Tacrolimus and low magnesium levels

[wonderingjen]

Hello all - My magnesium blood levels are low because of the tacrolimus and I think it's affecting my muscles and nerves. I really would love to figure out a way to absorb more of the magnesium. I already experimented with another form of magnesium and that didn't help. Now, I'm going to try taking it a couple hours away from taking the tacrolimus to see if that helps.

Have any of you had any success in keeping your magnesium levels in the normal range despite being on tacrolimus and, if yes, what did you do?

Thanks, in advance, for any feedback you might have!

Jen

[dmteacher]

Magnesium supplements have never helped me either. I am very intentional now in what I eat and drink and that has helped. I eat a lot of nuts and seeds and drink a lot of Gatorade instead of plain water.

[PeaB4YouGo in reply to dmteacher]

My transplant team would have a conniption if I told them I'd had ANY Gatorade. I used to love the stuff, then the surgeon made the mistake of telling me, in front of the wife, that I was to have NO MORE GATORADE. (And, he said it just like that.) Now, she's my gatekeeper. No Gatorade, no Mtn Dew,...

[dmteacher in reply to PeaB4YouGo]

Interesting, my doctor recommended due to low sodium and chloride levels

[Tashikat in reply to dmteacher]

Its also got Fructcose corn syrup…soo bad for us. Causes cancer. You can easily add sea salt to your water…it contains all the minerals you needs to hydrate. Google it.

[wonderingjen in reply to Tashikat]

Thanks - I will look online.

[wonderingjen in reply to dmteacher]

Thanks so much, dmteacher. I didn't realize Gatorade had magnesium in it!

[Darlenia]

My husband takes Envarsus (the time release version of tacrolimus), MyFortic, and prednisone and his magnesium level stays in the normal range, no supplements needed. I wonder if some of us have absorption issues - for example, my sodium and chloride are always just below the normal range no matter what I do, and I don't take any meds at all. Weird.

[wonderingjen in reply to Darlenia]

Thanks, Darlenia. I'll ask my doc about the Envarsus!

[littlelinda50]

That is a struggle for me but I have been taking a handful of unsalted pumkin seeds everyday to help. My magnesium usually only gets to a 1.8 and I am okay with that level. So try eating a handful of pumkin seeds and if you want your number higher do it twice a day. Good luck! Hugs!

[wonderingjen in reply to littlelinda50]

I'm going to Trader Joe's today so will look for pumpkin seeds! Thanks, littlelinda50!

[Dianamite]

I take magnesium oxide 400mg at night with my other medications. I eat foods that are high in magnesium like avocados and bananas. I add pumpkin seeds to my fruit & yogurt every morning. Be sure to mix in other fluids with your daily water intake take so you are not diluting your electrolytes. I drink coconut water with a little juice mixed in for flavor.

[wonderingjen in reply to Dianamite]

Thanks, Dianamite! Someone else suggested pumpkin seeds too so I'll definitely add those. And I hadn't thought of coconut water--I'll get some today as well. Thanks!

[wheezoids21]

I take 1200 mg mag.ox a day and magnesium levels pretty much stay between 1.6 and 1.8. I was on 2400mg a day with the same result. Tacro and myfortic. Dont seem to have any ill effects, but who knows which side effect belongs to which drugs lol

[wonderingjen in reply to wheezoids21]

I'll ask my doc about increasing the amount of magnesium supplement I take. Thank you, wheezoids21!

[hope1419]

Hello. I can relate. I actually started to have issues with magnesium as soon as I got transplanted. I was told it was because my kidney was now working well, as opposed to how it was before transplant. I didn't know of any relation with tacro. I take Magnesium glycinate lysinate chelate 100 mg 4 pills X2/day at the same time I take Tacro. Dr. Changed me to this one because the initial magnesium cased exesive diarrhea and I was loosing all my electrolytes. I also can't have Gstorate. But I eat nuts, pumkin seeds, spinach, beans and as much food high in magnesium as I can. Keep your levels at a good range. I had to go to rhe emergency room bexause I was feeling numbness in my face and it weakness. It was thw low magnesium. Good luck finding your appropriste dosage.

