NutriStack
Ciprofloxacin and Magnesium Glycinate, timing-sensitive.
Magnesium chelates ciprofloxacin, forming insoluble complexes that substantially reduce antibiotic absorption. Magnesium-containing antacids are well-documented to impair fluoroquinolone efficacy. This interaction can lead to subtherapeutic antibiotic levels and treatment failure.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
Same shape as the other 1,729 pairs in the public database.
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At a glance
- Substances
- Ciprofloxacin and Magnesium Glycinate
- Pair type
- Timing Sensitive
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Strong
- Source citations
- 5 sources
- Stack Score effect
- −5 to your Stack Score (per scored timing-sensitive row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Timing Sensitive · Strong evidence
Timing Sensitive
What is happening. Magnesium chelates ciprofloxacin, forming insoluble complexes that substantially reduce antibiotic absorption. Magnesium-containing antacids are well-documented to impair fluoroquinolone efficacy. This interaction can lead to subtherapeutic antibiotic levels and treatment failure.
Mechanism. Magnesium divalent cations chelate ciprofloxacin via the 4-oxo-3-carboxylic acid group, forming an insoluble complex that cannot be absorbed across the intestinal mucosa. The binding affinity is high enough to render the antibiotic inactive.
Recommendation. Separate ciprofloxacin and magnesium supplements by at least 2 hours (take ciprofloxacin 2 hours before or 6 hours after magnesium). This includes magnesium-containing antacids and laxatives.
Minimum separation. 120
Sources (5)
- Lomaestro BM, Bailie GR. Absorption interactions with fluoroquinolones. Drug Saf. 1995;12(5):314-333. PMID 7646824
- Alves C, Mendes D, Marques FB. Fluoroquinolones and the risk of tendon injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2019. PMID 31270563
- Mah J, Pitre T. Oral magnesium supplementation for insomnia in older adults: a Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis.. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 2021. PMID 33865376
- Veronese N, Dominguez LJ, Pizzol D et al.. Oral Magnesium Supplementation for Treating Glucose Metabolism Parameters in People with or at Risk of Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trials.. Nutrients. 2021. PMID 34836329
- Veronese N, Pizzol D, Smith L et al.. Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Inflammatory Parameters: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.. Nutrients. 2022. PMID 35277037
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Ciprofloxacin and Magnesium Glycinate are in the same stack, this pair applies −5 to your Stack Score (per scored timing-sensitive row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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