Aluminium Hydroxide / Magnesium Hydroxide

Generic Name: Aluminium Hydroxide / Magnesium Hydroxide

Brand Names:

Availability: Easily Available

Drug Class: Antacids

Therapeutic action

  • Antacid

Indications

  • Stomach pain associated with gastritis and peptic ulcer

Forms and strengths

  • 400 mg aluminium hydroxide/400 mg magnesium hydroxide chewable tablet

Dosage

  • Child over 5 years: rarely indicated. When necessary: half a tablet 3 times daily
  • Adult: 1 to 2 tablets 3 times daily 20 minutes to one hour after meals, or 1 tablet during painful attacks

Duration

  • According to clinical response

Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

  • Decreases intestinal absorption of many drugs. Do not administer simultaneously with:
    • atazanavir, chloroquine, digoxin, doxycycline, iron salts, gabapentin, itraconazole, levothyroxine (take at least 2 hours apart).
    • ciprofloxacin (take ciprofloxacin 2 hours before or 4 hours after antacids), dolutegravir (take dolutegravir 2 hours before or 6 hours after antacids), velpatasvir (take 4 hours apart).
  • Pregnancy: no contra-indication
  • Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

Remarks

  • Chew tablets.
  • There are numerous preparations of aluminium and/or magnesium hydroxide and different dosages.
  • Antacids are not included in the WHO list of essential medicines.

Storage

Below 25 °C