OmniMin

Also known as:

• OmniMin All-Natural Mineral Supplement (liquid concentrate)
• OmniMin AC or OmniMin Active Crystal (powder)

Safety Rating: 

For explanations of what these safety ratings mean, click here.

Safe Dosing for otherwise healthy patients who are:

Potential Side effects:

Common:

• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Stomach Upset
• Vomiting 

Hypermagnesemia (very high levels of Magnesium in the body):

• Coma
• Confusion
• Death
• Drowsiness
• Heart attack
• Irregular heart beat
• Kidney damage
• Muscle weakness
• Urinary retention (trouble emptying bladder)

Overview:

What is it? OmniMin AC is a powdered electrolyte product sold as an ingredient in supplements. Electrolytes are minerals with an electric charge that play an important role in your body's health. For more information on electrolytes, click here.

Why is it used? To add Magnesium to products without adding too much Sodium, because many health conditions need people to limit their Sodium intake.

What’s the harm? 

• Depending on age and health status, too much Magnesium can cause serious health problems. It is especially important that people with heart and kidney problems ask their health care team how much Magnesium and Sodium they are allowed to have each day to avoid problems.
• The Safe Dosing chart above lists the maximum amount of OmniMin AC that can be used in people who do NOT have any health issues.

Interactions with health conditions:

Diarrhea: Magnesium can cause diarrhea, so people who are prone to diarrhea or suffering from loose stools should avoid taking extra Magnesium unless instructed by their health care team.

Kidney problems: If the kidneys are not working well, they may not be able to get rid of the Magnesium as quickly. Patients with kidney problems should talk to their health care team about how to manage Magnesium and other electrolytes.

Drug Interactions:

Antibiotics: 

• Taking Magnesium at the same time as certain antibiotics can make the two substances bind together. This would lower how much antibiotic gets absorbed into the body. 
• To avoid this, Quinolone and Tetracycline antibiotics should be taken at least 2 hours BEFORE or 4 hours AFTER Magnesium.
• Quinolone antibiotics include Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin
• Tetracycline antibiotics include Doxycycline and Minocycine

Blood pressure/heart rate medications: 

• Digoxin levels can fall when taken with Magnesium because of a decrease in Digoxin being absorbed into the body.
• Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs): CCBs lower blood pressure by blocking Calcium from entering certain cells in the body. Magnesium can also block Calcium from getting into those cells, so combining the two may make the blood pressure drop TOO low. Examples of CCBs include:
  • Amlodipine
  • Nifedipine
  • Nicardipine

Blood-thinners: At high doses, Magnesium may increase the risk of bleeding when combined with medications meant to thin the blood or prevent clotting. For a list of blood-thinning medications, click here.

Diabetes: 

• Combining Magnesium with a certain type of Diabetes medication called Sulfonylureas (SU) can raise increase the amount of SUs absorbed. This raises the body's SU levels, which can increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
• SUs include Glipizide and Glimepiride.For a complete list of SUs, click here. 

Gabapentin: Taking the pain medication Gabapentin at the same time as Magnesium can lower the Gabapentin levels in the body. To avoid this, Gabapentin should be taken at least 2 hours BEFORE or 4 hours AFTER Magnesium.

Interactions with herbs/supplements:

Blood-thinners: At high doses, Magnesium may increase the risk of bleeding when combined with herbs/supplements meant to thin the blood. For a list of herbal blood thinning ingredients, click here.

Boron: Boron can increase the levels of Magnesium in women's bodies by decreasing the amount of Magnesium flushed out in urine. It is unknown if this happens to men.

Vitamin D: Combining Magnesium with high doses of Vitamin D will raise the body's Magnesium levels by increasing how much is absorbed in the intestines.

Interactions with foods: None Known

Interactions with lab tests: None Known

References:

1. *Natural Medicines. (2019, March 11). Magnesium [Monograph]. Natural Standard Professional Monograph. Retrieved from: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=998
   
2. Medline Plus. (2016). Fluid and Electrolyte Balance. Retrieved from: https://medlineplus.gov/fluidandelectrolytebalance.html
   
   

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