Magnesium supplements for Migraine
 

Hello folks,

I am a ulcerative colitis patient with a serious migraine issue. The only thing that helps as an abortive is a NSAID like Ibuprofen, Neproxen etc. But they lead to GI discomfort that mimics ulcerative colitis flare and I end up with Prednisone course.

I am trying all different possible options for controlling migraine but no avail so far. Verapamil 240mg a day has reduced frequency from every 3rd day to 2X-3X a month but when there is a migraine attack, a whole day or two are wasted.

Tried butterbur extract for 5 months with no avail.

Now, I am on the way to give Magnesium a try (as ulcerative colitis patients as well migraneuers are known to have low serum Mg). I read through a previous megathread on Magnesium and learned a lot but the thread is old and few links were dead so here I am to ask SPECIFICALLY
If you are taking Magnesium supplements for migraine,
- What form do you take?
- A link to the product you are using.
- How long did it take to see any effect
- If you discontinued as you didn't see any results, how many months did you take Mg supplements?
- Any other supplement needed along with Mg? (Read about Ca supplementation but no evidence to be found)

Don't want to sound arrogant, at the same time, I don't want any more explanation (unless asked) as megathread covered majority of essential stuff on it (although migraine wasn't an indication discussed) and I would like this thread to be very specific to the question.

Many thanks in advance.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I'd like to know which links are broken, so I can go on there and fix them. Do you remember which ones?

That is the a common problem on the net, as places leave online or change servers.

There is a member here Peter B who uses Magnesium for his headaches. He does not post every day, so you could search his posts from members list to find his magnesium suggestions.

Ok, you didn't ask this, but I'm going to mention it anyway, FWIW. I have crohn's/IBS & can't tolerate NSAIDs either. As little as 2 aspirin or 1 ibuprofen will cause bleeding, though not so bad as yours requiring pred.

I've found I can tolerate meloxicam, a prescrip NSAID, on occasion. My doc recommended it as it's much gentler on the system than most others in that class.

I just can't see someone going through a course of pred over a migraine (and I get those several times a month).

Doc

OK, I will break my rule too :)
I start bleeding in less than 2 hours of taking Ibuprofen or Neproxen. I am currently using Nabumetone 750mg but it isn't as good as Ibuprofen or Neproxen. My neuro wanted me to give a try to Celebrex but I can't afford it so Nabumetone instead. Gave Dolgic Plus a try, useless.
I will ask for Meloxicam Rx. I wonder what is your dose and the indication?


Plus, I have to mention something that I should have said in the first post.
Last year, I had kidney stone. Now I am not too sure if it was because of ulcerative colitis or Topamax 125mg that I was taking about 8 months prior to that. Magnesium seems to be watched for folks with kidney issues. I don't know how in my case, so if anyone has any experience on it, a comment is welcome.

Anyone with kidney disease should discuss magnesium use safety with their doctor.

For someone with colitis, it might be easier to use a topical form of magnesium, since magnesium is often stimulating to bowel function and transit. People differ in their reactions to magnesium oral, so you'll just have to try and see if it works without causing further diarrhea.

You can get magnesium from certain foods, and that is also gentler than oral supplements.

@ mrsD,

With your previous post, there are actually quite many links that are dead, its almost 24 pages thread and I didn't keep a track of dead links. Sorry.

With topical Mg, I am considering Epson salt baths but the issue there is, you don't know how much Mg is getting absorbed and if I have to use it for my migraine purpose, I need a daily regimen. May be I will not use citrate or similar forms and stick to gluconate form and slow release chloride form. But before I make any decision and talk to my neuro, I wanted to see the consensus here.

With food sources, I have already included many, still they are not good for a daily regimen.

I take meloxicam (15 mg/day - the max dosage) for arthritis/joint pain, when it's just too much too handle. It works quickly - within an hour; better with a potentiator like acetaminophen.

I don't get an aura or indication/warning for migraine - it just starts, but the faster/stronger I can hit it, the quicker/easier it goes away. Sitting still those first 2 hours is mandatory or I may as well take a placebo. Myofascial massage helps too, especially with the bad ones that make me nauseous and perspire profusely. Promethazine (an antihistsmine/potentiator) can help too. I've used maxalt as an abortive for years (none of the prophylactics worked, but I found other treatments like PT, myofascial trigger point massage, traction...) but I can no longer afford the maxalt, so I'm looking first for another (generic) triptan. If that doesn't work, I'm not sure - I'll have to keep digging into migraine treatment sites.

Topamax is very likely (IMO) a culprit for kidney stones; that was one of the reasons I refused it (along with more homework). When the neurologist first gave me the sample & scrip (only migraine sample I've ever gotten that came with a month's supply), it was accompanied by an 8-1/2 x 11 sheet warning about kidney stones with the medication. That was a first too.

I did try magnesium lactate after searching: best absorbed magnesium, and there were admonitions about folks with kidney complications taking any magnesium supplements, recommending intravenous (if deficient) or topicals like epsom salts.

Doc

Thank you for all information on migraine.

With Mg lactate supplement, could you please tell me the brand you used? Did you see any effect?

I'm sorry, I do not recall the brand; it was whatever well-known brand that we got the best deal on at the time we ordered. We've found the whole supplement industry to be so competitive that rechecking every month/order has been worth the time/effort. Once we find a good deal, we sometimes get a better one by auto-re-ordering.

Unfortunately, I saw no effect, and discontinued after about 6 months, but I would not discourage anyone from trying it based on my results.

Doc

Magnesium
 

Delta force,

Hello. I just joined this group and saw your message. It's been over a month so you may already have your answers! I tried taking magnesium for migraines a few years back. Didn't see much change after a year or so, and I stopped taking it. Recently I read "The Magnesium Solution for Migraines" by Jay Cohen, and it got me interested in trying it again. He talks about how different types of magnesium are absorbed differently, and advises to take the chelated form of magnesium, such as magnesium citrate, glycinate or malate. After some research, I ordered "Doctor's Best" brand high absorption 100% Chelated magnesium on Amazon. This brand had many positive reviews on Amazon, including a few migraine sufferers. I have only been taking it for a week now, not sure if it will help or not. But since I did used to take the cheap stuff, I figured it's work another shot. Hope that helps!