Magnesium and the heart

[Broseley]

I stopped taking my magnesium supplement (not prescribed) about a month ago in the hope that my persistent morning diarrhoea would clear up. It hasn't. But I have noticed, on my Fitbit records, that my sleep quality has gone right down, my resting heart rate has increased from 60 to 72, and my heart rate variability has gone down from around 25 to 12. The only thing that has changed in the last month, apart from reducing pred from 3mg to 2.5mg, is the stopping magnesium.

So I Googled Magnesium and found that it can do all these things, along with lowering blood pressure (I haven't monitored mine so I don't know if it's been affected). I'm going to restart my 100mg Magnesium daily to see if these results are reversed.

I did, however, spot that, as well as many benefits, Magnesium (Mg) has many drug interactions. Most relevant for me is with bisphosphonates as I take Alendronic acid (AA). I didn't know Mg can reduce its absorption! Advice is to take the Mg at least 2 hours after the AA. Also it can interact with 'blood thinners' but I have never noticed an increase in bleeding in the two years I took it for.

See WebMD for more detail. webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingre...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you considered the diarrhoea could be due to adrenals struggling? Been discussed a few times recently.

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

It started pretty much when I was first put on drugs after diagnosis. I'm now thinking it might be the omeprazole. But the GP won't let me stop that till I'm off pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Not even to try an H2 antagonist? They have a different mechanism so different adverse effects but stop the acid that they are concerned about.

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

I will suggest that. Our GPs seem to know very little about drugs.

[Koalajane]

I take my magnesium late evening.

At the moment I am taking cocodamol for sciatica and while magnesium can make me loose the cocodamol does the opposite,

[Broseley in reply to Koalajane]

So they cancel each other out, presumably!

[Koalajane in reply to Broseley]

Yes I am pleased to say

[Bluey-1]

I was on Ompeprazole for a few days after my suspected TIA as a PPI for aspirin. I took it until the TIA was confirmed via MRI and then put on anti coagulants. I suffered from some diarrhoea during those few days. Can you get enteric coated pred and come off the PPI. Would that help?

[Broseley in reply to Bluey-1]

Thanks, good idea. However I don't think you can get 1mg enteric coated pred, which I will need.

[Bluey-1 in reply to Broseley]

You can, I get them

[Bluey-1 in reply to Broseley]

Bearing in mind your stomach issues and not having prescription costs for a PPI you could make an argument for the EC pred. This is something I did when at one point I was given plain pred.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bluey-1]

Broseley

May work -1mg EC priced -£32 for 100

Plain 1mg Pred less than £1 for 28 pack

Omeprazole 10mg around £9 for 28 pack

Look up prices on BNF/NICE drugs

[Broseley in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks. I'm on 20mg omeprazole. Don't know why, if 10mg is the normal dose.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Broseley]

Many are on 10mg - just happened to be the price I looked at - 20mg are slightly cheaper at £7.50 for pack of 28…,

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Depends what it is being given for - can be up to 40mg for some things

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You could try magnesium spray to aid sleep....as for EC Pred 1mg - they are available but very expensive compared to other doses and/or plain Pred, so many Health Authorities won't allow them to be prescribed..

[Bluey-1 in reply to DorsetLady]

I’ve used the spray from Boots or occasionally cheaper at TkMax

[Broseley]

Good news! I have found two packs of 2.5mg EC pred in the back of the cupboard, still in date. I was prescribed them when I went down to 17.5mg many moons ago! As I'm now on 2.5mg I'm going to try them, though I know you have to wean off omeprazole gradually but hopefully the diarrhoea will get better. I have another 12 days before I'm scheduled to drop to 2mg, but I could always extend that.