Drug interactions
Magnesium chloride + Nitrofurantoin
Severity: Minor
Magnesium chloride and Nitrofurantoin: minor 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
Oral magnesium salts can reduce nitrofurantoin absorption, which could lower urinary drug concentrations. Magnesium trisilicate antacids are the best documented example; other magnesium salts are less well studied.
What this interaction means in plain words
Magnesium chloride and Nitrofurantoin have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised.
Why it happens
Adsorption or binding of nitrofurantoin by magnesium in the gut lumen reduces its absorption.
What to do
Separate oral magnesium products from nitrofurantoin by about 2 hours, taking nitrofurantoin first. Monitor for treatment response if separation is not possible.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there anything I should notice while taking both?
- Do I need to tell my doctor at the next visit?
Pro+ members
Unlock the full page
Create an account and start a Pro+ trial to unlock the full management advice for Magnesium chloride and Nitrofurantoin, the additional notes, the evidence detail and the whole-prescription interaction checker.
- Full clinical management advice
- Additional notes
- Evidence detail
- Interaction checker for a whole prescription
Try Pro+ free for 14 days on the web. No card needed.
Other interactions of Nitrofurantoin
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Magnesium chloride with Nitrofurantoin?
MediHelp rates the interaction as minor. Magnesium chloride and Nitrofurantoin have a small, usually unimportant interaction. Most people can take both; the pharmacist may still mention it so that any unexpected effect is recognised. Oral magnesium salts can reduce nitrofurantoin absorption, which could lower urinary drug concentrations. Magnesium trisilicate antacids are the best documented example; other magnesium salts are less well studied.
How serious is the interaction between Magnesium chloride and Nitrofurantoin?
MediHelp rates it minor, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Separate oral magnesium products from nitrofurantoin by about 2 hours, taking nitrofurantoin first. Monitor for treatment response if separation is not possible.
What other medicines interact with Nitrofurantoin?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Nitrofurantoin with, for example, Pexidartinib, Pretomanid, Aluminum hydroxide. The full list is on the Nitrofurantoin page.
Full monographs, dosing and an interaction checker in the MediHelp app
Open the complete reference, check multi-drug interactions and use dosing tools in the MediHelp app.
