Magnesium citrate, a combination of citric acid and magnesium (a key mineral in your overall health), can help treat constipation. Magnesium citrate benefits may include bone health, muscle function, migraine prevention, and heart health.
In liquid form, magnesium citrate is used as anosmotic laxative. Magnesium dietary supplements are typically available in the form of tablets, capsules, or powder. There are side effects when taking magnesium, and its use should be avoided in people with certain health conditions.
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Health Benefits
Magnesium is a mineral involved in many body processes. It assists with 300 different enzymes on which the body relies to build bone, manage blood sugar, regulate nerve function, and more.Here are some common uses of magnesium citrate.
Magnesium is sometimes touted as an aid for improving sleep quality, but the research results are mixed on this potential benefit. More studies are needed on the benefits of magnesium citrate and sleep disorders, including sleep apnea.
Side Effects
The side effects of magnesium citrate are usually mild digestive symptoms. They include:
More serious side effects are uncommon but can include:
Contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience these problems, or if your digestive symptoms include severe abdominal pain,bloody stools, or rectal bleeding. You also should contact your provider if the magnesium citrate hasn’t helped you to pass stool or clear your colon.
Drug Interactions
It’s important to let your healthcare provider know about any other medications you’re taking. Magnesium, or its interaction with calcium, can lead todrug interactionsif you take:
Taking these medications and magnesium citrate two or three hours apart can help you to avoid interactions but check with a healthcare provider or a pharmacist to be sure.
Using laxatives too often may have harmful effects. In particular, overuse of osmotic laxatives (such as liquid magnesium citrate) may cause too much fluid loss. This can lead toelectrolyte imbalances, especially in people who have other medical conditions, such askidney disease.
People who should avoid magnesium citrate include those who have:
Those who are dehydrated or on a low-magnesium diet should also avoid magnesium citrate.
Using magnesium citrate while pregnant or nursing appears to be safe but talk with your healthcare provider before taking it. Keep in mind that pregnant people often experience magnesium deficiency.
It’s possible to taketoo much magnesium. If you accidentally take more than the recommended amount of magnesium citrate, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
Dosage and Sources
The recommended daily amount of magnesium is as follows:
It’s recommended that supplement use not exceed 350 mg per day, since you also consume foods that provide dietary magnesium. They include:
If you’re using magnesium citrate as a laxative, the dosage and instructions will appear on the packaging label. It can take anywhere from 30 minutes to six hours to have a bowel movement.
Magnesium Citrate and ColonoscopyWhen magnesium citrate is used to clear out the colon before a procedure, such as a colonoscopy, the healthcare professional’s office will give instructions on when to start taking it. Typically, the adult dosage comes in a 10-ounce bottle. It is important to use the product according to your healthcare provider’s instructions. If the large intestine isn’t cleansed of stool, your healthcare provider may need to reschedule and you’ll have to start the process all over again.
Magnesium Citrate and Colonoscopy
When magnesium citrate is used to clear out the colon before a procedure, such as a colonoscopy, the healthcare professional’s office will give instructions on when to start taking it. Typically, the adult dosage comes in a 10-ounce bottle. It is important to use the product according to your healthcare provider’s instructions. If the large intestine isn’t cleansed of stool, your healthcare provider may need to reschedule and you’ll have to start the process all over again.
Summary
Magnesium citrate is commonly used as an osmotic laxative or mineral supplement. You can buy this medication at a drugstore without a prescription. Liquid formulations are used to treat occasional constipation or clean out your bowels before a colonoscopy. Magnesium citrate supplements typically come in the form of a tablet or powder.
Side effects of magnesium citrate are mild when used in the recommended amounts. Liquid magnesium citrate, which is formulated for use as a laxative, should never be used daily or as a form of supplementation.
Let your healthcare provider know if you’re taking any other medications as magnesium citrate can make them less effective. Some people should avoid taking magnesium citrate if they have certain medical conditions. Talk with your healthcare professional before deciding to take it.
