The short-term treatment for sporadic constipation is magnesium citrate. Saline laxatives are a group of drugs that includes magnesium citrate. It functions by making the feces retain water. The stool becomes softer and more easily passable as a result of increasing the frequency of bowel movements.

Magnesium citrate is available as a liquid to be taken orally as well as a powder to be mixed with a beverage. It is typically taken as a single dose per day or divided into two or more doses spread out over a single day. If your doctor doesn’t instruct you to, don’t take magnesium citrate for longer than a week. After consuming magnesium citrate, a bowel movement often occurs 30 minutes to 6 hours later. Pay close attention to the instructions on your product’s label, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to clarify any information you do not understand. Administer magnesium citrate as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Take the liquid medication with an entire glass of drink (8 ounces [240 milliliters]).

The powder should be firmly shaken or stirred with 10 ounces (296 milliliters) of cold water or other liquids to prepare it for solution. After combining the solution, if necessary, chill it, but recombine it before using. Throw away the oral solution mixture if it is not used within 36 hours of preparation. If you have any doubts about how to combine or take this drug, make sure to ask your pharmacist or doctor.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your pharmacist or doctor.

Magnesium citrate is additionally used to empty the colon (large intestine, bowel) before to a colonoscopy, which is an examination of the colon’s inside to look for signs of colon cancer and other abnormalities.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking magnesium citrate,

• If you have an allergy to magnesium citrate, any other drugs, or any of the substances in magnesium citrate preparations, let your doctor and pharmacist know right once. For a list of the ingredients, consult the product label or ask your pharmacist.
• Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Using other drugs requires that you wait at least two hours between taking them and magnesium citrate.
• If you experience stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or a sudden change in bowel habits that lasts longer than 2 weeks, let your doctor know. If you follow a sodium- or magnesium-restricted diet, let your doctor know. Tell your doctor whether you now have kidney disease or have ever had it.
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking magnesium citrate.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

Typically, this drug is taken as needed.

Side effects from magnesium citrate are possible. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Having more frequent, watery, or loose stools

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away and stop taking magnesium citrate if you have any of these signs:

• Stool with blood
• Not being able to go to the bathroom after using

Further negative effects of magnesium citrate are possible. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone if you have a serious side event.

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from light, excessive heat, and moisture at room temperature.

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilizing a medicine take-back program is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programs in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back program, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following:

• Dizziness
• Drowsinesss
• Sluggish heartbeat
• Nausea

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

Inquire any queries you may have regarding magnesium citrate to your pharmacist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.