Drug & supplement interaction

Magnesium + Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir

Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir brand name: Paxlovid.

No Known Interaction

Medically reviewed by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS · Updated July 2026 · Pair last verified Sep 13, 2026

The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Magnesium and Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

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Interaction report

Magnesium and Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir and Magnesium in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Magnesium safety at a glance

Magnesium overall Generally safe Generally safe for healthy adults when taken at recommended amounts from food and supplements.

Pregnancy Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately. Magnesium is safe for those pregnant and breast-feeding when used in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 35... Read the full pregnancy detail

Breastfeeding Likely Safe When used orally and appropriately. Magnesium is safe for those pregnant and breast-feeding when used in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 35... Read the full breastfeeding detail

Pregnancy & breastfeeding ratings are from Natural Medicines (Therapeutic Research Center) — the full detail is in the Special populations card below. Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir and Magnesium? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›

How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir is filed under 7 classifications — including cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) inhibitors, hepatotoxic drugs, cytochrome p450 3a4 (cyp3a4) substrates. Magnesium has documented interactions with 15 drug classes — the most serious being levodopa/carbidopa (sinemet) (major), aminoglycoside antibiotics (moderate) and antacids (moderate) — and none of Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Magnesium Does Interact With Other Medications

Magnesium has 6 major, 175 moderate, 114 minor known drug interactions in our database — Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Major 6 Moderate 175 Minor 114 No known interaction 2,535 (incl. Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir)

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Magnesium

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Magnesium. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Magnesium and Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir May Share a Side Effect

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

Diarrhea Additional detail
Magnesium
“Orally, magnesium can cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. In rare cases, taking magnesium orally might cause a bezoar, an indigestible mass of material which gets lodged in the gastrointestinal tract. In a case report, a 75-year-old female with advanced rectal cancer taking magnesium 1500 mg daily presented with nausea and anorexia from magnesium oxide bezoars in her stomach.”

Magnesium · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in anorexia.
6 sources cited

1194. Dahle LO, Berg G, Hammar M, et al. The effect of oral magnesium substitution on pregnancy-induced leg cramps. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1995;173:175-80. PubMed

4891. Peikert A, Wilimzig C, Kohne-Volland R. Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: results from a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized study. Cephalalgia 1996;16:257-63. PubMed

10661. Pfaffenrath V, Wessely P, Meyer C, et al. Magnesium in the prophylaxis of migraine--a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Cephalalgia 1996;16:436-40.. PubMed

10663. Wang F, Van Den Eeden SK, Ackerson LM, et al. Oral magnesium oxide prophylaxis of frequent migrainous headache in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Headache 2003;43:601-10.. PubMed

18111. Kass L, Weekes J, Carpenter L. Effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr 2012;66:411-8. PubMed

60951. Han, S., Crowther, C. A., and Moore, V. Magnesium maintenance therapy for preventing preterm birth after threatened preterm labour. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2010;(7):CD000940. PubMed
Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir

Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Magnesium but not commonly for Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir: a bowel blockage, trouble passing urine, muscle weakness and kidney problems.

Effects for Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Magnesium come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Special populations

Magnesium in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Pregnancy And Lactation Likely Safe

When used orally and appropriately. Magnesium is safe for those pregnant and breast-feeding when used in doses below the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 350 mg daily.

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Safe

When prescription magnesium sulfate is given intramuscularly and intravenously prior to delivery for up to 5 days. However, due to potential adverse effects associated with intravenous and intramuscular magnesium, use during pregnancy is limited to patients with specific conditions such as severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. There is some evidence that intravenous magnesium can increase fetal mortality and adversely affect neurological and skeletal development. However, a more recent analysis of clinical research shows that increased risk of fetal mortality seems to occur only in the studies where antenatal magnesium is used for tocolysis and not for fetal neuroprotection or pre-eclampsia/eclampsia. Furthermore, antenatal magnesium does not seem to be associated with increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants. There is also concern that magnesium increases the risk of maternal adverse events. A meta-analysis of clinical research shows that magnesium sulfate might increase the risk of maternal adverse events, especially in Hispanic mothers compared to other racial and ethnic groups.