19 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Magnesium.Chang J, Mclemore E, Tejirian T.Anal health care basics.Perm J. 2016;20(4):15–222. doi:10.7812/TPP/15-222MedlinePlus.Magnesium Citrate.Rondanelli M, Faliva MA, Tartara A, et al.An update on magnesium and bone health.Biometals. 2021;34(4):715-736. doi:10.1007/s10534-021-00305-0Uwitonze AM, Razzaque MS.Role of magnesium in vitamin D activation and function.J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2018;118(3):181. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2018.037Domitrz I, Cegielska J.Magnesium as an Important Factor in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Migraine-From Theory to Practice.Nutrients. 2022 Mar 5;14(5):1089. doi: 10.3390/nu14051089Rosique-Esteban N, Guasch-Ferré M, Hernández-Alonso P, Salas-Salvadó J.Dietary magnesium and cardiovascular disease: a review with emphasis in epidemiological studies.Nutrients. 2018;10(2):168. doi:10.3390/nu10020168American Diabetes Association.Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements.Kirkland AE, Sarlo GL, Holton KF.The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders.Nutrients. 2018 Jun 6;10(6):730. doi: 10.3390/nu10060730Córdova A, Mielgo-Ayuso J, Roche E, Caballero-García A, Fernandez-Lázaro D.Impact of magnesium supplementation in muscle damage of professional cyclists competing in a stage race.Nutrients. 2019;11(8):1927. doi:10.3390/nu11081927Al Wadee Z, Ooi SL, Pak SC.Serum Magnesium Levels in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Biomedicines. 2022 Sep 14;10(9):2273. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10092273Rawji A, Peltier MR, Mourtzanakis K, Awan S, Rana J, Pothen NJ,et al.Examining the Effects of Supplemental Magnesium on Self-Reported Anxiety and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review.Cureus. 2024 Apr 29;16(4):e59317. doi:10.7759/cureus.59317Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Magnesium.Aal-Hamad AH, Al-Alawi AM, Kashoub MS, Falhammar H.Hypermagnesemia in clinical practice.Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(7):1190. doi:10.3390/medicina59071190Reumkens A, van der Zander Q, Winkens B, et al.Electrolyte disturbances after bowel preparation for colonoscopy: systematic review and meta-analysis.Dig Endosc. 2022;34(5):913-926. doi:10.1111/den.14237Rhee WJ, Lee SY, Lee JH, et al.The effect of high concentration of magnesium with ropivacaine, gentamicin, rocuronium, and their combination on neuromuscular blockade.Korean J Anesthesiol. 2015;68(1):50-61. doi:10.4097/kjae.2015.68.1.50Orlova S, Dikke G, Pickering G, Yaltseva N, Konchits S, Starostin K,et al.Risk factors and comorbidities associated with magnesium deficiency in pregnant women and women with hormone-related conditions: analysis of a large real-world dataset.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Jan 22;21(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-03558-2Poison Control.Get Poison Control Help.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium (Health Professional Fact Sheet).
