Magnesium Toxicity: Overview
Dietary magnesium very rarely poses a health risk, but very high doses of magnesium supplements, which may be added to laxatives for example, can promote adverse effects such as diarrhea. The kidneys are efficient at excreting excess magnesium and it is unlikely that the mineral will accumulate to toxic levels.
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The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has established a tolerable upper intake level (UL) for supplementary magnesium for adolescents and adults at 350mg daily.
Complications
As intake increases above the UL, the risk of adverse effects increases. In extreme cases, this can mean coma or even death.
Signs, symptoms & indicators of Magnesium Toxicity:
Lab Values - Common
Symptoms - Bowel Movements
Symptoms - Cardiovascular
Symptoms - Food - General
Symptoms - Gas-Int - General
Symptoms - Mind - General
Symptoms - Muscular
Specific/severe muscle weakness
Magnesium overload can depress the central nervous system, causing muscle weakness, lethargy, sleepiness, hyperexcitability, mental status changes, nausea, appetite loss, extremely low blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat.
Symptoms - Respiratory
Symptoms - Sleep
Conditions that suggest Magnesium Toxicity:
Nutrients
Calcium Requirement
Calcium and magnesium levels need to be maintained in balance since they have an antagonistic relationship. An excess of one implies a need for the other to maintain balance.
Sleep
Hypersomnolence
The symptoms of magnesium toxicity include central nervous system depression, muscle weakness, fatigue and sleepiness.
Risk factors for Magnesium Toxicity:
Supplements, Medications, Drugs
Regular/daily/excessive osmotic laxative use
Very large doses of laxatives have been associated with magnesium toxicity, even with normal kidney function.
Magnesium-based antacid use
Magnesium toxicity can come as a result of taking magnesium-containing laxatives and antacids.
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Magnesium Toxicity suggests the following may be present:
Organ Health
Chronic Renal Insufficiency
High levels of magnesium can develop in patients with kidney failure and in elderly people whose kidney functions are reduced. This is especially true when supplementing with magnesium. Kidney disease, rather than diet, is the usual cause of magnesium overload, because the kidneys lose the ability to remove excess magnesium.
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Last updated: Nov 08, 2025