Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide

Prescription ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026

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Publication status

Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.

See the editorial and medical-review policies for the publication gate.

This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.

In short

What the research says.

A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.

A combination antacid containing aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, used for the symptomatic relief of heartburn, acid indigestion, sour stomach, and peptic ulcer pain. NutriStack rates the supporting evidence as strong. Common adult dosing is 10–20 mL or 1–2 tablets as needed, up to 4 times daily (as prescribed by your physician), though a prescriber sets the actual dose. With long-term use it can deplete phosphorus, iron, vitamin b12. This profile indexes 10 sources.

What it's good for

Rapid relief of heartburn and acid indigestion⁸
Sour stomach relief
Symptomatic relief of peptic ulcer pain⁴
Balanced GI side effect profile (compared to single-agent antacids)

What to watch for

Diarrhea (magnesium component)
Constipation (aluminum component)
Hypermagnesemia in renal impairment
Severe renal impairment (risk of magnesium and aluminum accumulation)^1,2
Hypophosphatemia

The bottom line

Evidence rating strong. Most-documented uses: rapid relief of heartburn and acid indigestion, sour stomach relief, symptomatic relief of peptic ulcer pain. 10 sources indexed (1983–2025), with 0 interaction records on file.

The science

How it works, mechanistically.

Core mechanism

Aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide directly neutralize gastric hydrochloric acid in the stomach, raising intragastric pH. Aluminum hydroxide also inhibits pepsin activity at pH above 4.0 and binds bile acids. The combination provides effective acid neutralization while minimizing bowel habit changes.^1,2

Class

Antacid

Dosing

Dosing & protocol.

Common range

10–20 mL or 1–2 tablets as needed, up to 4 times daily (as prescribed by your physician)

Recommended form

Oral suspension or chewable tablet

Take 1–3 hours after meals and at bedtime for ulcer treatment; separate from other medications by at least 2 hours to avoid absorption interference⁹

Depletions

What it depletes.

Nutrients this medication can lower over time, and what to replace.

Phosphorus

Significant

Aluminum-containing antacids bind phosphate in the gut and can lower phosphorus status during repeated use.

Monitor Serum phosphorusOnset Usually with repeated or chronic use

Iron

Mild

Antacids reduce iron absorption by raising gastric pH and reducing non-heme iron solubility.

Replace Iron BisglycinateMonitor Ferritin + transferrin saturationOnset Usually with repeated use

Vitamin B12

Mild

Reduced gastric acidity can impair release of food-bound B12 and lower long-term absorption.

Replace MethylcobalaminMonitor Serum B12 + methylmalonic acidOnset Usually with chronic use

Folate

Mild

Antacid-related pH changes can modestly reduce folate absorption during chronic use.

Replace MethylfolateMonitor Serum folate or RBC folateOnset Usually with chronic use

Full Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide depletion and interaction guide →

Safety

Full safety detail.

Side effects

Diarrhea (magnesium component)
Constipation (aluminum component)
Hypermagnesemia in renal impairment
Aluminum accumulation in renal failure
Hypophosphatemia with chronic use
Chalky taste

Contraindications

Severe renal impairment (risk of magnesium and aluminum accumulation)^1,2
Hypophosphatemia
Appendicitis or bowel obstruction
Concurrent use with tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones (space by 2 hours)

Sources

Sources, by evidence tier.

Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.

Randomized controlled trials

1Sennosides vs magnesium hydroxide vs polyethylene glycol as a treatment for constipation in anorectal malformation: a randomized crossover trialPMIDNate-Anong B, Khorana J, Chantakhow S et al. · Pediatric surgery international · 2025
Nate-Anong B, Khorana J, Chantakhow S et al.. Sennosides vs magnesium hydroxide vs polyethylene glycol as a treatment for constipation in anorectal malformation: a randomized crossover trial. Pediatric surgery international. 2025
2Effect of Rennie Liquid versus Maalox Liquid on intragastric pH in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, triple cross-over study in healthy volunteersPMIDHürlimann S, Michel K, Inauen W et al. · The American journal of gastroenterology · 1996
Hürlimann S, Michel K, Inauen W et al.. Effect of Rennie Liquid versus Maalox Liquid on intragastric pH in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, triple cross-over study in healthy volunteers. The American journal of gastroenterology. 1996
3Interaction of meloxicam with cimetidine, Maalox, or aspirinPMIDBusch U, Heinzel G, Narjes H et al. · Journal of clinical pharmacology · 1996
Busch U, Heinzel G, Narjes H et al.. Interaction of meloxicam with cimetidine, Maalox, or aspirin. Journal of clinical pharmacology. 1996
4Double-blind randomized multicenter study comparing Maalox TC tablets and ranitidine in healing of duodenal ulcersPMIDHunter JO, Walker RJ, Crowe J et al. · Digestive diseases and sciences · 1991
Hunter JO, Walker RJ, Crowe J et al.. Double-blind randomized multicenter study comparing Maalox TC tablets and ranitidine in healing of duodenal ulcers. Digestive diseases and sciences. 1991

Reviews & position papers

5Safety Assessment of Alumina and Aluminum Hydroxide as Used in CosmeticsPMIDBecker LC, Boyer I, Bergfeld WF et al. · International journal of toxicology · 2016
Becker LC, Boyer I, Bergfeld WF et al.. Safety Assessment of Alumina and Aluminum Hydroxide as Used in Cosmetics. International journal of toxicology. 2016
6Acetaminophen-aluminum hydroxide interaction in rabbitsPMIDChen MM, Lee C, Imamura Y et al. · Journal of pharmaceutical sciences · 1983
Chen MM, Lee C, Imamura Y et al.. Acetaminophen-aluminum hydroxide interaction in rabbits. Journal of pharmaceutical sciences. 1983

Reference material

FAQ

Common questions.

Quick answers about Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide, drawn from the data on this page.

What is Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide?

What is Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide used for?

Commonly cited benefits of Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide include: Rapid relief of heartburn and acid indigestion; Sour stomach relief; Symptomatic relief of peptic ulcer pain; Balanced GI side effect profile (compared to single-agent antacids). NutriStack rates the overall evidence as strong.

What is a typical dose of Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide?

A typical adult dose of Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide is 10–20 mL or 1–2 tablets as needed, up to 4 times daily (as prescribed by your physician). The commonly recommended form is Oral suspension or chewable tablet. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.

What are the side effects of Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide?

Reported side effects include diarrhea (magnesium component), constipation (aluminum component), hypermagnesemia in renal impairment, aluminum accumulation in renal failure, hypophosphatemia with chronic use, chalky taste. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.

How strong is the evidence for Aluminum/Magnesium Hydroxide?

NutriStack rates this as Strong, meaning multiple high-quality meta-analyses or systematic reviews converge on the same finding. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.

Use this with your stack

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