Also in our Health Section:
Our Pharmacists' Advice
Our pharmacists recommend Mason® brand Natural Magnesium 200mg one or two tablets per day.
ATTENTION:
Patients Taking Medication for Heartburn
(Such as Prilosec, Protonix, Nexium, Prevacid, Aciphex or Zegerid:)
Posted 10.12.11
Medications to treat heartburn are one of the most widely used classes of drugs. New studies show that there may be risks associated with the long-term use of these drugs. These medications are usually used short-term to treat ulcers and heartburn but may be used long-term for severe heartburn and other conditions.
Magnesium absorption may be decreased when these drugs are used for more than a year. This may be concerning in patients who take other medications that also lower magnesium levels such as diuretics (fluid pills) to treat hypertension or congestive heart failure. Symptoms of low magnesium levels include muscle cramps, heart palpitations, dizziness, tremors, or seizures.
For patients who are likely to be on long-term therapy, an OTC magnesium supplement is often recommended. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of magnesium is approximately 400mg of elemental magnesium. Keep in mind that higher doses of magnesium may lead to diarrhea.