19 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Magnesium.Chang J, Mclemore E, Tejirian T.Anal health care basics.Perm J. 2016;20(4):15–222. doi:10.7812/TPP/15-222MedlinePlus.Magnesium Citrate.Rondanelli M, Faliva MA, Tartara A, et al.An update on magnesium and bone health.Biometals. 2021;34(4):715-736. doi:10.1007/s10534-021-00305-0Uwitonze AM, Razzaque MS.Role of magnesium in vitamin D activation and function.J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2018;118(3):181. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2018.037Domitrz I, Cegielska J.Magnesium as an Important Factor in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Migraine-From Theory to Practice.Nutrients. 2022 Mar 5;14(5):1089. doi: 10.3390/nu14051089Rosique-Esteban N, Guasch-Ferré M, Hernández-Alonso P, Salas-Salvadó J.Dietary magnesium and cardiovascular disease: a review with emphasis in epidemiological studies.Nutrients. 2018;10(2):168. doi:10.3390/nu10020168American Diabetes Association.Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements.Kirkland AE, Sarlo GL, Holton KF.The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders.Nutrients. 2018 Jun 6;10(6):730. doi: 10.3390/nu10060730Córdova A, Mielgo-Ayuso J, Roche E, Caballero-García A, Fernandez-Lázaro D.Impact of magnesium supplementation in muscle damage of professional cyclists competing in a stage race.Nutrients. 2019;11(8):1927. doi:10.3390/nu11081927Al Wadee Z, Ooi SL, Pak SC.Serum Magnesium Levels in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Biomedicines. 2022 Sep 14;10(9):2273. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10092273Rawji A, Peltier MR, Mourtzanakis K, Awan S, Rana J, Pothen NJ,et al.Examining the Effects of Supplemental Magnesium on Self-Reported Anxiety and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review.Cureus. 2024 Apr 29;16(4):e59317. doi:10.7759/cureus.59317Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Magnesium.Aal-Hamad AH, Al-Alawi AM, Kashoub MS, Falhammar H.Hypermagnesemia in clinical practice.Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(7):1190. doi:10.3390/medicina59071190Reumkens A, van der Zander Q, Winkens B, et al.Electrolyte disturbances after bowel preparation for colonoscopy: systematic review and meta-analysis.Dig Endosc. 2022;34(5):913-926. doi:10.1111/den.14237Rhee WJ, Lee SY, Lee JH, et al.The effect of high concentration of magnesium with ropivacaine, gentamicin, rocuronium, and their combination on neuromuscular blockade.Korean J Anesthesiol. 2015;68(1):50-61. doi:10.4097/kjae.2015.68.1.50Orlova S, Dikke G, Pickering G, Yaltseva N, Konchits S, Starostin K,et al.Risk factors and comorbidities associated with magnesium deficiency in pregnant women and women with hormone-related conditions: analysis of a large real-world dataset.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Jan 22;21(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-03558-2Poison Control.Get Poison Control Help.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium (Health Professional Fact Sheet).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Magnesium.Chang J, Mclemore E, Tejirian T.Anal health care basics.Perm J. 2016;20(4):15–222. doi:10.7812/TPP/15-222MedlinePlus.Magnesium Citrate.Rondanelli M, Faliva MA, Tartara A, et al.An update on magnesium and bone health.Biometals. 2021;34(4):715-736. doi:10.1007/s10534-021-00305-0Uwitonze AM, Razzaque MS.Role of magnesium in vitamin D activation and function.J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2018;118(3):181. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2018.037Domitrz I, Cegielska J.Magnesium as an Important Factor in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Migraine-From Theory to Practice.Nutrients. 2022 Mar 5;14(5):1089. doi: 10.3390/nu14051089Rosique-Esteban N, Guasch-Ferré M, Hernández-Alonso P, Salas-Salvadó J.Dietary magnesium and cardiovascular disease: a review with emphasis in epidemiological studies.Nutrients. 2018;10(2):168. doi:10.3390/nu10020168American Diabetes Association.Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements.Kirkland AE, Sarlo GL, Holton KF.The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders.Nutrients. 2018 Jun 6;10(6):730. doi: 10.3390/nu10060730Córdova A, Mielgo-Ayuso J, Roche E, Caballero-García A, Fernandez-Lázaro D.Impact of magnesium supplementation in muscle damage of professional cyclists competing in a stage race.Nutrients. 2019;11(8):1927. doi:10.3390/nu11081927Al Wadee Z, Ooi SL, Pak SC.Serum Magnesium Levels in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Biomedicines. 2022 Sep 14;10(9):2273. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10092273Rawji A, Peltier MR, Mourtzanakis K, Awan S, Rana J, Pothen NJ,et al.Examining the Effects of Supplemental Magnesium on Self-Reported Anxiety and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review.Cureus. 2024 Apr 29;16(4):e59317. doi:10.7759/cureus.59317Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Magnesium.Aal-Hamad AH, Al-Alawi AM, Kashoub MS, Falhammar H.Hypermagnesemia in clinical practice.Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(7):1190. doi:10.3390/medicina59071190Reumkens A, van der Zander Q, Winkens B, et al.Electrolyte disturbances after bowel preparation for colonoscopy: systematic review and meta-analysis.Dig Endosc. 2022;34(5):913-926. doi:10.1111/den.14237Rhee WJ, Lee SY, Lee JH, et al.The effect of high concentration of magnesium with ropivacaine, gentamicin, rocuronium, and their combination on neuromuscular blockade.Korean J Anesthesiol. 2015;68(1):50-61. doi:10.4097/kjae.2015.68.1.50Orlova S, Dikke G, Pickering G, Yaltseva N, Konchits S, Starostin K,et al.Risk factors and comorbidities associated with magnesium deficiency in pregnant women and women with hormone-related conditions: analysis of a large real-world dataset.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Jan 22;21(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-03558-2Poison Control.Get Poison Control Help.National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium (Health Professional Fact Sheet).
