What are the Side Effects of Magnesium? What Studies Say

What type of magnesium am I talking about?

In this article, I discuss the side effects of magnesium in general, without addressing its benefits.

I mainly refer to magnesium when taken in the form of tablets (dietary supplement, supplement, or medication), powder, or drinkable solutions. It can be taken occasionally as a treatment or more regularly to correct a deficiency, with or without an identified deficiency.

However, magnesium comes in many different types and brands, often combined with other substances (vitamins, other compounds to promote absorption, etc.)!

Therefore, it’s essential to check your specific product’s instructions to get an idea of the side effects associated with the form you are taking. There may be other ingredients in the supplement besides “pure” magnesium.

Here are some examples based on the magnesium forms that users inquire about the most.

Magnesium Types	Specifics
Magnesium bisglycinate = chelated amino magnesium	This is a form of magnesium combined with glycine, an amino acid. Example: NHCO magnesium
Marine magnesium	Extracted from seawater. It may contain other minerals and trace elements from seawater.
Ergymag Nutergia	It also contains zinc and vitamin B.
Magnesium Vitamin B6	They are associated with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). The Biofar brand is one that sells them.
Sima magnesium	Magnesium in the form of orthosilicic acid.
Liposomal magnesium	Magnesium associated with liposomes, lipid structures.
Alvityl magnesium	With vitamin B6.
Formag magnesium	Vitamin B6 + Taurine.
Granions magnesium	Brand that markets different formulas with or without associated vitamins.
Magn Actifs	Vitamin B6 + Taurine.
Magnesium Catalyons	In the form of ionic minerals dissolved in purified water.
Magnesium Quatro 900	Based on 3 magnesium salts + vitamin B6.
Arkovital Double Magnesium	Contains vitamins B1, B2 & B5, B6.
Magnesium citrate	Magnesium associated with citric acid.

Some people also modify their diet to increase magnesium intake naturally, for example, by consuming more leafy green vegetables, nuts, whole grains, seafood, or dark chocolate.

In this article, I focus on the effects of “pure” magnesium. If the magnesium you take contains other substances (for example, vitamins), you should also look into the side effects related to the consumption of these substances.

You can find this information by looking at the composition of the magnesium you have, on the package or bottle/label. It is indicated as “ingredients” or “composition.”

Example:

I do not address in this article the effects of magnesium taken in other contexts, such as when pregnant women take it (intravenous magnesium sulfate) in the case of preterm delivery.

What are the most common side effects related to magnesium?

To answer this question, I did as I always do here: I searched for information in the Google of medicine, PubMed.

It is a search engine that compiles all scientific studies on health published in medical journals worldwide.

So, I went to see what the most recent and comprehensive publications on magnesium say (references at the end of the article).

Here is a summary, first focusing on the two potential side effects of magnesium that users are most concerned about (dizziness and intestinal problems), followed by a more detailed list.

Can Too Much Magnesium Cause Dizziness?

In studies listing side effects related to the consumption of magnesium supplements, hypotension is mentioned. This is the medical term for low blood pressure when consuming magnesium.

Dizziness is frequently associated with episodes of hypotension because the brain may not receive the necessary amount of oxygen and nutrients to function normally, resulting in a feeling of dizziness.

So, yes, dizziness can be a side effect of taking magnesium, although many other factors could explain it.

Too Much Magnesium and Intestinal Issues?

Indeed, a relatively common side effect of taking magnesium is intestinal problems, particularly diarrhea.

These side effects are more common if you have kidney insufficiency or other kidney problems.

What Are the Symptoms of Magnesium Allergy?

Magnesium allergy is very rare since we consume it in our daily diet.

Allergy could also occur due to other components of the magnesium supplement you are taking. Allergy symptoms are quite typical: skin rashes, swelling, difficulty breathing, etc.

List of Identified or Potential Magnesium Side Effects

Here is an updated list of identified side effects related to magnesium consumption.

More “Common” (still rare):

• Skin redness
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)
• Vasodilation (enlargement of blood vessels)
• Altered reflexes
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Flatulence
• Nausea/vomiting
• Respiratory depression
• Electrolyte imbalances (hypocalcemia, hyperkalemia)
• Hypermagnesemia (too much magnesium in the blood)

More Serious and Less Common:

• Cardiovascular problems
• Respiratory depression
• Hypothermia
• Pulmonary edema

Source: Allen 2023

What Is the Frequency of Magnesium Side Effects?

Determining the frequency of these side effects is challenging because some of them (like diarrhea) are common events even without taking magnesium supplements.

Studies struggle to identify whether diarrhea and other side effects are genuinely more frequent in groups of people taking magnesium compared to those taking a placebo.

Source: Costello 2023

This reasoning applies to the other described side effects.

What Symptoms to Expect If You Take Too Much Magnesium?

Having too much magnesium in the blood is called hypermagnesemia.

It is a rare phenomenon and mainly occurs for reasons other than consuming too much magnesium. The most common cause is kidney insufficiency. Here are the symptoms you may experience:

Symptoms of Too Much Magnesium in the Blood:

• Nausea and vomiting, diarrhea
• Facial flushing
• Urinary retention, intestinal obstruction, and hypotension
• Drowsiness, fatigue
• Absence of deep tendon reflexes and complete heart block
• Respiratory depression, paralysis, and complete heart block

As you can see, these symptoms can also be explained by other causes. For example, nausea and diarrhea could be due to a stomach bug.

Therefore, I will now discuss how to ensure that the perceived side effect related to magnesium intake is indeed linked.

How to Be Sure that a Perceived Side Effect is Linked to Magnesium?

It’s challenging, even for a healthcare professional, to be sure that a problem like fatigue is due to your magnesium intake.

Here are some questions to consider:

1. When did your problem appear? Right at the beginning of magnesium intake? After a certain period? When you changed the quantity you consume?
2. Is it a problem you’ve had in the past? Frequently? Following what, in particular? Are you in a similar situation again?
3. Have you done anything else that could explain the onset of this problem? Been in contact with someone sick, changed your diet, taken medication, etc.?

If you’re not taking magnesium for medical reasons, consider stopping it and see if the problem disappears.

Should You Consult a Doctor If You Think You Have a Magnesium-Related Side Effect?

It is possible to discuss the issue with your general practitioner or another specialist during your next visit.

Note it down somewhere to remind yourself!

Do you need to schedule a specific appointment for this issue?

It’s up to you to decide: is the impact of this effect significant on your daily life? If so, a consultation may be appropriate.

Another option is to interrupt your magnesium intake if you’re not taking it for a specific condition and see what happens.

I hope I have answered some of your questions! More questions? Comments? Feel free to share them 🙂!