Q. What can I take for constipation while on chemotherapy?
Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following medications to prevent or treat constipation:
- Psyllium (Metamucil ®)
- Senna (Senokot®)
- Bisacodyl (Dulcolax®)
- Docusate sodium (Colace®)
- Glycerin suppository.
- Magnesium citrate.
- Magnesium hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia®)
- Lactulose (Chronulac®)
Q. Does chemo affect your magnesium?
Cisplatin-based chemotherapy: May cause hypomagnesemia (39). Dasatinib: May increase blood levels of magnesium (67). Digoxin: Digoxin reduces tubular magnesium reabsorption. In patients with congestive heart failure effects may be cumulative with diuretics, diet, and poor intestinal absorption.
Q. Can cancer patients take laxatives?
Bulk-forming laxatives are not recommended in the treatment of constipation in patients with advanced cancer. This is because they require a high fluid intake to be effective and often have an unacceptable consistency.
Q. Does magnesium affect cancer?
Magnesium deficiency has been found to be involved in both the risk and prognosis of cancers, including breast cancer2,6,40,41. Some studies have focused on the effect of dietary magnesium on the prognosis of breast cancer9,10.
Q. Why do cancer patients need magnesium?
In regard to cancer, magnesium intake has been associated with the incidence of some cancers and has been studied as a protective agent against chemotherapy-induced nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity.
Q. What is the difference between magnesium and magnesium citrate?
While there are many forms of magnesium available, we often prefer to use magnesium citrate and/or magnesium glycinate. Magnesium citrate is most helpful for people suffering from constipation, while the glycinate form is more useful for conditions like anxiety, insomnia, chronic stress, and inflammatory conditions.
Q. Is it safe to take magnesium citrate?
Magnesium citrate is generally safe for adults who do not have any health issues, and who only use it from time to time. Because magnesium citrate pulls water into the intestines from other areas in the body, people using it should drink plenty of water with it.
Q. Do magnesium supplements have side effects?
Side Effects and Risks Most people who take magnesium supplements don’t experience side effects, but it can cause gut related issues, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting — especially in large doses ( 20 ).