Pregnancy And Lactation Possibly Unsafe

When used orally in excessive doses. Tell patients to avoid exceeding the tolerable upper intake level (UL) of 350 mg daily. Taking magnesium orally in higher doses can cause diarrhea. ...when prescription magnesium sulfate is given intramuscularly and intravenously prior to delivery for longer than 5 days. Maternal exposure to magnesium for longer than 5-7 days is associated with an increase in neonatal bone abnormalities such as osteopenia and fractures. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that magnesium injection not be given for longer than 5-7 days.

DISCLAIMER: This tool is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Patients should consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about therapies and/or health conditions.© 2026 Therapeutic Research Center

From our Q&A

Questions About Magnesium or Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir

These are real questions from readers, answered by the pharmacists at HelloPharmacist — written by a person, not generated from a database. Each one covers Magnesium or Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir, not necessarily both, but if one is close to what you were about to ask it will usually go further than a database entry can:

Not quite your question? Ask our pharmacists directly — it is free, there is no account required, and answers usually come back within 24 hours.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir

This page covers Magnesium only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir page lists 176 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Grapefruit (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major) and St. John's Wort (major).

By severity: 6 major · 134 moderate · 36 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir page

“Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir) deserves genuine care around supplements, mostly because its ritonavir component strongly blocks the liver enzyme CYP3A4. The bulk of this list is made up of ingredients that enzyme normally clears, so their levels can climb unpredictably during the five-day course.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir interaction page

One more smart check

Taking Magnesium as Part of a Dietary Supplement Product? Check It for Interactions

We hold 29,717 real supplement products containing Magnesium, each one broken down to its full ingredient list — and combination products often carry several ingredients besides Magnesium. Even though Magnesium itself has no known interaction with Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir, another ingredient on your label might. Find your product and we’ll check every ingredient on its label:

How much people look this up

Where Magnesium and Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Magnesium

Top 10

#5 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Medication Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir

Top 10%

#145 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?

Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Magnesium reference on this page ↓
Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Magnesium and Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.

Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS.

Supplement

About Magnesium

What is Magnesium?

Preventing or treating magnesium deficiency
Constipation
Muscle cramps
Sleep support
Anxiety and stress
Migraine prevention

Magnesium is an essential mineral your body needs for muscles, nerves, blood pressure, and many other functions, and supplements are useful for preventing or correcting deficiency. Some other uses, like easing constipation or preventing migraines, have reasonable support, while uses for sleep and anxiety are less proven. It is generally safe for most healthy people at recommended amounts, but talk to your pharmacist or doctor before starting, especially if you have kidney problems.

Mineral (not a plant part) · Tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, gummies, and topical Epsom salts; common forms include magnesium citrate, glycinate, oxide, chloride, malate, and aspartate

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Magnesium is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Magnesium record says about it on its own.

Magnesium: dosing

There is no single "best" dose for everyone, and the right amount depends on your age, sex, health, and the reason you are taking it. Different forms contain different amounts of actual (elemental) magnesium, which can be confusing.Do not assume more is better. There is an upper limit for magnesium taken as a supplement, and going above it raises the risk of side effects. If you are using magnesium for a specific condition like constipation or migraine, ask a health professional for guidance.

From our Magnesium monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Magnesium monograph & all interactions

Medication

About Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir

What Is Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir Used For?

Brand name: Paxlovid

Paxlovid is approved to treat mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults who are at high risk of progressing to severe disease — meaning hospitalization or death. It is intended for people who already have symptoms and a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.

Paxlovid is not approved to prevent COVID-19 before or after exposure. It is a treatment, not a preventive medication.

See full Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir drug information

Keep checking

Other Drugs & Magnesium

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Magnesium — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

6Major

175Moderate

114Minor

2,534No known interaction

6 Major 175 Moderate 114 Minor 2,534 No interaction

Major

6 interactions

Moderate

175 interactions

Showing 60 of 175 moderate interactions — see all 175 on the Magnesium page.

Minor

114 interactions

Showing 60 of 114 minor interactions — see all 114 on the Magnesium page.

No interaction 2,534 drugs checked — show the list

We also checked Magnesium against these medications and found no known interaction in our sources. Open any page to confirm.

Showing the 60 most looked-up of 2,534 medications checked with no known interaction — see the full Magnesium list.

