Magnesium Citrate - same in UK as US? I'm confused.

zealey77
zealey77 Posts: 104
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi, bit of a specific question, but I've been reading online about Magnesium Citrate as a laxative in the US. I want to flush out my system and also lose some extra pounds in the short term only for a holiday I've got coming up - (yes, awful vain I know, so shoot me ;)

BUT, I went into my local pharmacy and found a bottle of 250mg Magnesium Citrate tablets in the 'Healthy Bones and Circulation' section - and it said nothing about extreme laxative effects, only healthy circulation and brain function, etc. The sort of thing my 90 year old nan would take.

So, is it the same thing as my US cousins are taking? What am I misunderstanding here? Here in UK strong laxatives are only available on prescription, not over the counter, and my doc has refused to prescribe them.

Thanks for any advice...

Mx

Replies

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    I take magnesium citrate daily. I wouldn't say it has extreme laxative effects unless you take a lot of it.
    I take two a day. I have one BM a day. (and no more foot cramps, which was why I started it).

    It's effects are to draw water into the intestines, not to cause contractions like senna and other well known laxatives.
  • craftywitch_63
    craftywitch_63 Posts: 829 Member
    Hi, bit of a specific question, but I've been reading online about Magnesium Citrate as a laxative in the US. I want to flush out my system and also lose some extra pounds in the short term only for a holiday I've got coming up - (yes, awful vain I know, so shoot me ;)

    BUT, I went into my local pharmacy and found a bottle of 250mg Magnesium Citrate tablets in the 'Healthy Bones and Circulation' section - and it said nothing about extreme laxative effects, only healthy circulation and brain function, etc. The sort of thing my 90 year old nan would take.

    So, is it the same thing as my US cousins are taking? What am I misunderstanding here? Here in UK strong laxatives are only available on prescription, not over the counter, and my doc has refused to prescribe them.

    Thanks for any advice...

    Mx

    I'm an RN, maybe I can help. Magnesium (in any form) will cause diarrhea if enough is taken. WebMD can explain it better than I and is a good, reliable source. Having said that, I have to caution you that taking ANY laxative (except bulk-forming laxatives like Metamucil) for a length of time is dangerous. The colon loses its motility (ability to push stool through). Please re-think this. Taking Magnesium in low doses as a supplement seems to be benign but what you are suggesting can be dangerous.

    http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-5106-MAGNESIUM+SUPPLEMENT+-+ORAL.aspx?drugid=522&drugname=Magnesium+Citrate+Oral&source=0
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Good link crafty witch.

    Not to be a pill, but you've recently posted about taking laxatives to make the scale go down, and binge drinking having the "positive" side effect of making the scale go down.
    Do you also have a long term, sustainable plan for weight loss and maintenance? I hope you do. Your profile says as much.
    PS: You're already dehydrated from the wine bender, DON'T do the laxatives now please. You could really mess up your electrolytes.

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