The headline “NEVER use magnesium if you are taking any of these medications” is too absolute. Magnesium supplements can interact with some medicines, but in many cases the solution is separating the doses, not avoiding magnesium altogether.
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Office of Dietary Supplements
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Medications that deserve particular attention
Doxycycline and other tetracycline antibiotics
Magnesium can bind the antibiotic in the digestive tract and reduce its absorption.
Ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and other quinolone antibiotics
Magnesium can similarly reduce absorption. NIH guidance recommends taking these antibiotics at least 2 hours before or 4–6 hours after a magnesium supplement.
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Office of Dietary Supplements
Oral bisphosphonates, such as alendronate
Magnesium can reduce absorption. NIH recommends separating magnesium and an oral bisphosphonate by at least 2 hours.
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Office of Dietary Supplements
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Levothyroxine and several other medicines
Magnesium may interfere with absorption of various oral medicines. Some NHS guidance recommends separating magnesium from drugs such as levothyroxine, iron, phenytoin and certain other medications.
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Remedy
Some medicines affect magnesium in the opposite direction
Diuretics can increase or decrease magnesium loss, depending on the type. Long-term proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole can contribute to low magnesium levels.
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Office of Dietary Supplements
Also, people with significantly impaired kidney function need particular caution with magnesium because the kidneys eliminate excess magnesium. Very high supplemental doses can cause serious toxicity.
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Office of Dietary Supplements
Bottom line: Don’t stop a prescribed medication—or magnesium—because of a viral warning. If you give me the exact medications you’re taking (including doses, if possible), I can check which ones interact with magnesium and what spacing is generally recommended.
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