See the full Magnesium interactions page

See every supplement checked against Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir, ranked by severity

Evidence & sources

Magnesium References

The 82 references that drive our Magnesium monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Rodin SM, Johnson BF. Pharmacokinetic interactions with digoxin. Clin Pharmacokinet 1988;15:227-44.
Covington TR, et al. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 11th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association, 1996.
Dahle LO, Berg G, Hammar M, et al. The effect of oral magnesium substitution on pregnancy-induced leg cramps. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1995;173:175-80. PubMed
Hansten PD, Horn JR. Drug Interactions Analysis and Management. Vancouver, WA: Applied Therapeutics Inc., 1997 and updates.
Peikert A, Wilimzig C, Kohne-Volland R. Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: results from a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized study. Cephalalgia 1996;16:257-63. PubMed
Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999. Available at: http://books.nap.edu/books/0309063507/html/index.html.
Birrer RB, Shallash AJ, Totten V. Hypermagnesemia-induced fatality following epsom salt gargles. J Emerg Med 2002;22:185-8. PubMed
Ryan MP. Diuretics and potassium/magnesium depletion. Directions for treatment. Am J Med 1987;82:38-47.. PubMed
Hollifield JW. Magnesium depletion, diuretics, and arrhythmias. Am J Med 1987;82:30-7.. PubMed
Heidenreich O. Mode of action of conventional and potassium-sparing diuretics--aspects with relevance to Mg-sparing effects. Magnesium 1984;3:248-56..
Pfaffenrath V, Wessely P, Meyer C, et al. Magnesium in the prophylaxis of migraine--a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Cephalalgia 1996;16:436-40.. PubMed
Wang F, Van Den Eeden SK, Ackerson LM, et al. Oral magnesium oxide prophylaxis of frequent migrainous headache in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Headache 2003;43:601-10.. PubMed
Sompolinsky D, Samra Z. Influence of magnesium and manganese on some biological and physical properties of tetracycline. J Bacteriol 1972;110:468-76.. PubMed
Jeyabalan A, Caritis SN. Pharmacologic inhibition of preterm labor. Clin Obstet Gynecol 2002;45:99-113. PubMed
Mittendorf R, Dambrosia J, Pryde PG, et al. Association between the use of antenatal magnesium sulfate in preterm labor and adverse health outcomes in infants. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:1111-8.. PubMed
Witlin AG, Sibai BM. Magnesium sulfate therapy in preeclampsia and eclampsia. Obstet Gynecol 1998;92:883-9.. DOI
Crowther CA, Hiller JE, Doyle LW. Magnesium sulphate for preventing preterm birth in threatened preterm labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;4:CD001060. . PubMed
Davey MJ, Teubner D. A randomized controlled trial of magnesium sulfate, in addition to usual care, for rate control in atrial fibrillation. Ann Emerg Med 2005;45:347-53.. PubMed
L'Hommedieu CS, Nicholas D, Armes DA, et al. Potentiation of magnesium sulfate--induced neuromuscular weakness by gentamicin, tobramycin, and amikacin. J Pediatr 1983;102:629-31..
Dunn CJ, Goa KL. Risedronate: a review of its pharmacological properties and clinical use in resorptive bone disease. Drugs 2001;61:685-712..
Kass L, Weekes J, Carpenter L. Effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr 2012;66:411-8. PubMed
Koontz SL, Friedman SA, Schwartz ML. Symptomatic hypocalcemia after tocolytic therapy with magnesium sulfate and nifedipine. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004;190(6):1773-6. PubMed
Snyder SW, Cardwell MS. Neuromuscular blockade with magnesium sulfate and nifedipine. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1989;161(1):35-6. PubMed
Waisman GD, Mayorga LM, Cámera MI, et al. Magnesium plus nifedipine: potentiation of hypotensive effect in preeclampsia? Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1988;159(2):308-9. PubMed
Brown DD, Juhl RP. Decreased bioavailability of digoxin due to antacids and kaolin-pectin. N Engl J Med. 1976;295(19):1034-7. PubMed
Allen MD, Greenblatt DJ, Harmatz JS, et al. Effect of magnesium--aluminum hydroxide and kaolin--pectin on absorption of digoxin from tablets and capsules. J Clin Pharmacol. 1981;21(1):26-30. PubMed
Ravn HB, Vissinger H, Kristensen SD, et al. Magnesium inhibits platelet activity--an in vitro study. Thromb Haemost. 1996;76(1):88-93. DOI
