Is magnesium toxic for dialysis patients?

[Bajanne]

I was looking around for a mild laxative.  I am not really constipated but just thought I wanted a 'clean out'.  In the medicine cabinet I found Philips Milk of Magnesia.  However, a warning bell went off.  I googled it, but am not totally sure of what they said.  Has anyone's doctor told them not to take magnesium and why?

[Desert Dancer]

Yep, I was told to stay FAR, FAR away from things like Milk of Magnesia and Pepto-Bismol. It's the magnesium.

When I was med evacd to the hospital a number of years ago they gave me magnesium sulfate to stop labor. They had to discontinue it a day-and-a-half later because it was building up to toxic levels; my kidneys weren't clearing it at all and they were afraid it was going to kill me. That was 8 years before dialysis.

[tinastia]

I was told not to take anything but Miralax,and my regular prescription for colace and peri-colace.  Even tho they have warnings about taking it if you have kidney disease. 

[sullidog]

Yes I was told the same Miralax,and that's what most nephs perscribe.

[Riki]

Really? My doctor actually prescribed Milk of Magnesia for me, because I had low magnesium.  I refused to take it, however, because of it's laxative properties.  It's something I didn't need then nor need now.

[texasstyle]

I'm not 100% positive on this, but I almost am that excess Magnesium has something to do with the shift of potassium from your cells into your blood stream. K natrually shifts from cells to bloodstream but I believe Magnesium may alter the amounts. If it somehow relates or effects your Potassium balance, that is extremely dangerous.  On the ohter hand, there are probably laxatives with a mild amount of Magnesium in them ( I would guess/hope)  Your Dr. will know best! If you're looking to just get "regular" lol, you may want to think of eating something instead of taking a mild laxative. Now for me, (not on D) if I eat a bowlof Grape Nuts cereral, or eat a good amount of Triscut  brand crackers trust me, the next day I am regular! lol  For a D patient I am think in the way of salads? I would have to guess the lettuce is an :ok" on the renal diet. Celeray is alo very good for fiber and cleaning you out.

[YouDontKnowCecil]

Yes, do NOT take anything with lots of magnesium in it. As for Pepto-Bismol, not all formulations are as they seem. The liquid version has magnesium aluminum silicate (double whammy, don't take aluminum too!). However, I've read the labels for the Pepto-Bismol Insta-Cool chewable tablets; they do not have magnesium aluminum silicate.

If you read labels, you might often see magnesium stearate in the inactive ingredients list. I've talked to my neph about this, and this is supposedly fine. Magnesium stearate is commonly used as a tablet filler/diluent.

[ESRD Survivor]

I wonder why my neph told me to take supplemental magnesium for toe cramps at night.  Is this different than milk of Magnesia?

[YouDontKnowCecil]

I wonder why my neph told me to take supplemental magnesium for toe cramps at night.  Is this different than milk of Magnesia?

It's probably a lower amount, and it's much easier to figure out how much you are taking if it's a supplement/Rx.

[Ken Shelmerdine]

I suffer from severe restless legs syndrome and although not much is known about it's cause, I have read that one factor may be lack of magnesium. In the Uk the NHS only supplies Parkinsons Disease drugs and the one they gave me is useless.

I  asked my consultant about a product called 'Calm' which has a website http://www.allcalm.com/restlesslegs.html?gclid=CI69qc7JjqkCFcoa4Qods2GPjg and she said print off the leaflet and we'll see. The main ingredient is magnesium citrate. Has anyone tried it and the $65000 doller question DOES IT WORK?

[mcclane]

i haven't taken any pepto bismal in a while, but I do remember I've taken it for severe runs (while i was on pd).  thank god I'm still here after doing so.