Does magnesium interact badly with anything?

Author: Prof. Glenna Trantow DDS  |  Last update: Saturday, September 27, 2025

Magnesium is commonly found in vitamins, mineral supplements, and medications like antacids and laxatives. Some medications that do not mix well with magnesium include certain antibiotics, bisphosphonates, blood pressure medications, diabetes drugs, diuretics, PPIs, and thyroid medications.

What does magnesium react badly with?

Antibiotics: Taking magnesium supplements may reduce the absorption of quinolone antibiotics, tetracycline antibiotics, and nitrofurantoin (Macrodandin). Magnesium should be taken 1 hour before or 2 hours after taking these medications.

Is there anything you shouldn't mix with magnesium?

Certain diuretics, long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, and high doses of zinc can lower magnesium levels in the body. Calcium can also interfere with magnesium absorption if they're taken at the same time. In some cases, you can avoid a magnesium interaction by separating the two products by several hours.

What can you not pair magnesium with?

Certain medications should not be taken with magnesium, including certain antibiotics, PPI drugs, diuretics, bisphosphonates, and high doses of zinc.

What interferes with the absorption of magnesium?

Phytates in the diet bind to magnesium and impair its absorption. However the quantities present in normal diet do not affect magnesium absorption. Other dietary factors that are thought to affect magnesium absorption are oxalate, phosphate, proteins, potassium and zinc.

5 DANGERS/Benefits of Magnesium 🎈#4 is VITAL

When should you not take magnesium?

If you take any medicine, check with your health care provider before taking magnesium. People with diabetes, intestinal disease, heart disease, or kidney disease should not take magnesium before speaking with their health care provider.

What organ is most affected by magnesium?

Causes. Every organ in the body, especially the heart, muscles, and kidneys, needs the mineral magnesium. It also contributes to the makeup of teeth and bones. Magnesium is needed for many functions in the body.

What is the enemy of magnesium?

For example, a diet high in saturated fats reduces magnesium absorption in the intestines, a high sugar intake increases excretion of magnesium by the kidneys and a habit of frequently drinking carbonated drinks (e.g. soft drinks or soda) - even if they're sugar free - adds phosphates to your system, which bind to ...

Is there a downside to taking magnesium?

When taken in very large amounts (greater than 350 mg daily), magnesium is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Large doses might cause too much magnesium to build up in the body, causing serious side effects including an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, slowed breathing, coma, and death.

What does magnesium not react with?

Magnesium does not react with water to any significant extent. This is in contrast with calcium, immediately below magnesium in the periodic table, which does react slowly with cold water.

What are signs of too much magnesium?

Symptoms of overdose (rare in individuals with normal kidney function)
  • Blurred or double vision.
  • coma.
  • dizziness or fainting.
  • drowsiness (severe)
  • increased or decreased urination.
  • slow heartbeat.
  • troubled breathing.

What can you not eat with magnesium?

​​Phytates and oxalates​ Foods with high phytic acid like whole grains, legumes, and nuts and oxalates like spinach, beet greens can bind to magnesium and reduce its absorption in the body leading to deficiency.

Can I take vitamin D and magnesium together?

For many people, it's important to take vitamin D and magnesium together. Without magnesium, your body can't use vitamin D. And if you take vitamin D supplements, this can make a magnesium deficiency worse. There are natural ways to increase both your vitamin D and magnesium levels.

What medication cannot be taken with magnesium?

When choosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN or RD), or pharmacist.
  • Some Antibiotics. ...
  • Bisphosphonates. ...
  • Blood Pressure Medications. ...
  • Certain Diabetes Drugs. ...
  • Digoxin. ...
  • Diuretics. ...
  • Penicillamine. ...
  • Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)

What is bad to mix with magnesium?

Magnesium can bind with certain medications, preventing their full absorption. If you are taking a tetracycline-type medication (such as demeclocycline, doxycycline, minocycline, tetracycline), separate the time of the dose from the time of the magnesium supplement dose by at least 2 to 3 hours.

Why can't you touch magnesium?

Skin Contact:

Particles embedded in the skin may cause eruptions. Molten magnesium may cause serious skin burns.

What happens when you start taking magnesium everyday?

The claimed benefits of magnesium supplementation range from boosts in everyday wellness — better sleep, increased energy levels and improved mood — to specific health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease and improvement in migraines.

What vitamins should not be taken with magnesium?

Don't use calcium, zinc, or magnesium supplements at the same time. Also, these three minerals are easier on your tummy when you take them with food, so if your doctor recommends them, have them at different meals or snacks.

What are the 10 signs of high magnesium?

If the body has absorbed too much magnesium, a person may notice any of the following symptoms, which can range from mild to very severe:
  • lethargy.
  • facial flushing.
  • diarrhea.
  • nausea.
  • stomach cramps.
  • vomiting.
  • depression.
  • muscle weakness.

What supplement cancels out magnesium?

Take magnesium and calcium supplements separately to allow maximum absorption. Too much calcium can prevent magnesium absorption, potentially leading to health disorders.

Does magnesium help you lose belly fat?

Yes, studies show magnesium supplementation can help reduce belly fat storage. Magnesium modulates cortisol and metabolic pathways involved in fat distribution. Taking 200-400 mg/day of magnesium citrate as part of a healthy diet and exercise regimen may help target a reduction in abdominal fat.

What fruit is full of magnesium?

Many people do not meet their daily magnesium needs. Adult males need 400-420 milligrams daily, while females require 310-400 milligrams. Fruits like papaya, prickly pear, figs, bananas, apricots, and guava are good sources of magnesium.

What drains magnesium from your body?

A high-saturated fat diet reduces magnesium absorption in the intestines. High sugar intake increases excretion of magnesium by the kidneys. Phosphates found in carbonated beverages such as dark-colored sodas bind magnesium, rendering it unusable by the body.

Is magnesium hard on kidneys?

Magnesium impairs the crystallization of calcium phosphate—more specifically, the maturation of calciprotein particles. Considering that phosphate overload causes kidney damage, magnesium might counteract the phosphate toxicity to the kidney, as in the case of vascular calcification.

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