Magnesium+Hydroxide

Magnesium hydroxide is used as a laxative to relieve occasional constipation (irregularity) and as an antacid to relieve indigestion, sour stomach, and heartburn. Magnesium hydroxide may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.  == Brand names of combination products == > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > == History  == In 1829, Sir James Murray used a fluid magnesia preparation of his own design to treat the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the Marquis of Anglesey. This was so successful (advertised in Australia and approved by the Royal College of Surgeons in 1838) [|[5]] that he was appointed resident physician to Anglesey and two subsequent Lords Lieutenants, and knighted. His fluid magnesia product was patented two years after his death in 1873. [|[6]] > The term //milk of magnesia// was first used for a white-colored, aqueous, mildly [|alkaline] [|suspension] of magnesium hydroxide formulated at about 8 [|%w/v] by [|Charles Henry Phillips] in 1880 and sold under the brand name //Phillips' Milk of Magnesia// for medicinal usage. > Although the name may at some point have been owned by [|GlaxoSmithKline], [|USPTO] registrations show "Milk of Magnesia" to be registered to [|Bayer] , [|[7]] and "Phillips' Milk of Magnesia" to [|Sterling Drug]. [|[8]] In the UK, the non-brand (generic) name of "Milk of Magnesia" and "Phillips' Milk of Magnesia" is "Cream of Magnesia" (Magnesium Hydroxide Mixture, BP). > == Preparation  == Magnesium hydroxide can be precipitated by the [|metathesis reaction] between [|magnesium] salts and [|sodium], [|potassium] , or [|ammonium hydroxide] : > Mg2+ (aq) + 2 OH− (aq) → Mg(OH)2 (s)
 *  Advanced Formula Di-Gel (containing Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 *  Alamag (containing Aluminum Hydroxide and Magnesium Hydroxide)
 *  Alamag Plus Reformulated Mar 2010 (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 *  Aldroxicon (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 *  Aldroxicon II (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 *  Almacone (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 *  Almacone-2 (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 *  Alumina and Magnesia (containing Aluminum Hydroxide and Magnesium Hydroxide)
 *  Alumina/Magnesia/Simethicone (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 *  Antacid DS (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 *  Antacid I (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 *  Antacid II (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Antacid M (containing Aluminum Hydroxide and Magnesium Hydroxide)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Antacid M Plus (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Balanta (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Balox Plus (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Comfort Gel (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Di-Gel (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Dixlanta (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Fast Acting Mylanta (containing Calcium Carbonate and Magnesium Hydroxide)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Gelusil (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Gen-Alox (containing Aluminum Hydroxide and Magnesium Hydroxide)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Gen-Lanta (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Gen-Lanta II (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Inon Ace Solution (containing Magnesium Hydroxide and aluminum magnesium silicate)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Inon Ace Tablet (containing Magnesium Hydroxide, Simethicone, and aluminum magnesium silicate)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Kudrox (containing Aluminum Hydroxide and Magnesium Hydroxide)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Low Sodium Plus (containing Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide, and Simethicone)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> M.A.H. (containing Aluminum Hydroxide and Magnesium Hydroxide)
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif; font-family: inherit; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; vertical-align: baseline;"> Maalox (containing Aluminum Hydroxide and Magnesium Hydroxide)

Uses
Suspensions of magnesium hydroxide in water, often called Milk of Magnesia, are used as an [|antacid] to neutralize stomach [|acid], and as a laxative. The [|diarrhoea] caused by magnesium hydroxide carries away much of the body's supply of [|potassium], and failure to take extra [|potassium] may lead to [|muscle cramps]. [|[9]] Magnesium hydroxide is also used as an antiperspirant underarm [|deodorant]. [|[10]] Milk of magnesia is useful against [|canker sores] (aphthous ulcer) when used topically. [|[11]] > Milk of magnesia is sold for medical use as chewable tablets, capsules, and as liquids having various added flavors. It is primarily used to alleviate [|constipation], but also to relieve [|indigestion] and [|heartburn]. When taken orally as a laxative, the [|osmotic] force of the