Heartburn Antacid Extra Strength Side Effects

Generic name: alginic acid / aluminum hydroxide / magnesium carbonate

Note: This document contains side effect information about alginic acid / aluminum hydroxide / magnesium carbonate. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Heartburn Antacid Extra Strength.

Applies to alginic acid/aluminum hydroxide/magnesium carbonate: oral suspension, oral tablet chewable.

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction while taking alginic acid/aluminum hydroxide/magnesium carbonate: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop taking the medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of the following side effects. Some of these may be symptoms of your condition and not side effects of the medication.

• severe stomach pain or constipation;

• bloody or tarry stools, coughing up blood ;

• swelling in your ankles or feet; or

• worsening of your stomach condition.

Less serious side effects of alginic acid / aluminum hydroxide / magnesium carbonate may include:

• mild constipation or diarrhea;

• nausea, mild stomach cramps; or

• altered sense of taste.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to alginic acid / aluminum hydroxide / magnesium carbonate: oral suspension, oral tablet chewable.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal side effects have been reported the most frequently. These have included constipation (secondary to aluminum hydroxide therapy) and diarrhea (secondary to magnesium carbonate therapy). These agents are combined so lower doses may be used and the constipating and diarrheal effects may be balanced out. However, diarrhea tends to be the dominating effect, regardless of the ratio. Rarely, gastrointestinal obstruction has occurred with the use of aluminum hydroxide.^[Ref]

General

Patients with renal failure may be at risk of aluminum toxicity because of ingestion of aluminum hydroxide and because of exposure to aluminum-containing water used for dialysate solutions. Adverse effects of aluminum accumulation in these patients has led to monitoring of water source aluminum content by dialysis units and periodic measurements of serum aluminum in patients undergoing chronic dialysis.

High aluminum concentrations in patients are generally also associated with high daily ingestion. One study suggested that increased aluminum concentrations in uremic patients was most significant with daily doses greater than 3 grams of aluminum hydroxide. Patient age is also associated with aluminum concentrations. Younger patients typically demonstrate higher concentrations.

Concurrent administration of aluminum hydroxide with citrate containing products has been associated with unusually high serum concentrations of aluminum and, especially in cases of renal failure, severe toxicity. Citrate may increase aluminum solubility and absorption.

Aluminum concentrations during aluminum hydroxide therapy have also been correlated with body iron stores. One study demonstrated a negative correlation between serum aluminum concentrations and serum ferritin levels. It was postulated that high serum ferritin and high transferritin saturation might hamper gut absorption of aluminum.

During long-term use, aluminum has been shown to deposit in bone, joint, and brain.

Signs and symptoms of hypermagnesemia may include hypotension, nausea, vomiting, EKG changes, respiratory depression, loss of deep tendon reflex, dilated pupils, altered mental status, and coma.^[Ref]

Although the majority of aluminum ingested is eliminated by the gastrointestinal tract, absorption of aluminum and increases in serum concentrations have been demonstrated. Accumulation of aluminum and resulting toxicity is generally confined to patients with renal dysfunction and impaired elimination of aluminum.

Magnesium may be systemically absorbed following administration of magnesium salts. In patients with normal renal function, increased magnesium elimination in the urine occurs and no significant changes in serum magnesium levels would be expected. However, magnesium may accumulate in patients with renal insufficiency.^[Ref]

Metabolic

Metabolic side effects have included hypophosphatemia with the use of aluminum hydroxide. In patients on long-term aluminum hydroxide therapy, especially in association with poor diets, hypophosphatemia may result in muscle weakness, rhabdomyolysis, hemolysis, and encephalopathy.^[Ref]

Aluminum hydroxide complexes with phosphate in the gut to form insoluble aluminum phosphate, thus inhibiting the absorption of dietary phosphate. Aluminum hydroxide is commonly used in patients with renal dysfunction to regulate the accumulation of phosphate.

Hypophosphatemia is thought to stimulate the conversion of calcifediol (25-hydroxy vitamin D3) to calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3), a potent stimulator of calcium and phosphorus intestinal absorption and osteoclastic resorption. Hypercalciuria is generally associated with hypophosphatemia.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

Aluminum hydroxide associated hypophosphatemia, if severe and chronic, can result in decreased bone mineralization and potentially osteomalacia. Hypophosphatemia is also thought to stimulate the conversion of calcifediol (25-hydroxy vitamin D3) to calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D3), a potent stimulator of osteoclastic resorption, and thereby contribute to osteomalacia. Patients generally require phosphorus replacement therapy. Symptoms of osteomalacia may take several weeks to resolve.

Osteomalacia due to aluminum deposition in bone is generally only seen in patients with chronic renal failure. Bone formation slows in response to aluminum bone deposits. Aluminum may also deposit in joint tissue, resulting in arthropathy and hydrarthrosis.^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal side effects have included osteomalacia, due to aluminum hydroxide, which may occur by two different mechanisms. Osteomalacia may occur due to hypophosphatemia or due to aluminum accumulation in bone. Osteomalacia due to hypophosphatemia is often accompanied by malaise, bone pain, muscular weakness, and bone fractures. Osteomalacia due to aluminum deposition may present in a similar fashion and occurs predominately in patients with chronic renal failure. Aluminum deposits typically can be observed on bone biopsy.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Nervous system side effects have included encephalopathy which has occasionally been reported in patients with renal failure on long-term therapy with aluminum hydroxide. When available, basal and/or deferoxamine stimulated aluminum serum levels reveal high concentrations.^[Ref]

Encephalopathy associated with aluminum accumulation is characterized by speech disorders, dysarthria, dyspraxia, dysphasia, tremor, myoclonus, seizures, coma, and ultimately death. EEG of patients with aluminum encephalopathy may show paroxysmal slowing and diffuse rhythmical bursts of delta activity.

The interval between commencement of aluminum hydroxide therapy and development of encephalopathy in eight reported cases ranged from three weeks to three months. In two of these patients, aluminum serum concentrations ranged from 871 to 2267 mcg/L. These patients were also on sodium citrate therapy which enhances GI aluminum absorption. Most chronic dialysis patients develop aluminum encephalopathy slowly over many years.^[Ref]

Renal

Renal side effects have rarely included formation of renal calculi, most probably due to hypercalciuria, with the use of aluminum hydroxide.^[Ref]

Other

Antacids may interfere with drug therapies because of their effect on gastric pH, adsorption or binding to drugs, and changes in urinary pH.^[Ref]

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

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