The proper Maalox® dosage a patient should take depends on a number of different things. A patient's symptoms need to be carefully considered before he or she takes Maalox® because there are a number of different varieties of medication called Maalox®. The severity of the symptoms and the age of the patient experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort will also affect how much Maalox® to take.
There are a number of different preparations of drugs under the Maalox® name. Though each of these drugs is used for some sort of gastrointestinal discomfort, some versions of the medication have been designed to target certain symptoms. One of the main things that will affect the proper Maalox® dosage is which version of the medication a person is using. Regular strength Maalox® antacid, for example, is often administered at doses of between 400 and 800 milligrams of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide each. People taking maximum strength Maalox® chewable tablets often take a dosage of 1,000 milligrams of calcium carbonate.
Patients with more than just acid reflux and indigestion may also take Maalox® medications to relieve these symptoms. Selecting which Maalox® medication to use depends on the specific symptoms that the patient is experiencing. Those with indigestion and gas may take a Maalox® that contains aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide and simethicone, while those with diarrhea and nausea may take a Maalox® preparation that includes bismuth subsalicylate as well as other drugs.
Once a patient has determined which type of Maalox® to use, determining the proper dose is often a matter of judging the severity of the symptoms. Patients are often able to take a wide range of dosages of this medication, especially when it is taken in liquid form, so the exact amount used can be tailored to the patient's needs. Mild symptoms may require a low Maalox® dosage, such as 1 tablespoon or one tablet taken once only, while more severe symptoms may require the use of a dose four or more times this amount.
The age of a patient should also be considered when determining the proper Maalox® dosage to administer. Young children may not be able to take all of the medications in each of the different varieties of Maalox®, so the labels must be read carefully before any of these medications are given to children. In Maalox® medications that have been approved for use in children, dosing recommendations are often based on age and weight.