Magnesium

[Mary1959]

Hi just wondered if anyone has taken ferrous sulphate at the same time as magnesium? I was finding magnesium helped my migraines, but now the doctors put me on ferrous sulphate for anaemia and I've been told, you can't take both, as they stop each others affectiveness. I'm very worried, as my migraines seem worse since I've stopped the magnesium thankyou

[Cat00]

I thought you had to take one not within 2 hours of the other for this reason but you could still take both in the same day.

[Mary1959 in reply to Cat00]

Thankyou for your reply, I'll take one in the morning and one at night to be sure.

[Mumbutterfly]

Thank you for posting this. I didn’t know magnesium could help migraines. I’ve been taking it for over a year for other reasons.I just found out that triptans can cause rebound and have been taking one a day for over a year too.

I have cut back on and may cut out completely the triptan. I’m trying to get insurance to cover Qulipta but if they don’t, I can still hope that the magnesium will help. They wouldn’t cover Ubrelvy because I was taking so much of the triptan but I’m hoping they will cover it at some point since I don’t take as much now.

I started taking triptans almost 30 years ago because it wasn’t supposed to cause rebound and they just a few years ago started allowing more than nine a month. Now it’s come out that they do cause rebound. It stinks that we have to wait so long to find out some of the bad side effects.

[Cat00 in reply to Mumbutterfly]

Any painkillers can cause rebound in chronic migraineurs. It's limited to 8 days a month generally. My neurologists suggests 6 triptans 2 any painkiller days a month. GP says it should be less. 🤷

[Magicsack in reply to Cat00]

I always found it weird with my GP. Happy to treat the symptoms (pain) but not the issue.I remember the days when I was on all sorts of pain relief and then told to stop taking pain relief, so that I could detox off. It was only then my specialists were able to break down my headache conditions.

I get the 6mg Sumitriptan intra muscular injections, and I can use 2-4 max per week. Max of 2 a day - I don't, but it's there if needed. Doctors don't like prescribing these as they are so expensive.

[Cat00 in reply to Magicsack]

Yup very hard to get in the uk bc of the price. I used to take Zolmitriptan nasal spray because it still can get to work even if I'm being sick. It's hard being a migraineur I wasn't allowed any painkillers when I broke my leg because it would take me over my monthly allowance! 🙄

[Magicsack in reply to Cat00]

Wow, now that is harsh about pain relief. I've never had that issue, and that's with someone with a previous addiction many years ago!There isn't a day goes by where I don't have a headache, it just depends on quantity and intensity. I wish you well with yours, as a fellow migraineur.

[Cat00 in reply to Magicsack]

ah I've got 4 chronic pain conditions so pain is unavoidable, painkillers are ineffective for all of them. So having an actual painkiller for migraine is the only time I actually get pain relief so they are all kind if bonuses really!

[Mary1959]

I've also been trying to cut down triptans, but I'm at present trying to come off co codamol as they can be addictive. It's so hard when the people who say we take too many triptans, probably have never suffered migrane. I hope you soon get one of the drugs you mentioned, I'm still waiting, 6 months on, to see a specialist, sometimes we have no choice but to take a triptans if people are relying on us. I've been on sumatryptan and naratryptan for over 20 years and never had any side effects. Good luck

[Magicsack]

Hi Mary,It was suggested to me to try this many years ago, but I didn't find it very useful. Everyone is different of course... What I can say is that you may find splitting the two supplements one in morning, then the other in evening. Try it and see. However, I'd always check with specialist if you are unsure.

Depending on how bad your migraines are, there are certainly other options out there other than triptans that may be worth exploring with your specialist. You may already be aware of nerve blocks, botox and CRPG.

[Mary1959]

Thankyou for your reply, yes we're all different but still share the same pain 😞. I'm hoping the specialist will try me on one of the new drugs that have just become available. I'm going to check with g.p about magnesium and iron tablets but hopefully, I can take both.

[Magicsack]

Thats great, Mary. As they are supplements I don't think they will be an issue, although I don't know the interactions with your current medications etc. Always worth checking out the BNF to see, as that's usually quite helpful.

As for the pain, oh my... It is awful. I truly pity anyone who suffers with our condition. Its a real shame that not everyone understands it. The typical response "its just a headache" - no, it's actually more than just that...

I truly hope that you have a specialist who has taken the time to understand you, and what you're going through. If it wasn't for NMC who helped me initially, I don't know where I'd have been. As it's been a long time since they helped me, I don't really know how they work now. However there are different levels of care in NHS, and tertiary care is your best chance. I don't know if you can mention names or hospitals on these forums, but I would suggest looking into NHNN - these are absolutely amazing if you can be referred. NMC got the ball rolling, then jumping through a few hoffs. I wish you the best of luck on your journey.

[Mary1959 in reply to Magicsack]

Thankyou for your reply, it is a bit comforting, messaging o on this site, to know some people, like yourself, understand what were all going through. If I could remove my head, when I get a migrane, I would! I'm in Sheffield, so I hope the specialist are sympathetic and helpful. Take care

[Migrena]

It’s fine to take both just don’t take at the same time. You can take iron tablets with your lunch and the magnesium before bedtime

[Mary1959 in reply to Migrena]

Thankyou for your reply and advice