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Magnesium.
Chang J, Mclemore E, Tejirian T.Anal health care basics.Perm J. 2016;20(4):15–222. doi:10.7812/TPP/15-222
MedlinePlus.Magnesium Citrate.
Rondanelli M, Faliva MA, Tartara A, et al.An update on magnesium and bone health.Biometals. 2021;34(4):715-736. doi:10.1007/s10534-021-00305-0
Uwitonze AM, Razzaque MS.Role of magnesium in vitamin D activation and function.J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2018;118(3):181. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2018.037
Domitrz I, Cegielska J.Magnesium as an Important Factor in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Migraine-From Theory to Practice.Nutrients. 2022 Mar 5;14(5):1089. doi: 10.3390/nu14051089
Rosique-Esteban N, Guasch-Ferré M, Hernández-Alonso P, Salas-Salvadó J.Dietary magnesium and cardiovascular disease: a review with emphasis in epidemiological studies.Nutrients. 2018;10(2):168. doi:10.3390/nu10020168
American Diabetes Association.Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements.
Kirkland AE, Sarlo GL, Holton KF.The Role of Magnesium in Neurological Disorders.Nutrients. 2018 Jun 6;10(6):730. doi: 10.3390/nu10060730
Córdova A, Mielgo-Ayuso J, Roche E, Caballero-García A, Fernandez-Lázaro D.Impact of magnesium supplementation in muscle damage of professional cyclists competing in a stage race.Nutrients. 2019;11(8):1927. doi:10.3390/nu11081927
Al Wadee Z, Ooi SL, Pak SC.Serum Magnesium Levels in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Biomedicines. 2022 Sep 14;10(9):2273. doi:10.3390/biomedicines10092273
Rawji A, Peltier MR, Mourtzanakis K, Awan S, Rana J, Pothen NJ,et al.Examining the Effects of Supplemental Magnesium on Self-Reported Anxiety and Sleep Quality: A Systematic Review.Cureus. 2024 Apr 29;16(4):e59317. doi:10.7759/cureus.59317
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Magnesium.
Aal-Hamad AH, Al-Alawi AM, Kashoub MS, Falhammar H.Hypermagnesemia in clinical practice.Medicina (Kaunas). 2023;59(7):1190. doi:10.3390/medicina59071190
Reumkens A, van der Zander Q, Winkens B, et al.Electrolyte disturbances after bowel preparation for colonoscopy: systematic review and meta-analysis.Dig Endosc. 2022;34(5):913-926. doi:10.1111/den.14237
Rhee WJ, Lee SY, Lee JH, et al.The effect of high concentration of magnesium with ropivacaine, gentamicin, rocuronium, and their combination on neuromuscular blockade.Korean J Anesthesiol. 2015;68(1):50-61. doi:10.4097/kjae.2015.68.1.50
Orlova S, Dikke G, Pickering G, Yaltseva N, Konchits S, Starostin K,et al.Risk factors and comorbidities associated with magnesium deficiency in pregnant women and women with hormone-related conditions: analysis of a large real-world dataset.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021 Jan 22;21(1):76. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-03558-2
Poison Control.Get Poison Control Help.
National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Magnesium (Health Professional Fact Sheet).
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