magnesium oxide
The oxide salt of magnesium with antacid, laxative and vascular smooth
muscle relaxant activities. Magnesium combines with water to form
magnesium hydroxide which reacts chemically to neutralize or buffer
existing quantities of stomach acid; stomach-content and
intra-esophageal pH rise, resulting in a decrease in pepsin activity.
This agent's laxative effect is the result, in part, of osmotically
mediated water retention, which subsequently stimulates peristalsis. In
addition, magnesium ions may behave as calcium antagonists in vascular
smooth muscle.
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