Ravn HB, Kristensen SD, Vissinger H, et al. Magnesium inhibits human platelets. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis. 1996;7(2):241-4. PubMed
Ravn HB, Vissinger H, Kristensen SD, et al. Magnesium inhibits platelet activity--an infusion study in healthy volunteers. Thromb Haemost. 1996;75(6):939-44. DOI
Neuvonen PJ, Kivistö KT. The effects of magnesium hydroxide on the absorption and efficacy of two glibenclamide preparations. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1991;32(2):215-20. PubMed
Kivistö KT, Neuvonen PJ. Enhancement of absorption and effect of glipizide by magnesium hydroxide. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1991;49(1):39-43. PubMed
Neuvonen PJ, Kivistö KT. Enhancement of drug absorption by antacids. An unrecognised drug interaction. Clin Pharmacokinet. 1994;27(2):120-8. PubMed
Shechter, M., Merz, C. N., Paul-Labrador, M., Meisel, S. R., Rude, R. K., Molloy, M. D., Dwyer, J. H., Shah, P. K., and Kaul, S. Beneficial antithrombotic effects of the association of pharmacological oral magnesium therapy with aspirin in coronary heart
Ganzevoort, J. W., Hoogerwaard, E. M., and van der Post, J. A. [Hypocalcemic delirium due to magnesium sulphate therapy in a pregnant woman with pre-eclampsia]. Ned.Tijdschr.Geneeskd. 8-3-2002;146(31):1453-1456.
Horner, S. M. Efficacy of intravenous magnesium in acute myocardial infarction in reducing arrhythmias and mortality. Meta-analysis of magnesium in acute myocardial infarction. Circulation 1992;86(3):774-779. PubMed
Azria, E., Tsatsaris, V., Goffinet, F., Kayem, G., Mignon, A., and Cabrol, D. [Magnesium sulfate in obstetrics: current data]. J Gynecol.Obstet.Biol.Reprod.(Paris) 2004;33(6 Pt 1):510-517.
Magee, L. A., Miremadi, S., Li, J., Cheng, C., Ensom, M. H., Carleton, B., Cote, A. M., and von Dadelszen, P. Therapy with both magnesium sulfate and nifedipine does not increase the risk of serious magnesium-related maternal side effects in women with p
Henyan, N. N., Gillespie, E. L., White, C. M., Kluger, J., and Coleman, C. I. Impact of intravenous magnesium on post-cardiothoracic surgery atrial fibrillation and length of hospital stay: a meta-analysis. Ann.Thorac.Surg. 2005;80(6):2402-2406. PubMed
Li, J., Zhang, Q., Zhang, M., and Egger, M. Intravenous magnesium for acute myocardial infarction. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2007;(2):CD002755. PubMed
Doyle, L. W., Crowther, C. A., Middleton, P., Marret, S., and Rouse, D. Magnesium sulphate for women at risk of preterm birth for neuroprotection of the fetus. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2009;(1):CD004661. PubMed
Han, S., Crowther, C. A., and Moore, V. Magnesium maintenance therapy for preventing preterm birth after threatened preterm labour. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2010;(7):CD000940. PubMed
Duley, L., Gulmezoglu, A. M., Henderson-Smart, D. J., and Chou, D. Magnesium sulphate and other anticonvulsants for women with pre-eclampsia. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2010;(11):CD000025. PubMed
Conde-Agudelo, A., Romero, R., and Kusanovic, J. P. Nifedipine in the management of preterm labor: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Am J Obstet.Gynecol. 2011;204(2):134-20. PubMed
Wong, G. K., Boet, R., Poon, W. S., Chan, M. T., Gin, T., Ng, S. C., and Zee, B. C. Intravenous magnesium sulphate for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: an updated systemic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care 2011;15(1):R52. PubMed
Magee, L., Sawchuck, D., Synnes, A., and von, Dadelszen P. SOGC Clinical Practice Guideline. Magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection. J Obstet.Gynaecol.Can. 2011;33(5):516-529.
Doyle, L. W. Antenatal magnesium sulfate and neuroprotection. Curr Opin Pediatr 2012;24(2):154-159. PubMed
McDonald, S. D., Lutsiv, O., Dzaja, N., and Duley, L. A systematic review of maternal and infant outcomes following magnesium sulfate for pre-eclampsia/eclampsia in real-world use. Int J Gynaecol.Obstet. 2012;118(2):90-96. PubMed
Gordon, M., Naidoo, K., Akobeng, A. K., and Thomas, A. G. Osmotic and stimulant laxatives for the management of childhood constipation. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2012;7:CD009118. PubMed
Dodd, J. M., Crowther, C. A., and Middleton, P. Oral betamimetics for maintenance therapy after threatened preterm labour. Cochrane.Database.Syst.Rev. 2012;12:CD003927. PubMed