magnesia [|suspension] acts to draw fluids from the body and to retain those already within the [|lumen] of the [|intestine], serving to distend the bowel, thus stimulating nerves within the [|colon] wall, inducing [|peristalsis] and resulting in evacuation of [|colonic] contents. It is also used as an antacid, though more modern formulations such as [|Maalox] combine the [|antimotility] effects of equal concentrations of [|aluminum hydroxide] to avoid unwanted laxative effects. > Milk of magnesia is also used as a folk remedy, applied and massaged into the scalp a few minutes before washing, to relieve symptoms of [|seborrhea] and [|dandruff]. The mechanism for its effectiveness in this application, like the causes of seborrhea itself, are unknown. An additional folk use is for the treatment of acne or oily skin by applying topically, allowing to dry, and then washing it off the face (or other body part). It is also said to be used for seborrheic dermatitis, which is a drying and flaking of the skin similar to dandruff but often occurring on the face. [|[12]] > Magnesium hydroxide powder is used industrially as a non-hazardous alkali to neutralise acidic wastewaters. [|[13]] It also takes part in the [|Biorock] method of building [|artificial reefs]. > Solid magnesium hydroxide also has smoke suppressing and fire retarding properties. This is due to the [|endothermic decomposition] it undergoes at 332 °C (630 °F) : > Mg(OH)2 → MgO + H2O The heat absorbed by the reaction acts as a retardant by delaying ignition of the associated substance. The water released dilutes any combustible gases and inhibits oxygen from aiding the combustion. Common uses of magnesium hydroxide as a fire retardant include plastics, roofing, and coatings. Another mineral mixture that is used in similar fire retardant applications are natural mixtures of [|huntite] and [|hydromagnesite] [|[14]] [|[15]] [|[16]] [|[17]] [|[18]] > == Biological metabolism  == When the patient drinks the milk of magnesia, the [|suspension] enters the [|stomach]. Depending on how much was taken, one of two possible outcomes will occur. > As an antacid, milk of magnesia is dosed at approximately 0.5–1.5g in adults and works by simple [|neutralization], where the [|hydroxide] [|ions] from the Mg(OH)2 combine with [|acidic] H+ [|ions] produced in the form of hydrochloric acid by [|parietal cells] in the [|stomach] to produce water. > As a laxative, milk of magnesia is dosed at 2–5 g, and works in a number of ways. First, Mg2+ is poorly absorbed from the intestinal tract, so it draws water from the surrounding tissue by [|osmosis]. Not only does this increase in water content soften the feces, it also increases the volume of feces in the intestine (intraluminal volume) which naturally stimulates intestinal motility. Furthermore, Mg2+ ions cause the release of [|cholecystokinin] (CCK), which results in intraluminal accumulation of water, electrolytes, and increased intestinal motility. Although it has been stated in some sources, the hydroxide ions themselves do not play a significant role in the laxative effects of milk of magnesia, as basic solutions (i.e. solutions of hydroxide ions) are not strongly laxative, and non-basic Mg2+ solutions, like [|MgSO4], are equally strong laxatives [|mole] for mole. [|[19]] > Only a small amount of the magnesium from milk of magnesia is usually absorbed from a person's intestine (unless the person is deficient in magnesium). However, magnesium is mainly excreted by the kidneys so long-term, daily consumption of milk of magnesia by someone suffering from renal failure could lead in theory to [|hypermagnesemia]. > == Mineralogy  == [|Brucite], the mineral form of Mg(OH)2 commonly found in nature also occurs in the 1:2:1 [|clay minerals] amongst others, in [|chlorite] , in which it occupies the interlayer position normally filled by monovalent and divalent [|cations] such as Na+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+. As a consequence, chlorite interlayers are cemented by brucite and cannot swell nor shrink anymore. > Brucite, in which some of the Mg2+ cations have been substituted by Al3+ cations, becomes positively charged and constitutes the main basis of [|layered double hydroxide] (LDH). LDH minerals as [|hydrotalcite] are powerful anion sorbents but are relatively rare in nature. > Brucite may also crystallise in [|cement] and [|concrete] in contact with [|seawater]. Indeed, the Mg2+ cation is the second more abundant cation in seawater, just behind Na+ and before Ca2+. Because brucite is a swelling mineral, it causes a local volumetric expansion responsible for tensile stress in concrete. This leads to the formation of cracks and fissures in concrete, accelerating its degradation in seawater. > For the same reason, [|dolostone] cannot be used as [|construction aggregate] for making concrete. The reaction of [|magnesium carbonate] with the free alkali [|hydroxides] present in the cement porewater also leads to the formation of expansive brucite. > MgCO3 + 2 NaOH → Mg(OH)2 + Na2CO3 > This reaction, one of the two main [|alkali-aggregate reaction] (AAR) is also known as [|alkali-carbonate reaction]. >