Magnesium Supplements

[MollyPigs]

I have suffered with migraines for about 7 years now, where I have gone through periods of time where they occur weekly, and other periods where they reduce to monthly.

My migraines always start in the base of my neck, travelling up the left side of my head, over my head and then sitting behind my left eye. They used to cause me to be sick but I have now learnt to control this and instead, when I have a migraine, I need to close myself in a dark room, avoid sound, and apply heat to my neck/ traps, trying to sleep it off with some strong pain killers (900mg of dispersible aspirin sometimes does the trick). Usually it’s about 24 hours until I am feeling ok to continue with normal life.

I am aware of many triggers, including too much sugar, not enough water, alcohol, stress, etc, however, these things do not always cause a migraine, they simply increase the chance that I’ll have one.

Recently I came across a doctor on instagram called Dr Mark Hymen. He made a post about migraines and spoke about how he has found that migraines are correlated with a magnesium deficiency. I’ve had blood tests before and haven’t been told that I have this deficiency, but I thought maybe I could try magnesium supplements and see if this helps me (especially since I’m in a high stress environment that I cannot avoid at this moment in time - exams).

I started taking these supplements about 3 weeks ago and have felt less tension in my traps/ neck since. I also feel like I have avoided migraines as when I can feel them coming on I have taken a magnesium supplement and gotten into bed to “sleep it off”. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still suffered from a migraine in the last 3 weeks, but that has been due to other factors rather than the tension in my body causing the migraine.

Has anyone else had any success with taking supplements, if their migraines are similar to mine? I am curious to see if I will see long term benefits if I continue to take the magnesium supplement daily.

Thanks in advance!

[Onthemove1971]

I have!!I take magnesium glycine and I started with lower doses and added more. I take 500mg ( I was told 1600 ) 3x daily. The dose that helps the most is my noon dose.

In addition I take Feverfew 2x daily 200mg ( total 400mg).

In addition I have started drinking hot peppermint tea. I also unse peppermint oil on the back of my hand and take big deep breath when I feel a migraine coming on.

It take about 3 months to work. Your migraines should get less painful, then less during the week.

If you have not listened to the heads-up podcast I strongly recommend it.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Take care

[MollyPigs in reply to Onthemove1971]

Thank you so much for sharing! I also read somewhere that the recommended dose was 1600mg/ day but had not heard of Feverfew or peppermint oil/ tea working. I haven’t heard of the Heads-Up podcast so thank you so much for recommending all these things! I will talk to my doctor about the remedies and explore this podcast you have mentioned.

In the event that you have a migraine, have you found there is anything in particular that helps relieve it more quickly than painkillers and potentially some sleep? I know magnesium etc are preventives so I would be curious to know if you had heard of anything that works when we are in the middle of a migraine attack.

Thanks again for your help!

[Onthemove1971 in reply to MollyPigs]

What works for me is to get good uninterrupted sleep, 3 meals with protein, exercise and lots of water. When I don't do do this I get a migraine.

What helps me the most is to act on the first tinge of pain. I try to drink water and smell/drink peppermint tea and or eat almonds. If these don't stop it I take 2 over the counter migraine medications. If that doesn't stop it I drink a cold can of Pepsi (recommended by Neurologist). If that doesn't stop it I take one 100mg ( this is a higher dose than normally given) of Imitrix. If that doesn't stop it in 20 min. I use an Injectable Imitrix and that almost always stops it. But if not I call my doctor's office and go in for an injection. This is usually 1-2x a year or more. If I can't do that I head to the emergency room. They give me a cocktail ( this is written in my medical chart). IV with fluids, anti-inflammatory, anti-nausa and Imitrix. I can usually leave when the pain level is a 2-3. But I walk in with my coat over my head.

I have found what works for me and I have been very successful.

Hope you found what works for you.

[MollyPigs in reply to Onthemove1971]

It’s amazing to hear that you have found a way to make sure that you can always manage your migraines, although it’s still very unfortunate that you suffer from them! I’ve also started to realise that I know exactly when I’m about to get a migraine and can therefore start to do things to prevent a full attack. I will look into some of the things you have recommended as I may find that simple things may help me to become either a “non-frequent” sufferer, or (probably rare) a non-sufferer.

I hope one day you find that you no longer have migraines! Thank you for sharing your story, your advice and what works for you.

[Freddy1000]

Hi Molly.

Ive suffered from migraines for years now , mine are very similar to how you describe yours , I was initially put on Amitriptyline for this and it did slowly decrease the episodes, I also started magnesium supplements but for restless legs, I have been on these for almost a year now and the migraines have almost reduced to zero, I never linked that magnesium can have an effect too , you learn something every day , glad it has worked for you because they are debilitating. 😊

[MollyPigs in reply to Freddy1000]

Wow, it’s great to hear that although you dont take magnesium for your migraines, it may have led to the reduction you’ve seen in migraines! I think this has encouraged me to stick to the supplements as it seems that most people have had a positive reaction to increasing their magnesium intake and I’d love to see a full year of 0 migraines!

Thanks for sharing I hope the migraines continue to stay away!