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Magnesium supplements are very much praised as cure-alls; better sleep, reduced muscle cramps, improved heart health, and even lower stress levels. After all, who wouldn't want a calm mind and smooth digestion?

But did you know that magnesium is not always the hero? In certain health conditions or situations, magnesium can do more harm than good. While the general belief is that it's safe because it's “just a mineral,” the truth lies in the details.

A recent 60 patients diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) under standard SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) treatment. Half of the group received magnesium supplements for six weeks, while the other half took a placebo. The results? By the fourth and sixth weeks, those who took magnesium showed significantly lower depression scores, as measured by the Beck II test. While the improvement wasn't noticeable in the initial weeks, sustained intake seemed to make a difference.

The study concluded that magnesium could be a promising add-on to SSRIs in managing MDD symptoms — especially in patients who don’t respond fully to antidepressants alone. However, experts caution that more extensive studies are needed before magnesium can be recommended as a standard part of depression treatment

Here’s all we need to know about the groups that should think twice before reaching for that magnesium bottle; not out of fear, but out of knowledge.

People with kidney troubles

The kidneys are the main filter for excess magnesium in the body. When the kidneys aren’t functioning properly, as in chronic kidney disease, as efficiently. This can lead to a dangerous condition called hypermagnesemia (excess magnesium in the blood).

Symptoms may start mild, nausea, weakness, but can progress to slow heartbeat, confusion, or even cardiac arrest in severe cases. It’s not about the magnesium being “bad”; it's about the body being unable to handle even the good stuff when it’s already struggling.

Those on certain medications

Magnesium supplements can mess with how certain drugs work in the body. A few examples:

• Antibiotics (like tetracyclines and quinolones): Magnesium can bind to them in the gut and make them less effective.
• Diuretics (water pills): Some can lead to magnesium loss, while others can cause magnesium levels to rise dangerously.
• Heart medications (like digoxin): Magnesium affects heart rhythm, which can be risky when mixed with heart drugs.

Mostly, these interactions happen silently, and symptoms only show up once the balance is off.

People with slow heart rhythms

While magnesium does support , it can worsen bradycardia (an already slow heartbeat). For someone who has naturally slow pulses or underlying conduction issues, extra magnesium may slow things down too much, leading to dizziness, fainting, or fatigue.

It’s not about magnesium being harmful universally, but about how it behaves in a body that already runs a little too slow.

Those with frequent loose stools or gut sensitivities

Certain forms of magnesium, especially magnesium citrate and magnesium oxide, are known to have a laxative effect. For someone already dealing with IBS, sensitive digestion, or frequent diarrhoea, this can make things worse.

Instead of calming the gut, it could irritate it further, leading to dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and stomach cramping.

This often goes unnoticed because people assume any discomfort is just “cleansing.” But if the body is already trying to calm itself, magnesium may be an unwanted nudge.

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People with a history of very low blood pressure
Magnesium lowers blood pressure, great news, right?