Magnesium Glycinate and medications.
Magnesium Glycinate is classified as a foundation supplement in the Distil database, evidence Grade A. The page below lists every medication we have explicitly assessed it against.
Magnesium sits behind more than 300 enzyme reactions, and the glycinate form pairs it with glycine, which crosses into the brain and tends to favour sleep over the laxative effect you get from cheaper forms. Evidence suggests it may support glucose handling and insulin sensitivity, and, more tentatively, sleep quality: the sleep trial was in older adults with primary insomnia and used a dose above the usual supplemental range, so treat that one as emerging. Magnesium research is broad rather than deep. Meta-analysis also shows a small fall in blood pressure, which is a real finding but not on its own a reason we would recommend it. Muscle recovery and stress are widely claimed for magnesium and are not supported here: no trial in our records measured either. On absorption, glycinate and malate beat citrate, and oxide is barely absorbed at all. The glycinate form also delivers a useful 1.5 to 2.4g of glycine alongside the mineral, so if you take standalone glycine too the totals add up, which is fine within safe ranges. Separate it by two hours from antibiotics and bisphosphonates, since magnesium binds them and reduces their uptake. It pairs naturally with vitamin D3. Anyone with kidney disease should only take it under GP supervision.
Below are the 28 documented pairs we have explicitly assessed for Magnesium Glycinate: 24 amber and 4 green. The pairs cluster around 4 mechanisms: Absorption interference, Mineral chelation (absorption), Renal magnesium wasting (drug-induced), and Renal magnesium retention (drug-induced rise). Every call is cited to either a clinical reference (PMID) or the British National Formulary. Anything not listed here is either still to be assessed or beyond our database scope. The checker beneath surfaces assessments by medication, and the missing-item form at the bottom of the page routes any uncatalogued medication into our next curation pass.
Documented interactions
Last reviewed 1 September 2026. Each interaction below lists the evidence its assessment drew on: some rest on studies of the exact pair, others on mechanism evidence, where a citation may support one part of the reasoning rather than the exact combination. The evidence line on each entry says which.
Absorption interference
Amber Does interact with Esomeprazole?
Long-term esomeprazole use is associated with low blood magnesium in about 1 in 5 chronic users. Supplementing magnesium is generally helpful, but if you have heart, kidney, or muscle symptoms on long-term esomeprazole, ask your GP for a magnesium blood test.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Amber Does interact with Lansoprazole?
Long-term lansoprazole use is associated with low blood magnesium in about 1 in 5 chronic users. Supplementing magnesium is generally helpful, but if you have heart, kidney, or muscle symptoms on long-term lansoprazole, ask your GP for a magnesium blood test.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Amber Does interact with Omeprazole?
Long-term omeprazole use is associated with low blood magnesium in about 1 in 5 chronic users. Supplementing magnesium is generally helpful, but if you have heart, kidney, or muscle symptoms on long-term omeprazole, ask your GP for a magnesium blood test.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Amber Does interact with Pantoprazole?
Long-term pantoprazole use is associated with low blood magnesium in about 1 in 5 chronic users. Supplementing magnesium is generally helpful, but if you have heart, kidney, or muscle symptoms on long-term pantoprazole, ask your GP for a magnesium blood test.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Mineral chelation (absorption)
Amber Does interact with Alendronic acid?
Magnesium binds to alendronic acid in the gut and blocks absorption in the same way calcium does. Take alendronic acid first thing on an empty stomach with plain water, stay upright for 30 minutes, then wait at least two hours before any magnesium supplement.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Amber Does interact with Bictegravir?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Bictegravir in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. Bictegravir is usually taken at least 2 hours BEFORE a magnesium or aluminium antacid, and taking it 2 hours after is not equivalent. Taking it with food at the same time is the other option. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Bictegravir with emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Biktarvy in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. Bictegravir is usually taken at least 2 hours BEFORE a magnesium or aluminium antacid, and taking it 2 hours after is not equivalent. Taking it with food at the same time is the other option. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Ciprofloxacin?
Magnesium can bind to ciprofloxacin in the gut and sharply reduce how much antibiotic you absorb, which may let an infection persist. Take ciprofloxacin at least two hours before, or six hours after, any magnesium supplement.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Amber Does interact with Digoxin?
There are two things to know here, and on balance magnesium is more helpful than harmful. Taking magnesium at the same time as digoxin can slightly reduce how much digoxin you absorb, so it is sensible to separate them by about two hours. At the same time, a low magnesium level makes digoxin more likely to cause dangerous heart rhythms, so keeping your magnesium in the normal range is protective. Because digoxin has a narrow safe range, tell whoever prescribes it that you take magnesium.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Reviewer-flagged: awaiting clinical-reviewer sign-off.
Amber Does interact with Dolutegravir?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Dolutegravir (Tivicay) in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. When fasted, the HIV medicine is usually taken at least 2 hours before, or 6 hours after, the supplement. Taking them at the same time with food is also an option and works for calcium, iron and magnesium. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Dolutegravir with abacavir and lamivudine?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Triumeq in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. When fasted, the HIV medicine is usually taken at least 2 hours before, or 6 hours after, the supplement. Taking them at the same time with food is also an option and works for calcium, iron and magnesium. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Dolutegravir with lamivudine?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Dovato in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. When fasted, the HIV medicine is usually taken at least 2 hours before, or 6 hours after, the supplement. Taking them at the same time with food is also an option and works for calcium, iron and magnesium. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Dolutegravir with rilpivirine?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Juluca in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. When fasted, the HIV medicine is usually taken at least 2 hours before, or 6 hours after, the supplement. Taking them at the same time with food is also an option and works for calcium, iron and magnesium. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Doxycycline?
