Pharmaceutical compositions comprising magnesium compounds

Abstract

A pharmaceutical composition comprises magnesium oxide, hydroxide or a non-toxic salt of magnesium in a slow-release carrier; this material may be combined with or co-prescribed with a diuretic or cardiac glycoside or adrenergic receptor blocking agent or a calcium antagonist for the treatment of hypertension or angina pectoris.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of treating a human patient suffering from magnesium/potassium deficiency, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, said pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient .[.over.]. .Iadd.so that duration of action of said pharmaceutical composition is for .Iaddend.a period of .[.from.]. .Iadd.between .Iaddend.2 .[.to.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.24 hours. 
     
     
       2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium includes magnesium chloride, magnesium sulphate, magnesium gluconate, magnesium carbonate and magnesium phosphate. 
     
     
       3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pharmaceutical composition includes a diuretic agent. 
     
     
       4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pharmaceutical composition includes a calcium antagonist agent. 
     
     
       5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said calcium antagonist agent is nifedipine. 
     
     
       6. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said calcium antagonist agent is verapamil. 
     
     
       7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier comprises a coating around said magnesium compound. 
     
     
       8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said coating consists of a material selected from the group consisting of a wax, a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol and an ester. 
     
     
       9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said coating consists of a material selected from the group consisting of hydrogenated caster oil, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl distearate, .[.12-hydrosystearly.]. .Iadd.12-hydroxystearyl .Iaddend.alcohol and microcrystalline wax. 
     
     
       10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amount of said pharmaceutical composition orally administered provides 5 to 30 milligram equivalents of magnesium. 
     
     
       11. A method as claimed in claim 10, where in the amount of said pharmaceutical composition orally administered provides 5 to 10 milligram equivalents of magnesium. 
     
     
       12. A method of treating a human patient suffering from magnesium/potassium deficiency, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium; a cardiac glycoside agent; and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier; said pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient .[.over.]. .Iadd.so that duration of action of said pharmaceutical composition is for .Iaddend.a period of .[.from.]. .Iadd.between .Iaddend.2 .[.to.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.24 hours. 
     
     
       13. A method of treating a human patient suffering from magnesium/potassium deficiency, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium; an .[.adrenegic.]. .Iadd.adrenergic .Iaddend.receptor blocking agent; and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier; said pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient .[.over.]. .Iadd.so that duration of action of said pharmaceutical composition is for a period of .[.from.]. .Iadd.between .Iaddend.2 .[.to.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.24 hours. .Iadd. 
     
     
       14.  A method of treating a human patient to prevent magnesium/potassium depletion in conditions associated therewith, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient so that duration of action of said pharmaceutical composition is for a period of between 2 and 24 hours. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. A method of treating a human patient suffering from magnesium/potassium deficiency, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium; at least one of a diuretic agent, a calcium antagonist agent, a cardiac glycoside agent, and an adrenergic receptor blocking agent; and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier; said pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient so that duration of action of said pharmaceutical composition is for a period of between 2 and 24 hours. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. A method of treating a human patient to prevent magnesium/potassium depletion caused by or associated with administration of at least one of a diuretic agent, a cardiac glycoside agent, an adrenergic receptor blocking agent and a calcium antagonist agent, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient co-prescribed or in combination with said at least one agent a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient so that duration of action of said pharmaceutical composition is for a period of between 2 
     
     
        and 24 hours. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17.  A method of treating a human patient suffering from magnesium/potassium deficiency, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier, said pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient at a slow sustained release rate for a time up to 24 hours. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. A method of treating a human patient suffering from magnesium/potassium deficiency, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium; a cardiac glycoside agent; and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier; said pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient at a slow 
     
     
        sustained release rate for a time up to 24 hours. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19.  A method of treating a human patient suffering from magnesium/potassium deficiency, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium; an adrenergic receptor blocking agent; and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier; said pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient at a slow sustained release rate for a time up to 24 hours. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A method of treating a human patient to prevent magnesium/potassium depletion in conditions associated therewith, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient at a slow sustained release rate for a time up to 24 hours. 
     
     
        .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  A method of treating a human patient suffering from magnesium/potassium deficiency, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and a pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium; at least one of a diuretic agent, a calcium antagonist agent, a cardiac glycoside agent, and an adrenergic receptor blocking agent; and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier; said pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient at a low sustained release rate for a time up to 24 hours. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A method of treating a human patient to prevent magnesium/potassium depletion caused by or associated with administration of at least one of a diuretic agent, a cardiac glycoside agent, an adrenergic receptor blocking agent and a calcium antagonist agent, said method comprising the step of orally administering to such human patient co-prescribed or in combination with said at least one agent a therapeutically meaningful dosage of a pharmaceutical composition which consists essentially of a magnesium compound selected from the group consisting of magnesium oxide, magnesium hydroxide and pharmaceutically-acceptable salt of magnesium, and a pharmaceutically-acceptable carrier functioning to control the release of magnesium into the digestive tract of said human patient at a low sustained release rate for a time up to 24 hours. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A method of treating a human patient as claimed in any one of claims 1, 14, 17 and 20 wherein said magnesium compound is co-prescribed for administration with at least one of a diuretic agent, a calcium antagonist agent, a cardiac glycoside agent and an adrenergic receptor blocking agent. .Iaddend.