1. Who really needs magnesium / MAG-OX 400™?
2. When should magnesium / MAG-OX 400 be taken?
3. What about drug interactions?
4. What medications deplete magnesium?
5. How much magnesium / MAG-OX 400 should be taken?
6. What will my patient notice when taking MAG-OX 400?
7. Is there any long-term value to regularly taking MAG-OX 400?
8. Don’t patients get enough magnesium from their other vitamin supplements?
9. Isn’t magnesium used as a laxative?
10. Does my patient need MAG-OX 400 if the total serum magnesium concentration (TSMC) is within the reference interval?
11. Are measurements of the total serum magnesium concentration (TSMC) needed if the patient is taking MAG-OX 400?

1. Who really needs magnesium / MAG-OX 400?
Based on USDA dietary research and new RDA levels, the majority of your patients would benefit from one MAG-OX 400 once daily. Close attention should be paid to patients taking magnesium-depleting drugs like loop and thiazide diuretics; for example, the #1 prescribed diuretic — furosemide. Giving MAG-OX 400 when initiating diuretics is a good way to fight the electrolyte depletion that these drugs can cause. Similar to the recommendation of calcium when filling osteoporosis prescriptions, magnesium can be recommended to patients taking cardiovascular medications.

2. When should magnesium / MAG-OX 400 be taken?
Magnesium can be taken at any time; however, it is often recommended with meals in order to reduce the potential of a mild laxative effect.

3. What about drug interactions?
Magnesium salts may decrease the absorption of aminoquinolones, nitrofurantoin, tetracyclines, digoxin, and penicillamine; however, decreased digoxin and penicillamine absorption has only been reported with magnesium containing antacids. Separating the administration of these medications would address any concerns about potential interactions.

4. What medications deplete magnesium?
Many diuretics and other prescription medications can cause magnesium depletion. Some of the common magnesium depleting drugs are:

5. How much magnesium / MAG-OX 400 should be taken?
Based on USDA dietary research and new RDA levels, the majority of your patients should take one MAG-OX 400 tablet once daily. This provides 240 mgs of elemental magnesium, enough to help the average diet meet the current RDA. However, a greater amount may occasionally be needed to restore a deficit, compensate for drugs that deplete Mg, or help with health conditions that are often associated with magnesium deficiency.

6. What will my patient notice when taking MAG-OX 400?
At one to two tablets per day, the patient may notice an increase in flatulence and a change in bowel habits including a mild laxative effect. Taking MAG-OX 400 with or just after meals can minimize the laxative effect.

7. Is there any long-term value to regularly taking magnesium?
Yes, there is good documentation in the literature that there is an inverse relationship between the TSMC and the risk for coronary heart disease and insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes mellitus).

8. Don’t patients get enough magnesium from their other vitamin supplements?
The best you can hope for is 100 mgs per day with a multi-vitamin and the two leading multi-mineral supplements provide only 40 mgs of magnesium. These products are clearly not enough for you to be confident that your patients are receiving adequate magnesium. It is best to make sure your patients get enough magnesium with one MAG-OX 400 daily.

9. Isn’t magnesium used as a laxative?
Yes, some magnesium products are used as laxatives, but in much higher concentrations. The common magnesium salts used as laxatives are magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia) and magnesium citrate. MAG-OX 400 is magnesium oxide and it is used once daily for magnesium supplementation. MAG-OX 400 is well tolerated.

10. Does my patient need MAG-OX 400 if the total serum magnesium concentration (TSMC) is within the reference interval?
About one-third of the bone Mg can be liberated to support the TSMC. The patient may have a normal TSMC but still have a significant total body deficit of Mg. Thus, if the patient is on a drug or has an illness that enhances renal excretion of Mg, MAG-OX 400 may help maintain Mg balance.

11. Are measurements of the total serum magnesium concentration (TSMC) needed if the patient is taking MAG-OX 400?
If the patient has normal renal function, there is no need to measure the TSMC if the patient is taking one or two MAG-OX 400per day. If the patient has impaired renal function, measure the TSMC after the patient has been on MAG-OX 400 for three to four weeks and then quarterly. If the TSMC exceeds the reference interval, discontinue the oral Mg supplementation.

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