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Magnesium is an essential mineral that'southward already in your torso. It helps regulate your nervous system and muscles. The best fashion to get additional magnesium is to take it in the grade of magnesium citrate. Your md may tell yous to drink it to relieve occasional constipation or to gear up you for a colonoscopy. It works by increasing the amount of water in your intestines, making it easier for you to have a bowel movement. In most cases, magnesium citrate is prophylactic for everyone over six years of age, only ever cheque with your dr. earlier using information technology.

  1. one

    Talk to your doctor to see if magnesium citrate is right for you lot. In most cases, magnesium citrate is condom if y'all take information technology to relieve constipation. Withal, some present or past health issues can brand regular or higher doses less rubber. Talk to your doctor if you:[1]

    • Accept tum pain or nausea
    • Take ever had kidney illness
    • Have recently experienced a sudden change in your bowel habits
    • Are vomiting regularly due to some condition
    • Are on a low-sodium or depression-magnesium nutrition
    • Are taking medications to treat HIV
    • Are taking vitamin D, CoQ10, or sodium phosphate supplements and have reduced kidney function
    • Are taking penicillamine (Depen Titratabs, Cuprimine) or fluoroquinolone antibiotics (Cipro, Factive, Quinodis, Megalocin, Levaquin).
  2. 2

    Drink magnesium citrate on an empty stomach or wait 2 hours after eating or taking medication. The laxative furnishings work best when your stomach is empty or nearly empty. If yous've only had a small snack or seize with teeth to eat, you lot can wait just 1 hour instead of 2.[2]

    • If you take other supplements or medications, don't take them within ii hours of taking magnesium citrate because it could crusade your body to absorb less of the medication.
    • Yous can take magnesium citrate with a full belly, simply it will delay the effects and may cause an upset stomach.

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  3. iii

    Accept 5 to 10 fluid ounces (150 to 300 mL) at a time or in divided doses. How much you should drink to relieve constipation depends on your age. If you're giving information technology to a child under vi years of age, talk to your physician or pediatrician first. Otherwise, stick to the basic recommendations:[three]

    • Anyone over 12 years of age: 5 to 10 fluid ounces (150 to 300 mL) with 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of water in a single dose or divided doses.
    • Children six to 12 years of age: 3.3 to 5 fluid ounces (98 to 148 mL) with 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of water in a single dose or divided doses.
  4. 4

    Potable 8  fl oz (240 mL) of water after swallowing the dose. Drinking viii  fl oz (240 mL) of water volition assist push the magnesium citrate through your digestive system. You might find it easier to beverage the magnesium citrate after letting the bottle chill in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. You don't have to chill it, but it tin help soften the bitter, metallic gustation.[4]

    • To assist mask the gustatory modality, mix the liquid with 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of a flavored sports potable or juice. If you choose to mix information technology, yous don't need to drink another 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of water.
    • If you're an adult, you lot tin take upward to x fluid ounces (300 mL) of magnesium citrate per 24-hour interval. Take it all at once or in 2 separate doses.
    • If you're giving it to a child ages 6 to 12, don't give them more than than 5 fluid ounces (150 mL) per day unless your pediatrician says information technology's okay.
  5. 5

    Expect a bowel motion within the next 30 minutes to vi hours. How soon it takes to boot in depends on your digestive system and how much y'all drank. Make certain you have access to a bath afterwards taking it so you're not forced to uncomfortably hold information technology in.[5]

    • You may experience gas, a bubbles feeling in your stomach, and mild stomach cramps while the magnesium citrate is taking effect.
    • If you don't have a bowel movement after taking magnesium citrate, phone call your doctor because it could be a sign of some other condition.
  6. 6

    Call your doctor if you accept any severe side effects. It's very rare to experience any intense side furnishings with magnesium citrate. In most cases, moderate diarrhea is the only (and about uncomfortable) effect. Any severe reactions could be a sign of some other status, then end taking it and call your doctor if you experience:[six]

    • Irregular or tiresome heartbeat
    • Confusion or mood swings
    • Nausea, drowsiness, or weakness
    • Abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, bloody stools, or rectal bleeding.
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  1. 1

