Well done for getting to where you are on your taper and with your other reductions.
Tapering is hard for any drug and does bring with it similar side effects like Fatigue , tiredness and non PMR related aches and pains resurface because of the affect that recovery has on your muscles.
Magnesium supplements and also zinc , potassium and vitamins A,C,E,D and K are all really helpful in boosting your recovery because they assist in nerve health and tissue repair. They are useful to top up with diet and supplements from the beginning of any chronic illness generally , but starting at whatever point you are at is beneficial .
Obviously , as you note , some drugs have interactions and with some conditions or medications occasionally certain supplements or herbal remedies like turmeric , garlic , ginger etc. are not allowed because they reduce or copy the job of your medication.
I don't know which drugs you are on for your thyroid or have no knowledge of interactions for your particular antidepressant , but the information for interactions for any of your drugs should be in the leaflet in the box , or you can double check from official site for the medication by just googling the name / brand and reading it on the website.
If there is no interaction , magnesium and the other nutrients via a good daily multi supplement is worth taking .
If you do so mid meal at breakfast you also get the maximum of absorption too.
I take magnesium for leg and foot cramps due to neurological problems. On 800 mg daily, increased slowly from much less. It causes gas for me and can cause diarrhea. My osteopath says it will show in the latter symptom before your body can have too much, so it is hard to overdo, unlike potassium which can cause heart problems. About interactions I have no idea. I had hellish symptoms from Mirtazapine.
This is a very interesting read, suggesting that low magnesium might be contributory to depression and some thyroid issues. Apparently supplementation may be as effective as some antidepressants.
It’s really long, but worth a read. Maybe ask your doc to take a look and advise before taking Mg. it might do you the world of good!
Ask your pharmacist (not the counter staff) about interactions - they usually are better than GPs anyway!
I use magnesium occasionally for muscle cramps but it isn't a major problem for me - OH is a martyr though. I've recently had tachycardia problems and while in hospital they gave me magnesium then - seemed to have an excellent effect!
Interestingly, at the start of my hospital stay my gut was behaving itself I thought. The effect of the magnesium was helpful though - and only right on the last day or two of taking the magnesium did I notice any difference. I'd been taking it 2x daily for about 3 weeks - I was obviously low on magnesium without being aware.
Interested to read that you have tachycardia problems, I too have had supra ventricular and atrial fibrillation episodes, ended up at hospital 3 times now......wondered if this is all linked,
I wouldn't rule it out! In case you hadn't seen it - I've posted about the tachy/brady and a/f episodes having developed to requiring a pacemaker!! The bradys after the a/f episodes were causing pauses lasting up to 7 sec!!
Although there is a recommendation to take a multi vitamin including magnesium at breakfast this may not be the best time of day for someone on pred. Pred may interfere with how the supplement is metabolized, and some of the components of the multivitamin (e.g. calcium) may interfere with pred absorption. I do know if you have a magnesium deficiency it is best to deal with that by taking it at a separate time from your calcium supplement (extra calcium interferes with magnesium absorption which is why we try to keep these two elements in balance), or bypassing the gut altogether and using either a spray formulated especially, or enjoying an Epsom salts bath or foot bath.
I actually think it's okay if the two are in balance. The problem arises when we are prescribed extra calcium but don't add the other micronutrients. The supplements I take include magnesium, among other things.
Good book about magnesium The Magnesium Miracle by Carolyn Dean.
I have been taking magnesium for a year. The Holland and Barratt one which I buy when the two for one offer is on. I noticed that Omeprazole can restrict uptake of magnesium from food. My reasons were for Pred head confusion. I think it helped but of course I might be fooling myself. It is always hard to know with supplements as tackling something can be a positive action and make you feel better . I have also taken Zinc for the passed two months but am stopping it this month as I am not sure it is effective
I also take a magnesium supplement in a liquid form. Like others this was aimed at counteracting night cramps. Co-incidental or otherwise, the cramps have lessened since taking the magnesium. Interesting comment from Hellyowl that Omeprasole might restrict mag uptake.
I take magnesium for foot cramps. I take them every night, 750mg and I get a really good sleep. Since taking them I've had no signs of the cramp and for me magnesium works well. I take pred for PMR, allorpurinol for gout,
omerprazole for hernia and I've had no side effects.
I started to take it (200mg) at night to help me sleep. It really helps. Seems to calm me. My OH has started to take it as well. Too early to tell if it’s helping
I am also at 4mg if prednisone. Magnesium is one of the supplements I take. I take Slow Mag because I do better with a form that’s easier to metabolize and it does make a difference to me. Congratulations on getting so far with your taper. It’s definitely no easy feat
Hi, I can't comment on what interactions supplements might have with your medications but I can tell you my experience with magnesium.
I've tried a couple of different types but have now settled on Super Magnesium+ that also has chronium,B6, C and D3. I take it at night before bed and sleep really well now. Just one loo visit during the night and straight back to sleep. I've come down to 2mg of prednisolone with no methotrexate anymore so that probably helps. Mozz
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