Wu, X., Wang, C., Zhu, J., Zhang, C., Zhang, Y., and Gao, Y. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on magnesium in addition to beta-blocker for prevention of postoperative atrial arrhythmias after coronary artery bypass grafting. BMC.Cardiovasc.D PubMed
Thorp, J. M., Jr., Katz, V. L., Campbell, D., and Cefalo, R. C. Hypersensitivity to magnesium sulfate. Am.J.Obstet.Gynecol. 1989;161(4):889-890. PubMed
Duley L and Gulmezoglu AM. Magnesium sulphate versus lytic cocktail for eclampsia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2000;(3) PubMed
Gibbins KJ, Browning KR, Lopes VV, Anderson BL, Rouse DJ. Evaluation of the clinical use of magnesium sulfate for cerebral palsy prevention. Obstet Gynecol 2013;121(2 Pt 1):235-40. PubMed
Ji D. Oral magnesium sulfate causes perforation during bowel preparation for fiberoptic colonoscopy in patients with colorectal cancer. J Emerg Med 2012;43(4):716-7. PubMed
Yagi T, Naito T, Mino Y, Umemura K, Kawakami J. Impact of concomitant antacid administration on gabapentin plasma exposure and oral bioavailability in healthy adult subjects. Drug Metab Pharmacokinet 2012;27(2):248-54. PubMed
Yamasaki M, Funakoshi S, Matsuda S, Imazu T, Takeda Y, Murakami T, Maeda Y. Interaction of magnesium oxide with gastric acid secretion inhibitors in clinical pharmacotherapy. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2014;70(8):921-4. PubMed
Choi ES, Jeong WJ, Ahn SH, Oh AY, Jeon YT, Do SH. Magnesium sulfate accelerates the onset of low-dose rocuronium in patients undergoing laryngeal microsurgery. J Clin Anesth. 2017 Feb;36:102-106. PubMed
Ikee R, Toyoyama T, Endo T, Tsunoda M, Hashimoto N. Impact of sevelamer hydrochloride on serum magnesium concentrations in hemodialysis patients. Magnes Res. 2016 Apr 1;29(4):184-90. PubMed
Miller ES, Sakowicz A, Leger E. Lange E, Yee LM. The association between receipt of intrapartum magnesium and postpartum hemorrhage. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2018;218(1 Suppl):S165.
Rodríguez-Rubio L, Solis Garcia Del Pozo J, Nava E, Jordán J. Interaction between magnesium sulfate and neuromuscular blockers during the perioperative period. A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Anesth. 2016;34:524-34. PubMed
Brown RS. Magnesium Sulfate: Another Cause of a Solute Diuresis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2017;69(4):550-551. PubMed
Park H, Qin R, Smith TJ, et al. North Central Cancer Treatment Group N10C2 (Alliance): a double-blind placebo-controlled study of magnesium supplements to reduce menopausal hot flashes. Menopause. 2015;22(6):627-32. PubMed
Sakanoue M, Sanada J, Kanekura T. Skin eruption elicited by magnesium oxide (Maglax). J Dermatol. 2016;43(2):221-2.
Iwamuro M, Saito S, Yoshioka M, et al. A Magnesium Oxide Bezoar. Intern Med. 2018;57(21):3087-3091. PubMed
Vilchez G, Dai J, Kumar K, Mundy D, Kontopoulos E, Sokol RJ. Racial/ethnic disparities in magnesium sulfate neuroprotection: a subgroup analysis of a multicenter randomized controlled trial. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018;31(17):2304-2311. PubMed
Drug Safety Communication: FDA Recommends Against Prolonged Use of Magnesium Sulfate to Stop Pre-term Labor Due to Bone Changes in Exposed Babies. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), May 30, 2013. https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/UCM353
Committee Opinion: Magnesium Sulfate Use in Obstetrics. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Obstetric Practice Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Number 652, January 2016. https://www.acog.org/Clinical-Guidance-and-Publi
Kashihara Y, Terao Y, Yoda K, et al. Effects of magnesium oxide on pharmacokinetics of L-dopa/carbidopa and assessment of pharmacodynamic changes by a model-based simulation. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2019;75(3):351-361. PubMed
Shepherd E, Salam RA, Manhas D, et al. Antenatal magnesium sulphate and adverse neonatal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Med. 2019;16(12):e1002988. PubMed
Hong JY, Hong JY, Choi YS, et al. Antenatal magnesium sulfate treatment and risk of necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants born at less than 32 weeks of gestation. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):12826. PubMed
Schuh S, Sweeney J, Rumantir M, et al. Effect of nebulized magnesium vs placebo added to albuterol on hospitalization among children with refractory acute asthma treated in the emergency department: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2020;324(20):2038-20 PubMed
