This article describes possible interactions with magnesium injection. Interactions can cause a drug to have a different effect on the body than expected. Interactions can occur due to medications, alcohol, or certain health conditions.
Magnesium comes as a solution that’s injected into a vein or muscle. It’s also available as a supplement that’s swallowed. Interactions of magnesium may vary depending on the form of magnesium you’re prescribed.
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Questions about magnesium and interactions
Here you’ll find answers to some common questions about magnesium injection and possible interactions.
What medications should you not take with magnesium?
Certain medications should be avoided when you’re receiving magnesium injection because of the risk of drug interactions.
To see a list of such medications, view the “Other drugs and magnesium” section below. Also, talk with your doctor about what you should not take during treatment with magnesium injection.
Does magnesium interfere with blood pressure medication?
It might. Magnesium injection can interact with certain blood pressure drugs. Examples include metoprolol (Lopressor) and amlodipine (Norvasc).
Most interactions with magnesium injection will either increase the risk of side effects for both drugs or increase the effects of the other medication.
If you take a blood pressure medication, talk with your doctor about your risk of an interaction. They can advise whether you should receive magnesium injection while taking your blood pressure treatment.
Does magnesium injection have different interactions than magnesium glycinate oral capsule?
Yes, it does have different interactions.
Magnesium injection and magnesium glycinate oral capsule are used for different purposes. Magnesium injection is a prescription medication that’s used to raise magnesium blood levels. It’s also used to help prevent seizures in people with preeclampsia or eclampsia. Magnesium glycinate is a dietary supplement that’s used to boost levels of magnesium. This has been shown to have a variety of health benefits.
Magnesium injection can interact with various drugs. These may include certain blood pressure medications, opioids, and sedatives. These interactions can increase the risk of side effects from both magnesium and the other drug.
Magnesium glycinate oral capsule can interact with drugs as well. But it mainly interferes with other drugs by blocking their absorption into your body. This can make the other drugs less effective. Examples of drugs that may interact with magnesium glycinate include certain antibiotics and bisphosphonates (a type of osteoporosis medication).
If you have more questions about interactions with different forms of magnesium, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is there an interaction between magnesium injection and antibiotics?
Generally, no. Antibiotics typically only interact with forms of magnesium that are swallowed.
In a process called chelation, magnesium can react with certain antibiotics in the digestive tract to form a compound called a chelate. This reaction lowers the amount of antibiotic absorbed into your bloodstream, which can make the antibiotic less effective.
Magnesium injection is injected into the vein or muscle. It doesn’t go through your digestive tract. So it doesn’t interact with antibiotics.
If you have more questions about whether it’s safe to take an antibiotic with magnesium, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Other drugs and magnesium
The drugs in the list below may interact with magnesium injection. This article doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with magnesium. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out what medications you should not take with magnesium.
Drug classes or drugs that may interact with magnesium injection include:
- barbiturates:
- drug example: phenobarbital
- what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of both magnesium injection and the barbiturate
- opioids:
- drug example: oxycodone (Oxycontin, others)
- what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of both magnesium injection and the opioid
- sedatives:
- drug example: zolpidem (Ambien)
- what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of both magnesium injection and the sedative
- certain anesthetics:
- drug example: propofol (Diprivan)
- what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of both magnesium injection and the anesthetic
- neuromuscular blocking drugs:
- drug examples: succinylcholine, cisatracurium
- what might happen: can increase the effect of the neuromuscular blocking drug
- cardiac glycoside drugs:
- drug example: digoxin (Lanoxin)
- what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of the cardiac glycoside drug
- certain blood pressure drugs:
- drug examples: metoprolol (Lopressor), amlodipine (Norvasc)
- what might happen: can increase the risk of side effects of both magnesium injection and the blood pressure drug
- calcium injection:
- what might happen: can increase the effect of magnesium injection
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When to avoid magnesium
Certain health conditions or other factors could increase some risks with magnesium injection. Because of this, doctors may not prescribe magnesium in these cases. These health conditions or other factors are called contraindications.
Here’s a list of contraindications for magnesium injection:
- Heart block: If you have heart block, using magnesium injection may worsen your condition.
- Heart damage from a heart attack: If you have heart damage from a previous heart attack, using magnesium injection may worsen your heart’s condition.
- Past allergic reaction to magnesium: If you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to magnesium injection, using it again may cause another allergic reaction.
Before you start using magnesium, tell your doctor if anything listed above relates to you. They can recommend whether you should use magnesium.
Alcohol and magnesium
Magnesium injection is not known to interact with alcohol.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about whether it’s safe to consume it while using magnesium injection.
Other interactions and magnesium
Interactions can occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, and some lab tests. Below you can learn whether magnesium injection has these interactions.
The information below doesn’t include all other possible interactions with magnesium.
Magnesium and supplements
Before using magnesium injection, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs you take, as well as vitamins and supplements. Doing so may help you avoid interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Magnesium interactions with herbs
Magnesium injection isn’t known to interact with any herbs. But this doesn’t mean interactions with herbs can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while using magnesium injection.
Magnesium interactions with vitamins
Magnesium injection isn’t known to interact with any vitamins. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vitamins can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, ask your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while using magnesium injection.
Magnesium and food
Magnesium injection isn’t known to interact with foods. But this doesn’t mean interactions with foods can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about what foods you should avoid while using magnesium injection.
Magnesium and vaccines
Magnesium injection isn’t known to interact with any vaccines. But this doesn’t mean interactions with vaccines can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before receiving any vaccines while using magnesium injection.
Magnesium and lab tests
Magnesium injection isn’t known to interact with lab tests. But this doesn’t mean interactions with lab tests can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
Because of this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before having any tests while using magnesium injection.
Magnesium and cannabis or CBD
Magnesium injection isn’t known to interact with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But this doesn’t mean interactions can’t happen or won’t be identified later.
As with any drug or supplement, tell your doctor before taking cannabis with magnesium.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Health factors and magnesium
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may increase the risk of interactions with magnesium injection. Keep in mind that interactions could lead to side effects or affect how well the drug works. Before using magnesium, tell your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether magnesium is right for you.
These health conditions or other factors might interact with magnesium injection:
- heart block*
- heart damage caused by a previous heart attack*
- kidney problems
- being age 65 years or older
- pregnancy or breastfeeding
- past allergic reaction to magnesium*
* For more details about this health condition interaction, see the “When to avoid magnesium” section.
Preventing magnesium interactions
You may be able to help avoid certain interactions with magnesium injection. Before using this drug, you may want to discuss possible interactions with your doctor and pharmacist.
Things to consider include:
Using magnesium exactly as prescribed can also help prevent interactions.
What to ask your doctor
If you have questions about magnesium and possible interactions, talk with your doctor.
Questions you may want to ask your doctor include:
- Does my risk of interactions depend on my dosage of magnesium injection?
- Do other drugs that could treat my condition have similar interactions?
- Should I tell you if I start taking another medication or supplement during my magnesium treatment?
Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.
