DEAR DR. GOTT: Is there any health risk, other than the taste, in drinking five ounces of magnesium citrate a week to clean out my digestive system? Thanks for your opinion.
DEAR READER: Magnesium citrate is an over-the-counter substance used to treat constipation. It is taken by mouth in liquid form that can be mixed with water or juice. The dose depends on the reason a person is taking it. Magnesium citrate works by pulling water from tissues into the small intestines, thereby stimulating a bowel movement within 30 minutes to three hours. When smaller doses are taken, especially when taken with food, the process slows. Following each use, a person should drink two additional glasses of water to replace the fluids that will be lost during evacuation.
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