Aluminum Hydroxide/Magnesium Hydroxide (Maalox, Extra-Strength Maalox)

Category:

• Gastrointestinal

Description:

• Antacid

Indications:

• Duodenal ulcer

• Dyspepsia

• Gastric ulcer

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

Contraindications:

• Ulcerative colitis; patients with colostomy, diverticulitis, or ileostomy

• Children <6 years, CHF, edema, preeclampsia

Precautions:

• Patients with chronic diarrhea and/or renal impairment

• Patients with constipation or fecal impaction, undiagnosed rectal or GI bleeding

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

• constipation, diarrhea, edema

• hypermagnesemia, hypophosphatemia, osteomalacia, osteoporosis

Dosage:

Administered orally

Symptomatic relief of dyspepsia and conditions associated with hyperacidity, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, GERD, stress gastritis prophylaxis:

• Regular Suspension           

  • Adults: PO 30-50ml every 3-4 hours, or 1 and 3 hours after meals and at bedtime.  Recommended OTC dose is 10-20ml PO 4 times daily.  Maximum OTC daily dose is 80ml

  • Children:  PO 5-15ml every 3-6 hours, or 1 and 3 hours after meals and at bedtime

  • Infants:  PO 1-2 ml/kg per dose, given after meals and at bedtime

• Therapeutic concentrate [TC] suspension: 

  • Adults: PO 30-50ml every 3-4 hours, or 1 and 3 hours after meals and at bedtime. The recommended OTC dose is 5-10ml PO 4 times daily, 20 minutes to 1 hours after meals and at bedtime

  • Children: PO 2.5-7.5ml every 3-6 hours, or 1 and 3 hours after meals and at bedtime

  • Infants:  PO 0.5-1 mg/kg per dose given after meals and at bedtime

• Chewable tablets:  

  • Adults: PO 1-4 tablets dosed every 3-4 hours, or 1 and 3 hours after meals and at bedtime.  Maximum dose 16 tablets daily

• Extra-strength chewable tablets: 

  • Adults: PO 1-2 tablets dosed every 3-4 hours, or 1 and 3 hours after meals and at bedtime.  Maximum dose 8 tablets daily

 NOTE: Dose is variable; however, an acid neutralizing capacity of 80-140 mEq per dose is often required