Almeida CED, Carvalho LR, Andrade CVC, Nascimento PD Jr, Barros GAM, Modolo NSP. Effects of magnesium sulphate on the onset time of rocuronium at different doses: a randomized clinical trial. Braz J Anesthesiol. 2021;71(5):482-8. PubMed
Gochi Valdovinos A, Arriaga-Redondo M, Dejuan Bitriá E, Pérez Rodríguez I, Márquez Isidro E, Blanco Bravo D. Prenatal therapy with magnesium sulphate and intestinal obstruction due to meconium in preterm newborns. An Pediatr (Engl Ed). 2022 Feb;96(2):138- PubMed
Iio K, Kondo E, Shibata E, et al. Long-term tocolysis with magnesium sulfate as a risk factor for low bone mass: a case series. J Med Cases. 2022 Feb;13(2):47-50. PubMed
Eiraku K, Uozumi Y, Hieda M, Maruyama T, Nomura H. A senile case of heart failure associated with hypermagnesemia induced by magnesium-containing laxative agent. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2022;22(10):897-899.
Enayati A, Gin JH, Sajeev JK, et al. Efficacy of intravenous magnesium for the management of non-post operative atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2023;34(5):1286-1295. PubMed
Su YH, Luo DC, Pang Y. Effects of intraoperative Magnesium sulfate infusion on emergency agitation during general anesthesia in patients undergoing radical mastectomy: a randomized controlled study. BMC Anesthesiol 2023;23(1):326. PubMed
Han J, Park HY, Shin HJ, Chung SH, Do SH. Effects of magnesium sulphate on neostigmine-induced recovery from moderate neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium: a randomized controlled trial. Magnes Res 2023;36(2):31-39. PubMed
Lee AT, Cordova JC, Jamplis RP, Pomicter GR. Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome and Eclampsia in the Setting of Magnesium Toxicity: A Case Report. A A Pract 2023;17(11):e01726. PubMed
Darmawan D, Rengganis I, Rumende CM, et al. Effectiveness and Safety of Nebulized Magnesium as Last Line Treatment in Adults with Acute Asthma Attack: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Acta Med Indones 2024;56(1):3-12.
Shepherd ES, Goldsmith S, Doyle LW, et al. Magnesium sulphate for women at risk of preterm birth for neuroprotection of the fetus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024;5(5):CD004661. PubMed
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Biktarvy Prescribing Information. October 2024. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2024/210251Orig1s020lbl.pdf. Accessed July 16, 2025.

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Magnesium and Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Magnesium with Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir?

We do not list a known interaction between Magnesium and Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.

Do Magnesium and Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir have any of the same side effects?

Yes — our sources link each of them separately to one of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.

How was the Magnesium and Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir combination checked?

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir is filed under 7 classifications, and Magnesium has documented interactions with 15 drug classes — none of Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.

Does Magnesium interact with any other medications?

Yes. Magnesium has 295 documented drug interactions in our database — Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.

Does Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir interact with any supplements?

Yes. Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir has documented interactions with 176 supplements in our database — Magnesium is not one of them. The Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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Magnesium monograph Uses, safety profile, and every drug interaction in one place Nirmatrelvir and Ritonavir drug information The full plain-English guide to this medication Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir supplement interactions Every supplement checked against Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir, ranked by severity Supplement interaction checker Check any supplement or product against your medications Browse medications A–Z Every drug we’ve checked against herbs & supplements References The 82 citations behind this page Ask a pharmacist Free, personal answer from our licensed team

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This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.