesium loss, including loss caused by certain medicines.
Does it need to be chewed?
Magnesium 4mmol Chewable Tablets should be chewed. Neomag may be chewed or swallowed with water and can be broken into quarters for easier swallowing.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.