Magnesium Overdose – Consequences, Frequency and Symptoms

In the case of a magnesium overdose, doctors speak of hypermagnesemia. Affected people have too much magnesium in their blood. We can show you how often it occurs, what consequences, symptoms and side effects can occur.

When a magnesium overdose occurs – but rarely

Most patients are more likely to suffer from magnesium deficiency than overdose or excess. Typically, this is measured by the blood value, although only about 1 of the total stored magnesium is represented. 65 of the magnesium deposits are found in the bones and teeth. The rest in the muscles.

Magnesium overdose actually only happens if magnesium supplements or kidney diseaseis taken incorrectly. falscher Einnahme In some cases, sufferers of thyroid underfunction or weakness of the secondary glands also have to contend with overdose.

As an adult, you should consume between 300 mg and 400 mg of magnesium every day – with normal physical activity. This includes both the intake via the normal diet as well as via dietary supplements.

Symptoms of magnesium overdose and its consequences

A healthy organism is usually hardly susceptible to a magnesium overdose. Healthy kidneys usually excrete excess through the urine. Excessive overdoses may still cause more serious symptoms and side effects. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that the kidneys are healthy in the event of a magnesium excess.

At the beginning, a slight overdose is typically announced, especially with side effects such as diarrhoea or gastrointestinal discomfort. Dizziness or convulsions in the abdomen can be further side effects. Magnesium salts act unintentionally as laxatives.

From two millimol per litre of magnesium in the blood, you can only notice the usual serious symptoms and side effects. According to the Consumer Centre, this corresponds to an intake of approximately 2.5g of magnesium per day. The reflex test (neurological muscle reflex examination) no longer works – the automatic twitching of the muscles is not possible. In addition, there may be sagging or even paralysis of the muscles – even the respiratory muscles can be affected. Respiratory arrest was also observed in extreme cases. At the same time, blood pressure and pulse drop and cardiac arrhythmias may occur. Even cardiac arrest is not excluded.

Other symptoms could also be the opposite at the beginning – often high blood pressure is an initial symptom. This can be accompanied by dizziness, nausea, unnatural facial redness, urinary retention (the bladder cannot be completely emptied), intestinal obstruction or depression. A certain lethargy occurs before the aforementioned muscle paralysis can occur.

Magnesium overdose by magnesium-containing laxatives can also be proven to cause magnesium poisoning as a side effect (at more than 5,000 mg per day), which in turn can lead to death.

How do you avoid magnesium overdose?

With reasonable dosages according to the enclosed information and an agreement with the doctor, a magnesium overdose is hardly possible in healthy people. By respecting the daily requirements limits and paying attention to the symbols, a magnesium overdose can be well avoided. However, if there is any suspicion, the family doctor should be consulted immediately. In case of supplementation, a prior consultation with the doctor is also recommended. Self-diagnosis and therapy is never recommended.

A magnesium overdose can actually be harmful. Symptoms and consequences have already been listed. Nevertheless, the body needs magnesium every day. Therefore, when taking magnesium preparations, one should pay attention to the daily need and discuss any problems with the doctor in order to avoid an overdose.

Once the surplus has occurred, a visit to the family doctor is highly advisable. Above all, the cause of the overdose needs to be clarified. An occurrence of a disease of the kidney or thyroid gland must be treated accordingly. Examples would be an underfunction of the adrenal cortex (Addison’s disease) disorders of the arousal conduction of the heart, or myasthenia gravis. Even in extreme cases, doctors can use appropriate antidotes (such as calcium).

In summary, it can be stated that magnesium overdose is usually only an extremely rare extreme case in healthy people.