ATC Group: A02AA Magnesium compounds

The World Health Organization's ATC classification organizes medical drugs based on therapeutic properties, chemical composition, and anatomy. It helps make essential medicines readily available globally and is widely used in the pharmaceutical industry.

Position of A02AA in the ATC hierarchy

Level
Code
Title
1
Alimentary tract and metabolism
2
Drugs for acid related disorders
3
Antacids
4
A02AA
Magnesium compounds

Group A02AA contents

Code
Title
Magnesium carbonate
Magnesium oxide
Magnesium peroxide
Magnesium hydroxide
Magnesium silicate
Combinations

Active ingredients in A02AA

Active Ingredient
Description

Magnesium carbonate, MgCO3 (archaic name magnesia alba), is an inorganic salt. The most common magnesium carbonate forms are the anhydrous salt called magnesite (MgCO3) and the di, tri, and pentahydrates known as barringtonite (MgCO3·2 H2O), nesquehonite (MgCO3·3 H2O), and lansfordite (MgCO3·5 H2O), respectively. The primary use of magnesium carbonate is the production of magnesium oxide by calcining.

Magnesium hydroxide is practically insoluble in water and solution is not effected until the hydroxide reacts with hydrochloric acid in the stomach to form magnesium chloride. Its neutralising action is almost equal to that of sodium bicarbonate. When the dose is in excess of that required to neutralise the acid the intragastric pH may reach pH 8 or 9. Acid rebound following magnesium hydroxide is clinically insignificant. Magnesium hydroxide has an indirect cathartic effect resulting from water retention in the intestinal lumen.

Magnesium oxide (MgO), or magnesia, is an empirical formula of MgO and consists of a lattice of Mg2+ ions and O2− ions held together by ionic bonding.

Related product monographs

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Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC)
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