MgO

Medical abbreviation · Drug

MgO
Stands forMagnesium oxide
CategoriesMedical

MgO stands for Magnesium oxide, a drug abbreviation.

Oral magnesium supplement used to treat low magnesium, as a laxative and as an antacid. Mag-Ox 400 mg tablets contain about 240 mg of elemental magnesium.

Example: MgO 400 mg PO BID for Mg 1.4 on PPI; recheck in 1 week.

Usage notes

Magnesium oxide is poorly absorbed, which makes it a reliable laxative but a less efficient supplement than chloride or lactate salts. Long-term proton pump inhibitor use can cause low magnesium, an FDA-noted risk since 2011. Magnesium accumulates in kidney failure, so doses are reduced.

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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.