[wonderingjen in reply to hope1419]

I'm so sorry you had to go to the ER because of this, hope1419! I hope the new form of magnesium is helping. I'll ask my doc about taking that form as well. Thank you!

[Tashikat in reply to hope1419]

Brown rice & quinoa are goid for increasing magnesium. Add it to a stirfry or make scrambled eggs with it.

[wonderingjen in reply to Tashikat]

All foods I love. Thank you!

[sondraluvs2run]

my magnesium stays in range. I am 8 years post on tacro and mycophenolate. I take Pure Magnesium Glycinate 120 mg and Nature’s Bounty High potency Magnesium Oxide 500mg at night. I also do one LMNT packet daily with 60 mg magnesium. I also include magnesium Rich foods in my diet.

[wonderingjen in reply to sondraluvs2run]

Thanks, sondrluvs2run. What is LMNT?

[sondraluvs2run in reply to wonderingjen]

Electrolytes. Available on line and coming shortly to Walmart and target.

[wonderingjen in reply to sondraluvs2run]

Got it - thank you!

[Tankjsl]

My magnesium was low and I started taking an over the counter Slow Mag. I take 2 pills in the morning and 2 at night and my magnesium is normal now. My regular nephrologist suggested that I take it and it has seemed to work better than prescription magnesium. I hope this helps. Best of luck ! slowmag.com

[wonderingjen in reply to Tankjsl]

Thanks, Tankjsl. I just looked at their website and see there's calcium in their supplement. It's interesting because I was just reading online that magnesium and calcium, though safe to take together, actually impede their absorption. I might contact the company to see what they say about it.

[Tankjsl in reply to wonderingjen]

Ask your nephrologist. Mine is the one that recommended it and it has been more successful than the prescription of magnesium. I also take a multi vitamin each day in the evening too. Again hope things improve for you. Let us know what you find out.

[wonderingjen in reply to Tankjsl]

I'll definitely ask my doc about it - thank you!

[Tashikat in reply to Tankjsl]

Magnesium pills can cause diarrea …quite unpleasant. If you don’t care to take all the mag pills …you can always research foods to eat to increase it. I started eating avocados, brown rice, beans, chicken & pumpkin seeds (ground up in the morning added to my granola) & my magnesium normalized in a week.

[wonderingjen in reply to Tashikat]

All good ideas. Thanks so much, Tashikat.

[A-A-B-J]

Do you take it twice a day. That’s what I have to do

[wonderingjen in reply to A-A-B-J]

Thanks, A-A-B-J. I do already take twice a day. I might try a different form of it though and see if that helps.

[Tashikat]

Yes I have. Via diet. Eating more brown rice, quinoa, avocados, greens, chicken, beans, bananas & pumpkin seeds & nuts. An excellent ionized liquid magnesium is called ReMag manuf by. Dr Caroline Dean. Her book is excellent too ‘The Magnesium Miracle’. Amazon has it. Changed diet really helped me.

[wonderingjen in reply to Tashikat]

Thanks so much, Tashikat! I'm going to check out both the book and ReMag! I'll change my diet too. I appreciate it.

[SecondChance2]

I’m newly transplanted , Jan 17. My magnesium level is low normal. I was on 400 mg of magnesium oxide twice a day. They reduced it to once a day when tacrolimus levels were to high.

[wonderingjen in reply to SecondChance2]

Congratulations on your transplant, SecondChance! Wishing you many years of good health. Thanks for your reply.

[Sova66]

Have the same issue, spoke with nephrology team and was approved to supplement mag 400mg every other day. Will respond back with results.

[wonderingjen in reply to Sova66]

I hope that helps you, Sova66! Thanks for your reply.

[Nawtikiti]

I'm sorry you're going through this. I am on tacrolimus and have to get weekly magnesium infusions! So I don't have any advice other than to hang in there. I feel like I'm missing out on all the benefits of having a normal magnesium level!

[wonderingjen in reply to Nawtikiti]

I'm so sorry YOU are going through it too and even have to get the weekly infusions! I hope with time you won't have to get them anymore. Wishing you the best!