The magnesium supplement in WorkMode OFF, and how to use it in the evening
By WorkMode Team • Published • Updated • 5 minute read
Part of our guide: Supplements for Work in South Africa
WorkMode OFF is an evening drink with magnesium, 5-HTP and chamomile, so it works as a magnesium supplement you stir into water rather than swallow. The magnesium is bisglycinate, and one 5g scoop goes into 250ml of hot or cold water. Here is what is in it, how to take it, and what the NHS and NIH say about limits and medicines.
What magnesium is in WorkMode OFF
The label lists magnesium bisglycinate (magnesium bound to glycine). One 5g scoop contains 125 mg of magnesium, as magnesium bisglycinate.
WorkMode ON also contains magnesium bisglycinate: 100mg of magnesium per 7g serving, according to its label. If you use ON in the morning and OFF in the evening, add the two amounts together to see your day.
What is magnesium bisglycinate?
Magnesium bisglycinate is magnesium bound to two molecules of the amino acid glycine. PubChem, the US National Library of Medicine's chemistry database, lists it as magnesium glycinate, with bisglycinate and diglycinate as other names for the same compound. So a label that says glycinate and one that says bisglycinate describe the same form.
Mayo Clinic Press explains that names such as citrate, glycinate and oxide refer to the salts formed when magnesium is combined with other substances. It says citrate is commonly used for its laxative effect and that glycinate is less likely to cause diarrhoea than citrate. It also says a form getting a lot of attention online isn't necessarily the best choice for everyone.
How to read the amount on a magnesium bisglycinate label
Check what the number refers to. The NIH notes that a Supplement Facts panel gives the amount of elemental magnesium, the mineral itself, not the weight of the whole magnesium-containing compound. The OFF label works the same way: 'Magnesium (as Magnesium Bisglycinate) 125 mg' means 125 mg of magnesium.
If a label gives only the weight of the bisglycinate, the magnesium is a fraction of it. Going by the formula PubChem gives, magnesium is about 14% of the compound's weight, so 500mg of magnesium bisglycinate holds roughly 70mg of magnesium. Compare products by the magnesium figure, and count that figure towards the daily limits below.
Capsule, tablet, fizzy or powder drink?
Magnesium is sold as slow-release tablets, fizzy tablets, capsules and powders. A drink mix suits people who would rather stir than swallow a capsule. You choose hot or cold water, and the flavour is Peach Iced Tea.
Mayo Clinic Press also advises checking for additives such as artificial colours or sweeteners in flavoured powders. Read the OFF label and decide for yourself.
How to mix and take OFF in the evening
Mix 1 heaped scoop (5g) with 250ml of hot or cold water, 30 minutes before bed, as the label directs. Use hot water if you want it as an evening tea, or cold water if you prefer it that way. Customers take it both ways; it comes down to personal preference. OFF has no caffeine.
A simple routine: make your drink, put your phone in another room, turn the lights down and drink it while you finish up.
Is it okay to take magnesium every day?
Stick to the serving on the label. For a benchmark, the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements sets an upper limit of 350 mg a day for adults from supplements and medicines, not counting magnesium in food. The NHS says 400mg or less a day from supplements is unlikely to cause harm. The two measure slightly differently, so treat both as ceilings.
Magnesium from ON, other supplements and medicines all counts. The NIH lists diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal cramping as effects of high intakes. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medication, check with a pharmacist or doctor first. Do the same if your kidneys are a concern, since the NIH notes that reduced kidney function raises the risk of too much magnesium building up.
Medicines and magnesium
The NIH says magnesium supplements can interact with some medicines, including antibiotics such as tetracyclines and quinolones, bisphosphonates, diuretics and prescription medicines for acid reflux or peptic ulcers. For some antibiotics it advises taking them at least 2 hours before, or 4 to 6 hours after, a magnesium supplement. Tell your pharmacist or doctor about every supplement you take and ask them how to space things out.
What we can and can't tell you about magnesium
You may want to know what magnesium is good for. As a supplement brand in South Africa, WorkMode doesn't make health claims about its products, so we won't answer that here. The NHS and NIH pages explain what the mineral does, and your pharmacist can answer personal questions. What we can say is what OFF is: an evening drink with magnesium, 5-HTP and chamomile, made for a wind-down routine.
Questions people ask
Does WorkMode OFF contain caffeine?
No. The WorkMode FAQ says OFF has no caffeine.
How do I take WorkMode OFF?
Mix 1 heaped scoop (5g) with 250ml of hot or cold water, 30 minutes before bed, as the label directs.
What form of magnesium is in OFF?
Magnesium bisglycinate, which is magnesium bound to glycine.
Is magnesium glycinate the same as magnesium bisglycinate?
Yes. PubChem lists bisglycinate and diglycinate as other names for magnesium glycinate: magnesium bound to two glycine molecules.
Is it okay to take magnesium every day?
Follow the label serving and count magnesium from all sources, including ON. The NIH sets a 350 mg adult limit for supplements and medicines, and the NHS says 400mg or less a day from supplements is unlikely to cause harm.
Does magnesium interact with medicines?
It can. The NIH gives antibiotics, bisphosphonates, diuretics and acid reflux medicines as examples. Tell your pharmacist or doctor about every supplement you take.
Is a powder better than a capsule?
Neither is better for everyone. A drink mix suits people who prefer mixing to swallowing capsules, and you can choose hot or cold water.