Magnesium can bind to doxycycline in the gut and reduce how much antibiotic you absorb, which may let an infection persist. Take doxycycline at least two hours before, or six hours after, any magnesium supplement.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Reviewer-flagged: awaiting clinical-reviewer sign-off.
Amber Does interact with Elvitegravir?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Elvitegravir in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. The UK label asks for at least 4 hours between the two, in either direction. ⚠️ Taking them together with food is NOT offered as an alternative here, unlike dolutegravir and bictegravir. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Elvitegravir with cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Genvoya in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. The UK label asks for at least 4 hours between the two, in either direction. ⚠️ Taking them together with food is NOT offered as an alternative here, unlike dolutegravir and bictegravir. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Elvitegravir with cobicistat, emtricitabine and tenofovir disoproxil?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Stribild in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. The UK label asks for at least 4 hours between the two, in either direction. ⚠️ Taking them together with food is NOT offered as an alternative here, unlike dolutegravir and bictegravir. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Gabapentin?
Taking magnesium at the same time as gabapentin can lower how much gabapentin your body absorbs, which may make it work less well. Take gabapentin at least two hours apart from any magnesium supplement, and keep the timing consistent day to day.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Amber Does interact with Levothyroxine?
Magnesium can bind levothyroxine in the gut and reduce how much you absorb, in the same way that calcium and iron do. Take levothyroxine first thing on an empty stomach and any magnesium supplement at least four hours later (or at bedtime).
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Minocycline?
Magnesium can bind to minocycline in the gut and reduce how much antibiotic you absorb. The effect is smaller than with older tetracyclines, but keep them apart: take minocycline at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after your magnesium.
Evidence: Limited human data, from small studies or case reports, alongside a known mechanism.
Amber Does interact with Raltegravir?
Magnesium glycinate can bind to Raltegravir (Isentress) in the gut, and taking them at the same time may sharply reduce how much of your HIV medicine you absorb, which in turn may reduce how well it works. Spacing the doses apart may not be enough on its own for raltegravir, so this is one to settle with the HIV team rather than to manage with a gap. The gap that is right for you depends on which HIV medicine you take, so please check it with your HIV pharmacist before you start.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Amber Does interact with Risedronate sodium?
Magnesium binds to risedronate in the gut and blocks absorption. Take risedronate first thing on an empty stomach with plain water, stay upright for 30 minutes, then wait at least two hours before any magnesium supplement.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Renal magnesium wasting (drug-induced)
Amber Does interact with Bumetanide?
Bumetanide makes the kidneys pass out more magnesium in the urine, so people on it long term often run low on magnesium. This works the opposite way to most interactions: the medicine lowers your magnesium rather than the supplement affecting the medicine, so taking magnesium is generally a supportive response rather than a hazard. If you take bumetanide long term, especially for heart failure, it is worth asking your GP for a magnesium blood test and letting them know you supplement, since low magnesium can affect heart rhythm.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Amber Does interact with Furosemide?
Furosemide makes the kidneys pass out more magnesium in the urine, so people on it long term often run low on magnesium. This works the opposite way to most interactions: the medicine lowers your magnesium rather than the supplement affecting the medicine, so taking magnesium is generally a supportive response rather than a hazard. If you take furosemide long term, especially for heart failure, it is worth asking your GP for a magnesium blood test and letting them know you supplement, since low magnesium can affect heart rhythm.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Other
Green Does interact with Doravirine?
Magnesium glycinate and doravirine can be taken together. Doravirine was studied alongside an aluminium and magnesium antacid and the amount absorbed stayed the same. Unlike the integrase inhibitor HIV medicines, doravirine works without binding metal ions, so there is no reason to space them apart.
Evidence: Supported by human study data.
Renal magnesium retention (drug-induced rise)
Green Does interact with Canagliflozin?
Canagliflozin tends to raise your magnesium level slightly rather than lower it, which is the opposite of what water tablets like furosemide do, so it does not create a magnesium shortfall that needs correcting. Taking magnesium glycinate alongside it is generally fine, and there is no reason to start it simply because you take canagliflozin. If your kidney function is reduced, ask your kidney or diabetes team before adding magnesium, because it is the kidneys that clear any excess.
Evidence: Well established across multiple human studies or interaction references.
Green Does interact with Dapagliflozin?
Dapagliflozin tends to raise your magnesium level slightly rather than lower it, which is the opposite of what water tablets like furosemide do, so it does not create a magnesium shortfall that needs correcting. Taking magnesium glycinate alongside it is generally fine, and there is no reason to start it simply because you take dapagliflozin. If your kidney function is reduced, ask your kidney or diabetes team before adding magnesium, because it is the kidneys that clear any excess.
Evidence: Well established across multiple human studies or interaction references.
Green Does interact with Empagliflozin?
Empagliflozin tends to raise your magnesium level slightly rather than lower it, which is the opposite of what water tablets like furosemide do, so it does not create a magnesium shortfall that needs correcting. Taking magnesium glycinate alongside it is generally fine, and there is no reason to start it simply because you take empagliflozin. If your kidney function is reduced, ask your kidney or diabetes team before adding magnesium, because it is the kidneys that clear any excess.
Evidence: Well established across multiple human studies or interaction references.
What this list does not say. Pairs not flagged here are not implicitly safe. They are either not yet in our database, or fall outside our inclusion scope. Use the checker below to surface any medication, and submit a missing item if you take something we have not catalogued.
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How we grade severity, choose what's in scope, and what we exclude.
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The free checker answers one interaction question at a time. A Distil report reviews the bigger picture: your goals, diet, medications, current supplements and any blood results you provide, then shows what appears worth keeping, changing, adding or leaving out.
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