Drug interactions
Gentamicin + Magnesium oxide
Severity: Moderate
Gentamicin and Magnesium oxide: moderate interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Gentamicin damages renal tubules and increases urinary magnesium loss, which can cause hypomagnesemia during treatment. Oral magnesium replacement may therefore be less effective than expected.
What this interaction means in plain words
Gentamicin and Magnesium oxide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Gentamicin belongs to Anti Bacterial; Magnesium oxide belongs to Gastrointestinal Tract.
Why it happens
Aminoglycoside-induced renal tubular injury increases urinary magnesium excretion, opposing the effect of magnesium replacement.
What to do
Monitor serum magnesium, potassium and calcium during gentamicin therapy and adjust magnesium dosing to measured levels.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Gentamicin
- Cidofovir + Gentamicin Contraindicated
- Adefovir + Gentamicin Major
- Amikacin + Gentamicin Major
- Amlodipine-hydrochlorothiazide-valsartan + Gentamicin Major
- Amphotericin b deoxycholate + Gentamicin Major
- Amphotericin b + Gentamicin Major
Other interactions of Magnesium oxide
- Chloroquine + Magnesium oxide Moderate
- Ciprofloxacin + Magnesium oxide Moderate
- Dolutegravir + Magnesium oxide Moderate
- Doxycycline + Magnesium oxide Moderate
- Eltrombopag + Magnesium oxide Moderate
- Gemifloxacin + Magnesium oxide Moderate
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Gentamicin with Magnesium oxide?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Gentamicin and Magnesium oxide can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Gentamicin damages renal tubules and increases urinary magnesium loss, which can cause hypomagnesemia during treatment. Oral magnesium replacement may therefore be less effective than expected.
How serious is the interaction between Gentamicin and Magnesium oxide?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Monitor serum magnesium, potassium and calcium during gentamicin therapy and adjust magnesium dosing to measured levels.
What other medicines interact with Gentamicin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Gentamicin with, for example, Cidofovir, Adefovir, Amikacin. The full list is on the Gentamicin page.
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