Download App
Doctors for Magnesium Deficiency 
OTC Medicines for Magnesium Deficiency
What is magnesium deficiency?
Magnesium deficiency refers to lower than normal levels of magnesium in the body leading to hypomagnesaemia. Magnesium is an essential mineral, which is required by almost all body tissues, especially the nerves. Magnesium deficiency is found to be most common among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.
What are its main signs and symptoms?
- Early signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency include:
- Signs and symptoms indicating moderate to severe magnesium deficiency include:
- Numbness and tingling sensations in the limbs.
- Muscle spasms and cramps.
- Seizures and tremors.
- Hypokalaemia (low potassium levels), hypocalcaemia (low calcium levels), and sodium retention.
- Behavioural changes and poor memory.
- Cardiac arrhythmias (a group of conditions presenting with an abnormal heartbeat).
- Coronary spasms (tightening of the muscles of the walls of the coronary arteries of the heart).
- Tetany (a condition presenting with muscular spasms of the fingers and toes).
Magnesium deficiency is also associated with hypertension (high blood pressure), asthma, coronary heart diseases, altered glucose homeostasis (balance), osteoporosis (bone mineral disorder causing bones to become brittle and weak), chronic fatigue syndrome, and migraine headaches.
What are the main causes?
Magnesium deficiency rarely results from poor dietary intake. It is usually seen in association with other conditions.
Causes of magnesium deficiency include:
- It is often linked with type II diabetes and digestive disorders such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, coeliac disease, short bowel syndrome, and Whipple’s disease.
- Hormonal disorders and renal (kidney) diseases.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Prolonged usage of drugs taken for gastrointestinal ulcers and reflux disease.
- Medications such as chemotherapeutic agents, diuretics, and certain antibiotics.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
Along with medical history and physical examination, your doctor will check blood magnesium levels.
Normal magnesium levels range from 1.3 to 2.1 mEq/L (0.65 to 1.05 mmol/L).
Other investigations required for diagnosis include:
- Urine magnesium test.
- Comprehensive metabolic panel (testing for electrolytes, kidney and liver function, blood glucose, and acid/base balance in the blood).
- Depending upon your symptoms, your doctor may also order an electrocardiogram (ECG).
Treatment of magnesium deficiency includes:
- Oral magnesium supplements.
- Intravenous magnesium supplementation.
- Magnesium substitution is started with a minimum dosage of 600mg per day.
- Fluids administered through a vein (intravenous or IV).
- Medications for symptomatic relief.
- Most importantly, any underlying condition is evaluated and treated.
