have been taking a new magnesium chelate for the past 3 months my integrative medicine physician wanted me to try to get my mg level over 2.0

had increased my slow mag to 6/day and my mg level was still "stuck" between 2.0-2.1 even with Epsom lotion supplementation so d/c slowmag and tried 3 of these mg chelates/day

have a lab order for a mg blood draw and will let every one know the results once I get them and will reveal the name of this mg chelate

one pill of this mg chelate = 2x the elemental mg in Slow-Mag so we will see...have been taking 3 of these a day for 3 months now

price of this mg chelate is around $.07/pill so very reasonable

SlowMag is lower in elemental, but has a high absorption rate
to compensate for that.

If you are in the US.... try the magnesium lotion by Morton.
I get very good absorption with that compared to epsom salts.

http://www.amazon.com/Morton-Epsom-L...n+epsom+lotion

this is sold at WalMarts and Walgreens too. If applied to the wrists and inner arms, it will be absorbed thru that thinner skin in good amounts. I get very good absorption which keeps my blood pressure down, needing fewer BP drugs!

Apply a quarter's diameter to start once a day. Too much and you will get sleepy/tired side effects.

I recall some time ago your mentioning Kirkman Magneisium Sulfate Cream which the jar label also has on it (Topical Epsom Salt Preparation).

I did purchase this cream But seem to have the same type of effect that Sorbital has on many of us (messy BM's).

I am dealing with PN, but also have edema on both ankles legs (take 25mg's spironolactone daily). Also have Stasis Dermatatis on feet, ankles up to knees.
The Stasis is worst at the ankles. My Primary doctors is aware of the blood pooling at the ankles where it has darkened.

Along with the spine issues (fusion/laminectomy) which appears to add to the circulation issues, From what I read, the Mag Sulfate Cream can be beneficial.


I did try MS Cream over a month ago. Applied to ankles and top of feet. Put it on pretty lightly (label says put on 1 gram 1-4 times a day).I just applied once. Label Also mentions using on a larger area of body. The second time I used the MS Cream I applied it to the calves of both legs since there is more of an area with density of skin as well. This really seemed to relieve some of the burning; especially when I put it on the ankles.

But; after only using this twice, I experienced the effects (like a discussion we had some months ago) of the Sorbital effect. Very messy. I did stop using it, but since it also helps with the circulation and is useful in so many areas I am dealing with, would like to know if you have any ideas on how to better use this Cream. I really do not want to deal with the Epsom Salt baths.

Would appreciate any suggestions you may have.


Gerry

Magnesium is usually excreted by the kidneys. When taken orally it will remain in the bowel causing a loosening effect.

It is very odd that you are getting loosening from a topical product. The transdermal nature of the base may be carrying something else thru your skin.
Ingredients list here:
http://kirkmanlabs.com/ProductKirkma...mSulfateCream/
I don't know about all these ingredients in detail.

Or I wonder if you are using too much? If you only apply to one ankle and the next day to the other, that might work.

Or switch to the Morton brand. I have no problems with Morton's.
And I am very sensitive to GI loosening with all the oral products including the SlowMag. That Kirkman product was initially designed for children, and hence to be used in smaller amounts per application.

Morton Epsom lotion is only $5.95 at WalMart and online at Amazon. One 8 oz bottle lasts me 3months or longer.

If you have hereditary angioedema causing your swelling, you could have the GI form (like I do) and if so I'd get that checked out. Blood work for Complement #4 and C-1 inhibitor levels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C1-inhibitor.

It might be a good idea to email Kirkman with your question too, about their product and possible GI effects.

I bought some magnesium malate by source naturals. Is it essential to take it with calcium? I already take a multivitamin.

If you eat dairy... you may not need calcium.

People in the US can be very deficient in magnesium. (some studies show 70% of adults in US do not get the RDA for magnesium.

Not all magnesium in supplements is absorbed. It can be dependent on Vit D status as well. Alot can be excreted by the bowel.

I've had great results with magnesium malate, but I got the best results from applying magnesium oil on my skin (topically). If you read the book Transdermal Magnesium Therapy you'll learn that magnesium is much better absorbed through the skin, and doesn't cause any diarrhea that way

I take magnesium to combat my frequent and awful bouts with nighttime foot and leg cramping. Recently, I switched to 200 mg. magnesium chelate tablets (one tablet). That was potent compared to what I had been taking, so I cut it down to one-half tablet per day or approx. 50 mg.

Here's the problem: Frequent and large volume urination. It's really a struggle trying to dial this in.

Solution for now: Starting immediately, I'm cutting out everything except my Centrum Silver multi-vitamin. See if I can figure this out.

Any feedback would be welcome.


EDIT: I hope this isn't an "off-topic" or inappropriate post. When I wrote it, I thought it was a magnesium issue, so I put it here.

Hello everyone, this is quite an informative thread! It took a while for me to read through all of it, but it is really useful to have it all in one place.

I had been supplementing with 200 mg magnesium citrate in the a.m. for a couple of years, but after reading everything here, I recently upped my dosage to 400 mg, half in the morning and half at night. Right away I noticed a difference in my ability to walk. It is still quite impaired from my demyelination problem, but I am able to move a little steadier and a little faster, especially in the evenings.

mrsD, I have a couple of questions about dosages. Somewhere in this thread I believe you said that even well controlled diabetics can often be low in magnesium. I’ve had Type II for about 20 years and didn’t think I was low in it, since I do like sunflower seeds and other high magnesium foods, but apparently I was. Should I spread out my dosages throughout the day, say 100 mg 4 times a day, or am I better off staying with 200 mg twice per day? Or doesn’t it matter? I’m not sure if higher one-time doses would be better for trying to rebuild muscle strength or not.

Also, assuming I stay with 400 mg per day, would it be better to substitute say half of my magnesium citrate with magnesium malate? I remember you said that the malate form is useful for muscle strength, but I’m not sure I should stop taking the citrate form entirely since I know it is helping me. I’ve experimented with 200 vs. 400 mg doses of citrate, and I definitely walk a little better when the dose is increased. Thank you!!

I don't think the carrier of the magnesium is critical. I just draw the line at "aspartate" salts... as this may mess up the NMDA receptors which are pain receptors. (and of course Oxide does not ionize in the GI contents so is not absorbed).

Just do what works for you.

I would spread the magnesium out. There is no 100% absorption of this mineral, so overloading the lining of the intestines with high doses, may just shunt some off into the stool. Magnesium in any form in higher doses just acts as a saline laxative.

I really like the topical form best= Morton's Epsom lotion.