The information on this site is intended to supplement and enhance, not replace, the advice of a physician who is familiar with your medical history. Decisions about your health should always be made ONLY after detailed conversation with your doctor.
Generic drug name:
aluminum hydroxide
(a LOO mi num hye DROX ide)
Brand name(s):
AMPHOJEL
GENERIC:
available
FAMILY:
Antacids
Find the drug label by
searching at DailyMed.
Generic drug name:
aluminum hydroxide and magnesium carbonate
(a LOO mi num hye DROX ide and mag NEE zee um car bon ate)
Brand name(s):
GAVISCON,
GAVISCON-2
GENERIC:
available
FAMILY:
Antacids
Find the drug label by
searching at DailyMed.
Generic drug name:
aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide
(a LOO mi num hye DROX ide and mag NEE zee um hye DROX ide)
Brand name(s):
MAALOX,
MAALOX TC
GENERIC:
available
FAMILY:
Antacids
Find the drug label by
searching at DailyMed.
Generic drug name:
magaldrate
(MAG al drate)
Brand name(s):
RIOPAN
GENERIC:
available
FAMILY:
Antacids
Find the drug label by
searching at DailyMed.
Limited Use
[what does this mean?]
Generic drug name:
magnesium hydroxide
(mag NEE zee um hye DROX ide)
Brand name(s):
FAMILY DOLLAR MILK OF MAGNESIA,
PHILLIPS’ MILK OF MAGNESIA
GENERIC:
available
FAMILY:
Antacids
Find the drug label by
searching at DailyMed.
Pregnancy and Breast-feeding Warnings [top]
There is no information in the drug labels. Consult with your doctor or pharmacist.
Safety Warnings For This Drug [top]
Nighttime Heartburn Treatments: Try These First
There are nondrug treatments, with no safety concerns, and less expensive drugs that may be effective for you; these should be tried before you use any drugs for heartburn. First, try to avoid foods that trigger your condition (e.g., fatty foods, onions, caffeine, peppermint, and chocolate), and avoid alcohol, smoking, and tight clothing.[1] Second, avoid food, and particularly alcohol, within two or three hours of bedtime. Third, elevate the head of the bed about six inches or sleep with extra pillows.
For both heartburn and ulcers, it is important to avoid drug-induced causes. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to cause ulcers. Ask your doctor if acetaminophen could be substituted for these drugs. Check with your doctor about the osteoporosis medications alendronate (FOSAMAX) and risedronate (ACTONEL), which irritate the esophagus.
If these measures are not effective, try simple over-the-counter (OTC) antacids such as a generic aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide product (MAALOX, MAALOX TC). If symptoms worsen or bleeding occurs, call your doctor. If this does not relieve your symptoms, one of the family of stomach acid–blocking drugs known as histamine2-blockers can be tried. This family includes cimetidine (TAGAMET), famotidine (PEPCID), nizatidine (AXID), and ranitidine (ZANTAC). Histamine2-blockers are available in both OTC and prescription strengths.
If the OTC histamine2-blockers do not give adequate relief of your symptoms after 14 days, it is time to consult your physician.
Facts About This Drug [top]
Aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide neutralize stomach acid and are used to treat ulcers, stomach upset caused by stomach acid, and reflux esophagitis (heartburn) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In reflux esophagitis, acidic stomach contents flow backwards up into the esophagus (the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach), causing a burning sensation under the breastbone. Magaldrate, a chemical combination of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, is used in the...
Aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide neutralize stomach acid and are used to treat ulcers, stomach upset caused by stomach acid, and reflux esophagitis (heartburn) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In reflux esophagitis, acidic stomach contents flow backwards up into the esophagus (the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach), causing a burning sensation under the breastbone. Magaldrate, a chemical combination of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, is used in the same way. Liquid antacids are considered to be more effective than solid or powdered forms.[2]
Aluminum can cause constipation, and magnesium can cause diarrhea. By combining aluminum with magnesium, these drugs reduce the problems that either substance alone can cause. However, the combination may still cause either constipation or diarrhea.
The combination of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium carbonate is only used to temporarily relieve heartburn caused by reflux esophagitis. You should not take Gaviscon or Gaviscon-2, two brand-name products that contain this combination of drugs, for ulcers or serious stomach upset due to stomach acid. They do not contain enough antacid to neutralize significant amounts of stomach acid. Instead, you should take a generic combination of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide.
Because it loosens stools, magnesium hydroxide can also be used as a laxative. It should only be used occasionally for this purpose (see constipation for alternatives).
Aluminum hydroxide is also used to prevent a certain type of kidney stone. If you become constipated while using aluminum hydroxide, ask your doctor about switching to a product that contains both aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide.
If you take large doses of one of these drugs or use it for a long time, see your doctor for regular checkups. If you are treating yourself with these drugs, do not take them for more than two weeks unless you check with your doctor.
Ulcers often come back after a few months. For frequent, severe recurrences, maintenance therapy using histamine2-blockers is used. If your ulcer disease is resistant to treatment with histamine2-blockers, talk to your doctor about the antibiotic combination treatments that are used to eradicate the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (see Combination Treatments for Helicobacter Pylori Infection). This bacterium is present in a large number of people with ulcers. The presence of this bacterium can be diagnosed with a blood, breath, or stool test in people with a history of ulcer disease.
Anyone with severe kidney disease should not use magnesium antacids, as the magnesium can build up in the blood.[3] Dialysis patients should avoid aluminum-containing antacids, as aluminum can be deposited in and weaken bone.[4]
Before You Use This Drug [top]
Do not use if you have or have had:
Tell your doctor if you have or have had:
Tell your doctor about any other drugs you take, including aspirin, herbs, vitamins, and other nonprescription products.
When You Use This Drug [top]
How to Use This Drug [top]
Interactions with Other Drugs [top]
0The following drugs, biologics (e.g., vaccines, therapeutic antibodies), or foods are listed in Evaluations of Drug Interactions 2003 as causing “highly clinically significant” or “clinically significant” interactions when used together with any of the drugs in this section. In some sections with multiple drugs, the interaction may have been reported for one but not all drugs in this section, but we include the interaction because the drugs in this section are similar to one another. We have also included potentially serious interactions listed in the drug’s FDA-approved professional package insert or in published medical journal articles. There may be other drugs, especially those in the families of drugs listed below, that also will react with this drug to cause severe adverse effects. Make sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist the drugs you are taking and tell them if you are taking any of these interacting drugs:
ACTONEL, AGENERASE, ALLEGRA, amprenavir, aspirin, AVELOX, cefdinir, CELEBREX, celecoxib, CIPRO, ciprofloxacin, delavirdine, digoxin, ECOTRIN, fexofenadine, GENUINE BAYER ASPIRIN, KAYEXALATE, ketoconazole, LANOXICAPS, LANOXIN, LEVAQUIN, levofloxacin, MAXAQUIN, moxifloxacin, NIZORAL, OCUFLOX, OMNICEF, RESCRIPTOR, risedronate, SKELID, sodium polystyrene sulfonate, SUMYCIN, tetracycline, tiludronate, vitamin D3.
Adverse Effects [top]
Call your doctor immediately if you experience:
Call your doctor if these symptoms continue:
Periodic Tests[top]
Ask your doctor which of these tests should be done periodically while you are taking this drug:
last reviewed September 30, 2023
Worst Pills, Best Pills is a project of Public Citizen's Health Research Group Group. As an independent, nonprofit organization, we take no corporate or government contributions and accept no advertising. Copyright © 2024 Public Citizen's Health Research Group. All rights reserved.
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