Brand Name and Other Names: Riopan
Generic Name: Magaldrate
Drug Class: Antacids
What Is Magaldrate Used For and How Does it Work?
Magaldrate is used to treat heartburn, sour stomach, acid indigestion, hyperphosphatemia, and magnesium deficiency. Magaldrate is used off-label to treat gastric and duodenal ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Magaldrate is discontinued.
- Magaldrate is available under the following different brand names: Riopan.
What Are Dosages of Magaldrate?
Dosage Forms and Strengths
Oral Suspension
- 540mg/5mL
Oral Suspension: Magaldrate-Simethicone
- 540mg - 40mg/5mL
Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:
Heartburn, Sour Stomach, and Acid Indigestion
- 5-10 mL (1-2 teaspoonfuls; 540-1080 mg) between meals and at bedtime; not to exceed 80 mL (16 teaspoonfuls) in 24-hour period
Other Indications and Uses
- Hyperphosphatemia, magnesium deficiency
- Off-label: Gastric and duodenal ulcer, GERD
- Neutralizes gastric acid, increases gastric pH
Safety and efficacy not established in pediatric patients
What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Magaldrate?
Common side effects of magaldrate include:
Aluminum oxide
- Chalky taste
- Constipation
- Fecal impaction
- Stomach cramps
Other side effects of magaldrate include:
Aluminum oxide
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Aluminum intoxication
- Low blood phosphates (hypophosphatemia)
- Bone softening (osteomalacia)
- Diarrhea
- High blood magnesium (hypermagnesemia)
This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.
What Other Drugs Interact with Magaldrate?
If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.
- Magaldrate has no listed severe interactions with other drugs.
- Magaldrate has no listed serious interactions with other drugs.
- Magaldrate has no listed moderate interactions with other drugs.
- Magaldrate has no listed mild interactions with other drugs.
What Are Warnings and Precautions for Magaldrate?
Warnings
This medication contains magaldrate. Do not take Riopan if you are allergic to magaldrate or any ingredients contained in this drug.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to any component
Effects of Drug Abuse
- No information available
Short-Term Effects
- See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Magaldrate?"
Long-Term Effects
- See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Magaldrate?"
Cautions
- Renal failure, magnesium-restricted diet
- May increase or decrease rate and/or degree of absorption of concomitantly administered oral drugs by changing gastrointestinal (GI) transit time or by binding the drug
Pregnancy and Lactation
- Use magaldrate with caution during pregnancy if the benefits outweigh the risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies are not available or neither animal nor human studies were done.
- It is not known whether magaldrate is excreted in breast milk. Use caution while breastfeeding.