Adults and children 12 and older can take 10 to 20 mL of Mylanta liquid per dose, taken between meals or at bedtime. The exact daily limit depends on which Mylanta product you’re using, but as a general rule, you should not exceed the maximum dosage for more than two weeks.
Standard Adult Dosage
For Mylanta Maximum Strength, the recommended dose is 10 to 20 mL (roughly 2 to 4 teaspoons) per dose. You can take it between meals and again at bedtime, which typically means up to four or five times a day depending on your meal schedule. The label instructs you to take it between meals rather than with them, because antacids work best when stomach acid is actively building up after food has started to digest.
If your symptoms are mild, start with the lower 10 mL dose. You can move up to 20 mL if that doesn’t bring enough relief. Shake the bottle well before measuring, and use the dosing cup that comes with it rather than guessing with a kitchen spoon.
Daily Limits by Age
The All-Family Mylanta product spells out clear 24-hour caps:
- Adults and children 12 and older: 10 to 20 mL per dose, no more than 60 mL in 24 hours
- Children ages 6 to 11: 10 mL per dose, no more than 30 mL in 24 hours
- Children under 6: Not recommended without a doctor’s guidance
These limits exist because the active ingredients, aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, can accumulate and cause side effects when taken in large amounts. Staying within the 60 mL daily ceiling keeps those risks low for most adults.
How Long You Can Keep Taking It
Mylanta is designed for short-term relief. You should not use the maximum dosage for more than two weeks. If you’re still reaching for it daily after that point, the underlying cause of your heartburn or indigestion likely needs a different approach. Persistent acid reflux, for example, is often better managed with a different class of medication that reduces acid production rather than just neutralizing it after the fact.
Occasional use beyond two weeks at lower doses is generally less concerning, but regular daily use over weeks or months can lead to problems like diarrhea (from the magnesium) or constipation (from the aluminum). The two ingredients are paired specifically because their side effects tend to balance each other out, but that balance isn’t perfect at high or prolonged doses.
Timing Around Other Medications
Antacids like Mylanta can interfere with how your body absorbs other medications. The aluminum and magnesium can bind to certain drugs in your stomach, reducing how much actually gets into your bloodstream. This is especially relevant for antibiotics, thyroid medications, and some heart drugs.
The standard recommendation is to separate Mylanta from other medications by at least two hours. Take your prescription drug first, wait two hours, then take the Mylanta. Or take the Mylanta first and wait two hours before your other medication. If you’re on multiple prescriptions and aren’t sure about timing, a pharmacist can map out a schedule that works.
Kidney Disease and Special Considerations
People with reduced kidney function need to be more careful with Mylanta. Your kidneys are responsible for clearing excess magnesium from your body. When kidney function is impaired, magnesium from antacids can build up in the blood because the kidneys can’t filter it out efficiently. While recent research suggests moderate magnesium intake is generally safe even in people with chronic kidney disease, the large repeated doses involved in daily antacid use are a different situation than dietary magnesium. If you have kidney problems, check with your doctor before using Mylanta regularly.
Mylanta also contains simethicone, which breaks up gas bubbles in your stomach. Simethicone isn’t absorbed into the body, so it doesn’t contribute to the dosage concerns above. It simply passes through your digestive system.
What to Do if You’ve Taken Too Much
Taking slightly more than the recommended dose once is unlikely to cause serious harm in a healthy adult, but you may notice diarrhea, nausea, or stomach cramps. Consistently exceeding the daily limit is where real risks emerge: electrolyte imbalances, particularly elevated magnesium or aluminum levels, can affect muscle function and heart rhythm over time.
If you find yourself needing Mylanta more than a few times a week, that’s worth paying attention to. Frequent heartburn or indigestion that doesn’t resolve with occasional antacid use often points to conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease or a stomach ulcer, both of which respond better to targeted treatment than to repeated doses of liquid antacid.