Magnesium

This became of importance to me because ever since Layla started her once-a-month Pentamidine anti-biotic she has had chronic constipation. Again, it's amazing how a little research about something such as constipation can lead to a whole lot more. Once I saw the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, Layla was exhibiting quite a few. She has been lethargic, irritable, and constipated. Also, although we haven't done a CBC test in a while, her red counts stagnated at a relatively low area although still well above anemia. I learned there is a magnesium ion attached to every red blood cell. Through my research not only was magnesium a treatment for these symptoms but also I found that anti-biotics and especially certain chemotherapy drugs will cause you to be magnesium deficient. No doctor has told us this, nor told us to supplement. After Layla's first dose of magnesium citrate, she almost immediately smiled and relaxed. The next day her energy levels went up and she is also sleeping better. She had a pretty large dose the first day (300mg) to get her bowels to move, but since then I have her on a recommended maintenance dose. I plan to judge this amount by her the occurrence of stools as well as behavior. If your child has is still experiencing reflux after his/her esophagitis has subsided, and you experience some of the other symptoms as well, magnesium may be worth a try. Also, make sure if you are buying the liquid form that it doesn't contain propylene glycol, which is a laxative. Many sites say not to take within 2 hours of any drug and it can enhance it's effects, consult a doctor if taking any serious medications, however if your child seems really deficient definitely press him to give you advice on administering.

Update 4/2/2011:
Now that Layla's movements are somewhat normal, magnesium seems to be giving her loose stools at a very low dosage, which is a very common reaction. I'm very sensitive to magnesium myself. I have found 2 good methods of transdermal or topical delivery of magesium. One is with epsom salt baths and the other a magnesium oil "spritzer" that would be great to take with you to the hospital as well.

Epsom Salt Baths
"all individuals had significant rises in plasma magnesium and sulfate at a level of 1% Epsom salts .This equates to 1g MgS04/100ml water; 600g Epsom salts/60 litres, the standard size UK bath taken in this project (~15 US gallons). However, most volunteers had significantly raised Mg/S04 levels on baths with 400g MgS04 added." 
"The values obtained suggest that most people would find maximal benefit by bathing 2 or 3 times/ week, using 500-600g Epsom salts each time."
http://www.mgwater.com/transdermal.shtml 

 Magnesium Oil Spritzer
“I make my own [magnesium] oil using Zechstein Salts (magnesium chloride) that I buy from Swanson Vitamins (but there are other sources). To make the oil:
boil water in a saucepan and add as much salt as you can until it stops
dissolving. Cool that down and save it in a glass jar with a lid. Mix
that 50/50 (or stronger if you can stand it) with water (as you need
it) and put it in a spritzer. There You Have It. “
http://cancerfighter.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/avoiding-magnesium-deficiency/

Daniel Reid, author of Tao of Detox says, “Using magnesium oil is the quickest and most convenient way to transmit magnesium chloride into the cells and tissues through the skin. 2-3 sprays under each armpit function as a highly effective deodorant, while at the same time transporting magnesium swiftly through the thin skin into the glands, lymph channels, and bloodstream, for distribution throughout the body. Spray it onto the back of the hand or the top of the feet any time of day or night for continuous magnesium absorption. Regardless of where you apply the spray on the body, once it penetrates the surface of the skin, the body transports it to whichever tissues need magnesium most.”
http://magnesiumforlife.com/transdermal-magnesium/magnesium-oil/



Research:

Cisplatin and hypomagnesemia.
 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10212589


Magnesium prevents chemotherapy side effects
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_7396/is_313-314/ai_n35578869/

...Antibiotics can also lower magnesium availability. Included on the antibiotic list are neomycin, tetracycline, erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole, and sulfonamides. Other medications that reduce the body's supply of magnesium include the anticoagulant drug warfarin; corticosteroids; oral contraceptives (birth control pills); and the immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine. 
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=75

Magnesium for Strength and Recovery  
...Magnesium is intimately involved in cellular energy metabolism in the mitochondria, and abundant chemical energy is required for physical exertion.
...Magnesium depletion is associated with structural damage to muscle cells in athletes.
...Magnesium supplementation has been shown to increase muscle strength in young adults. 
http://www.life-enhancement.com/article_template.asp?ID=1765 

Magnesium is attached to red blood cells and affect red blood cell fluidity  
They had lowered muscle levels of magnesium, and their red blood cells were at the low end of the normal range.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/ar/archive/may04/energy0504.htm?pf=1

Magnesium for Constipation Relief and Recommended Dosages ( I have read in several other areas per personal anecdotes that they used the softness of stools to gauge their dosage as everyone's need is different depending on stress levels).
Below are the U.S. recommended daily requirements for magnesium, taken from mayoclinic.com.
Adult and teenage males—270 to 400 milligrams (mg) per day.
Adult and teenage females—280 to 300 mg per day.
Pregnant females—320 mg per day.
Breast-feeding females—340 to 355 mg per day.
Children 7 to 10 years of age—170 mg per day.
Children 4 to 6 years of age—120 mg per day.
Children birth to 3 years of age—40 to 80 mg per day.
http://www.alternative-medicine-digest.com/constipation-relief.html

Comprehensive collection of magnesium studies:
http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/magnesium

Magnesium deficiency seems to be carcinogenic, and in case of solid tumors, a high level of supplemented magnesium inhibits carcinogenesis.
http://magnesiumforlife.com/medical-application/magnesium-and-cancer/