Palpitations and Magnesium

[LesleyJ59]

I've read that magnesium can help with palpitations. Has anyone already on heart meds (I'm on atorvastatin, aspirin, ramipril and amlodipine) tried taking it for that purpose? I've suffered from them for many years, starting long before my HA but they have gotten a lot worse recently. I'd like to do as much as I can myself to combat them as I'm not keen to go on even more meds. I've cut out caffeine, reduced my alcohol intake and try to get out for a walk daily and undertake other gentle exercsie (yoga and Qigong).

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Lesley, I take magnesium glycinate which I buy from YourSupplements online and feel it has helped my heart rhythm greatly. It was recommended to me by another forum member on the AF Association (Atrial Fibrillation) forum. I found that magnesium citrate made my stomach sore. I enclose a YouTube presentation made by Sanjay Gupta a cardiologist from York Hospital in the U.K. :

youtube.com/watch?v=Ckdcr-c...(Not working as expected?)

[LesleyJ59 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thnakyou jeanjeannie - I have recently come across Dr Gupta, he's very reassuring. I will look into the right type to take. I did try some supplements with Magnesium Hydroxide which had an unfortunate laxative effect... Live and learn!

[LesleyJ59 in reply to LesleyJ59]

Can I ask what dosage you take please? I've noticed that the dosage for men and women is different, and a lot of pills are on the strong side, favouring men.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to LesleyJ59]

I take just 100mg each morning. My natural diet is magnesium rich, nuts, seeds, buckwheat, bananas etc. daily. Then salmon weekly, can't recall everything I eat that contains it. I make my own muesli, can tell you ingredients if you would like.

[LesleyJ59]

I'd certainly be interested in your recipe. I'm very careful with my diet calorie wise as I've just lost a whole lot of weight, but it's probably time to tweak it to get better nutrition.

[Smidge101]

Hi Lesley, I used a magnesium lotion instead for my palpitations and chest pain and it really helped me. As it's applied topically, you don't get the laxative affect which is always nice! You could always talk to a nutritionist to help figure out which is best for you as its a bit of a minefield?

[Wonkyheart]

It amazes me that people take supplements to 'avoid' medication'. In the years to come we will start to see people suffering due to the long term effects of supplements that in the pre Amazon era were only available through prescription.

Supplements can be just as dangerous to the fine balance of your body as meds. Potentially more so as generally there is far less research done on long term effects and interactions (eg with heart meds) on supplements. Additionaly the manufacture and supply is unregulated. Then add on the way people have no idea about dose and usually have 100s of times the RDA and it a recipe for disaster.

Ignore fluffy wuffy Dr Gupta - he has become a social media influencer for the cash and just tells folk what they want to hear - there's a magic harmless pill that will cure you. Wrong.

[Jbeans in reply to Wonkyheart]

No one is saying that taking a supplement is to avoid medication. Supplement is as its name suggests. It is in addition to anything else. Due to a "modern" diet lots of people lack certain minerals etc. Vit D and magnesium being two of the main ones. Magnesium helps a lot of people with AF. When I was admitted to A&E recently the first things the doctor did was to hook me up to a drip and add magnesium. Your comments are uncalled for and not in keeping with this forum. Please keep your opinions to yourself.

[Wonkyheart in reply to Jbeans]

You are wrong, that is exactly what the original poster said with respect to taking supplements to avoid meds - hence my reply...

"I'd like to do as much as I can myself to combat them as I'm not keen to go on even more meds"

Secondly it's not my opinion it's fact, supplements are unregulated and potentially dangerous, especially when administered blindly wrt dose and effect by those who take them.

I have reported your stupid comment to admin.

[LesleyJ59 in reply to Wonkyheart]

I was just asking for other's experience, supplements are not the only precautions I intend to take. I can improve diet and exercise. You might understand my reluctance to overburden the NHS at this time. For me it's a relatively minor problem, and I have looked into dosage and types of magnesium supplements. The meds I take are lifelong, hopefully supplements will just help in the short term. No need to be rude to other posters...

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Jbeans]

Just a thought.

Intravenous magnesium, a medicine, is used in emergency situations to treat heart rhythm problems and eclamptic fits.

This not the same as taking a supplement.

Vitamin D is produced by your body when your skin is exposed to sunlight.

It's actually difficult to obtain enough vitamin D through diet alone.

My Cardiologist, Neurologist and GP have all advised me to take Vitamin D, which I do.

Supplements sadly have not been researched in the same way that medicines have.

Many supplements have not gone through the same safety and quality controls that medicines require.

Some supplements can have dangerous interactions with other medications.

Supplements are not necessarily 'harmless'

There is also the placebo effect to be considered.

I suggest that anyone considering taking a supplement discusses this, including dosage with a Pharmacist.

The NHS has this information about vitamins and minerals.

nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-...

[Qualipop in reply to Wonkyheart]

People with fibromyalgia are known to be lacking magnesium. As long as you check with your GP ( I had a blood test to check mag levels) there is no reason why you shouldn't support y our body- as long as you need it. I take Vit D as I rarely get out and my levels are very low and magnesium to help muscle function.

[Radars]

Hi,I have been thinking about using magnesium to help me sleep but I have read a few things that say it can interact with aspirin that I take don't know if anyone else knows anything.

[Sheik23]

Good morning Lesley,I take Magnesium malate recommended by a nutritionist who knows I have heart problems, if it can help with palpitation I don't know but it's worth a try. I take 6 supplements every day .

[Qualipop]

I just started mag glycinate with my GP's permission but I take it for muscle problems. I haven't noticed any change in my palpitations but it's pretty harmless so why not give it a go.

[Eadaoin]

I’ve just been prescribed Magnesium Glycophosphate by Cardiac and Haematology Consultants. No problems so far but won’t know if it’s improving the level til a blood test. I have AF (post AV Node Ablation) etc plus blood cancers. Suggest it’s important to get thevsupplement prescribed following a blood test to get the type and dose right.

[LesleyJ59]

Thanks for all your input folks - to update, I've been in touch with my GP. I've had my palpitations investigated in the past before my HA, but the medics weren't concerned as I have no other symptoms. However, they have definitely worsened and I'll be going into my GPs surgery for an ECG and blood tests (I'd had blood tests before the palpitations worsened, and had my meds reviewed). I can't get those until Thursday, but I'm happy with that and so is the doctor.

I asked my GP about magnesium supplements and said I was okay to take them if I want, but there was in his experience no evidence that it helps.

[JudiHalf]

Hi Lesley, I started taking Magnesium Taurate after seeing on this forum that it might help with Afib, I also take Vit D and fish oil capsule daily.I take prescribed meds Rivaroxaban and Ramipril, was prescribed Bisoprolol but it made me pass out!

It may be coincidence but I have not had a afib episode for 6 months since starting the magnesium.

I hope you get some help from your GP, x

[Skertchly]

Magnesium can help with cramp.I have pacemaker and on diabetic and heart/blood medications and I take 2/3 mag tabs each week. All ok