Magnesium Hydroxide Dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Constipation

Oral liquid:
30 to 60 mL orally once a day or in divided doses.

Chewable tablet:
8 tablets orally once a day or in divided doses.

Usual Adult Dose for Dyspepsia

Oral liquid:
Initial dose: 5 to 15 mL orally 1 to 4 times a day as needed.
Alternatively, 1 to 3 oral tablets 1 to 4 times a day as needed.

Chewable tablet:
2 to 4 tablets orally every 4 hours as needed up to 4 times in a 24 hour period.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Constipation

Oral liquid:
1 year or less: 0.5 mL/kg per dose.
2 to 5 years: 5 to 15 mL orally once a day or in divided doses.
6 to 12 years: 15 to 30 mL orally once a day or in divided doses.
13 to 18 years: 30 to 60 mL orally once a day or in divided doses.

Chewable tablet:
3 to 5 years: 2 tablets orally once a day or in divided doses.
6 to 11 years: 4 tablets orally once a day or in divided doses.
12 to 18 years: 8 tablets orally once a day or in divided doses.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Dyspepsia

Chewable tablet:
12 to 18 years: 2 to 4 tablets orally every 4 hours up to 4 times in a 24 hour period.

Renal Dose Adjustments

Magnesium salts should be used cautiously in patients with renal impairment due to increased risk of hypermagnesemia.

Liver Dose Adjustments

Data not available

Dialysis

Use of magnesium salts is generally contraindicated in renal failure. However, magnesium hydroxide has been used experimentally as a phosphate-binding agent for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia of renal failure. A reduction of the magnesium concentration in dialysate is required to avoid hypermagnesemia. Serum magnesium and potassium levels should be routinely monitored and kept within the normal range.

Other Comments

When used for the treatment of constipation, clinicians should instruct patients to drink 8 ounces of water with each dose.

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