    Eat only depression-fiber foods two to 3 days earlier your appointment. Your bowels need to be as empty as possible in lodge for the doctor to get an accurate reading from the colonoscopy. Low-cobweb foods like white-flour breads and grains, white rice, and low-fiber cereals are all practiced things to consume while preparing for your engagement.[seven]

    • Sushi, poke bowls, and curries with white rice are all succulent choices!
    • Avoid whole grains (like brown rice, whole wheat bread and pasta), nuts, legumes, fruits with skin or seeds, and tough meats because they tin can clog up your digestive tract.
    • As for vegetables, canned or cooked veggies without skins like mushrooms, peeled carrots, peeled cucumbers, peeled potatoes, turnips, and asparagus tips are all skilful options. Corn, potatoes with skin, brussels sprouts, lima beans, and onions are off-limits for at present.
  2. two

    Continue a clear liquid diet the day before your date. Only take in clear liquids like water, tea, coffee (without milk, sugar, or creamer), light-colored juices (apple, white grape, white cranberry), broths, and sports drinks the day earlier your date. Avoid red or majestic-colored juices, alcohol, heavy soups, and milk considering these tin can affect the reading your doctor volition go from the procedure.[8]

    • Continue fasting until your appointment and don't drink annihilation (including h2o) in the morn earlier your appointment.
  3. 3

    Air-condition the bottles at to the lowest degree i hour earlier you program to potable them. Citrate of magnesium tastes bitter, salty, and metal (i.e., not skillful!). Chilling information technology beforehand will make it easier to drink, specially if you have a sensitive palate.[ix]

    • Don't put information technology in the freezer because it tin can impact the thickness of the liquid and, in turn, make information technology less effective.
    • Purchase cherry, lemon, or lime-flavored magnesium citrate to aid mask the metallic, biting gustatory modality.
  4. 4

    Drink a 10  fl oz (300 mL) bottle the night before your appointment. Around half-dozen:00 or 7:00 PM, down an entire bottle of magnesium citrate. Follow upward with an 8  fl oz (240 mL) drinking glass of h2o to push information technology through your organisation.[10]

    • Depending on your weight, historic period, and particular condition, your doctor may tell you to only drink half a bottle at a time.
    • You may have gas, slight tummy hurting, or observe a bubbles feeling in your gut—these are common side furnishings that will ease upwardly one time you lot have a bowel movement.
  5. five

    Don't consume whatever solid foods for the rest of the night and the next morning. In near cases, you'll need to avoid eating any solid foods or milk products until your appointment is over. Juice, Jell-O, tea, popsicles, sports drinks, broths, and hard candies are okay as long as they're not red or purple.[11]

    • Red or purple dye in juices and other items can make it difficult for the doctor to see the lining of your colon, skewing the results.
  6. 6

    Drinkable a 2nd bottle 5 hours earlier your appointment. The terminal 10  fl oz (300 mL) bottle of magnesium citrate volition clear your bowels completely before the colonoscopy. Chase it down with 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of water merely like you did with the first bottle.[12]

    • It tin take anywhere from thirty minutes to iii hours to feel the effects, so stay near a bathroom if you can.
    • Keep fasting and don't have anything else to beverage before your appointment (including water).
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  • If you're preparing to have a colonoscopy, eat smaller meals a few days before the night you start the magnesium citrate cleanse to brand going to the bath less intense.[13]

  • Before a colonoscopy, brand certain y'all get your preparation instructions well in accelerate of the procedure. Your doctor might advise you to choice upwardly supplies such every bit your prescribed bowel training, medicated wipes, and a skin soothing cream such as Desitin or Vaseline to aid salve irritation due to diarrhea.[14]

  • Habiliment loose, comfortable wearing apparel and stay nearly the bathroom while yous're waiting for the magnesium citrate to accept outcome.[15]

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  • Exercise not take magnesium citrate on a long-term footing because your torso can piece of work up a tolerance and come to depend on information technology in society to accept a bowel movement.[xvi]

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