Magnesium trisilicate with Mg carbonate & NaHCO3

How it works

The magnesium salts and sodium bicarbonate neutralise gastric acid and raise intragastric pH, while magnesium trisilicate also reacts to form a gelatinous silica that offers a degree of mucosal protection.

Prescribing in practice

• The sodium bicarbonate content gives a significant sodium load, so it should be used with caution in hypertension, heart failure and other conditions requiring sodium restriction.
• Magnesium salts may accumulate and cause toxicity in renal impairment, and the magnesium component tends to be mildly laxative.
• Antacids can reduce the absorption of many oral drugs, so doses should be separated from other medicines.

Monitoring

No routine monitoring is needed for occasional use, but review sodium intake and renal function if used regularly or in susceptible patients.

Counselling the patient

• Take doses separately from your other tablets, leaving a gap between them.
• This product contains sodium, so mention it if you are on a low-salt diet or have heart or kidney problems.
• See your prescriber if indigestion is persistent or recurrent rather than relying on long-term self-treatment.

Evidence & guidelines

Compound magnesium and bicarbonate antacids are long-standing symptomatic treatments for dyspepsia; persistent or alarm-feature symptoms warrant assessment as advised by NICE dyspepsia guidance.