I only found out today, quite by accident, that PPI's can, and do, cause magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency, in turn, can then cause cramps, muscle twitches and RLS. Holy hell! I've been taking PPIs for years - literally years - and despite mentioning that I have RLS to several doctors, not ONE of them has ever said "How long have you been taking PPIs? Because they might be making your RLS worse." Yeah, or causing it.
My RLS has got worse over the years and I just assumed it was aging/increased ill-health, but what if I have a magnesium deficiency? Which would hardly be surprising. Yet again I feel VERY annoyed at doctors for not bothering to mention this, or perhaps for not even knowing it. What DO they teach them at medical school? Just to rant for one second - this is one of my biggest bugbears with medicine, this 'go in and see them about only one thing' routine we all have to do because they've only got ten minutes. That's all very well, but what if things are connected, you know like the normal interrelated effects in the body? Please now imagine a lot of frustrated swearing.
Okay, got that off my chest. Can anybody who has used, or is using magnesium for their RLS give me details of the type they use/d and what kind of dosage? Might as well get a heads-up from those people who ACTUALLY do know what they're talking about, and who care about helping others with that knowledge!
P.S. I'd also be interested to hear of any personal stories about magnesium issues/deficiencies. I've since checked the symptoms of deficiency and, surprise, I have several of them. Even more frustrated swearing....
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Chancery
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Why do you still take PPI's? I had to look up what they are and what they are used for. Stomach ulcers and reflux. On the wikipedia site (I first read te Dutch one, different from the English version) it mentioned the negative effects on magnesium and also B12. And it mentioned that PPI's these days usually don't need to be taken very long term, as the cause of ulcers is known (Heliobacter pylori) and can be treated with antibiotics. Don't know about reflux, though. Wikipedia can't always be trusted, but it is a nice start ...
So, why are you still taking the PPI's? I hope they are the source of your RLS and you'll soon be cured.
I agree re magnesium. I suddenly developed RLS about 4 months ago (late 50's), lots of blood tests revealed no underlying issues, doc prescribed pramipexole, I read up on the side effects and joined a few forums where the issues regarding DA drugs were well documented, so decided to try other methods. I started taking magnesium supplement in the evening & magnesium oil massaged into my calves. I also take a gentle iron supplement every morning. I don't drink caffeine after midday. I have a camomile tea during the evening and take 2 hops valerian & passionflower supplements before bed. I would say it took a couple of weeks to build up, but I have now slept 6-7 hours a night for the last 2 weeks without any obvious sign of RLS. It may just be coincidence and my RLS may have always just been temporary, or maybe it'll come back, but for now I'm happy with my self-help plan and avoiding any medically prescribed drugs... keeping my fingers crossed!! Good luck and I hope you get good results from magnesium
Thanks, Capuleta. I'm super-sensitive to caffeine. One cup of decaff in the morning will knock 2 or three hours off my sleep. If I add a square of chocolate onto that I'm in trouble! Have a drink with Sucraolse too and my legs will be doing the Fandango all by themselves.
I have been taking PPI's for years for my hiatus hernia but did not associate this with my RLS. I have not been tested for magnesium but take gentle iron every day as well as my Gabapentin. It all seems to work as I sleep for 6/7 hours every night with one or two interruptions. I have noticed recently that my RLS is still around in the background when I forget to take a pill or am particularly tired .
I also make sure I have the main meal at lunchtime and do not eat after 6pm or eat fruit after 3pm, with only a small tea and stick mostly to decaffeinated tea and coffee. I am convinced that diet has a role in RLS as well as my hiatus hernia and is a factor in sleeping well.
Yeah, it's definitely a thing. Apparently since PPIs have been available over the counter they've seen a steep increase in cases of magnesium deficiency. Makes you wonder why they were ever allowed to take them off prescription in the first place!
I have a hiatal hernia - rolling - so it’s permanent. Makes me feel sick and very tired and my stomach burns. Chocolate (cocoa) red wine, fatty or fried food and raw onions are big no-nos so I take ppi’s as and when I need them (usually on holiday) but resist taking them all the time as they also reduce vitamin b absorption. I have found nearly all acid blockers - that’s gaviscon omeprazole Zantac make my legs much much worse after about 5 days of use so this could be your cause. Osemeprazole gastro resist is tolerable but not sure why. I also have restless legs and restless arms which is hereditary but try to keep off major drugs. Sometimes I get it for 4-5 days on the trot and I can usually attribute it to something I have done. I take magnesium Malate capsules from amazon about 250mg per day. You can go up to 400mg. Which by the way cured my very long-standing frequently occurring full blown migraines and headaches within days. Not had one now for 5 years. I also take iron bisglycinate from Holland and Barrett or spatone liquid iron from Tesco every other day. This is the most important thing I take for rsl. If I forget here comea my rsl. My iron count is around 120 whilst taking the iron so not particularly low but I definitely need it. If I wake with rsl in the night I spray better you magnesium oil on my arms and legs and I get relief within 20 minutes but it doesn’t work as a preventative measure. Lastly diet. For me it’s fizzy drinks, mixers and ice cream that set it off.
Thanks Mum! You're lucky you can take PPIs like that. If I skip even a day my oesophagus is on fire. They say it's rebound reflux, but try getting through that to get off them. I switch to Ranitidine occasionally just for a break, but they aren't as good. Thanks for giving me some dosages - that's really helpful. There's a very good chance what you are reacting to in fizzy drinks & mixers (maybe even ice cream) is Sucralose. I react severely to that. Unfortunately because of the Sugar Tax they've INCREASED the amount of it in drinks so it's harder to find a drink free of it. However, some things use different sweeteners and if you buy (generally more expensive) full sugar drinks you shouldn't have the same problems.
PPIs are fraught with problems and they are handed out like candy, at least in the US. So, go into any drug store and see the Wall of PPIs/acid reducers - Nexium, Prevacid, etc. Is there an epidemic of reflux, GERD, and heartburn? Of course not - but it is a quick "here take this" solution for docs. I've had good luck with Oil of Oregano, Apple Cider Vinegar (with and without baking soda), increasing stomach acid with a Betaine HCL/pepsin supplement, digestive enzymes, ginger (tea, slices and capsules) and d-Limonene.
Magnesium supplements (all kinds) has been paradoxical for me - offering an excitable reaction rather than relaxing (even taking it in the morning). Still haven't figured this out, but I do take an electrolyte supplement that contains 20mg of magnesium. I believe there is a relationship between RLS and muscle cramps - but they are not related to each other - cramps don't cause RLS - but they come from the same place - malabsorption, especially for iron, magnesium and potassium.
I take about 300-350 mg of magnesium citrate powder (Bulk Supplements from Amazon) every day. Half in the morning and half at night added to my coffee and water. Works for me! Hope you find relief too! I don't have time to read the other responses so I apologize if I'm repeating a similar response or missed something else. Good luck!
Thank you for the very important info! I'm on Omeprazole for many years. And though I take multivitamins every day, it's not enough. Cramps, irritability and of course RLS - all of those started about the time I started Omeprazole. I finally figured it was Magnesium and B-vitamins deficiency so now I take a 300 mg of Magnesium (as citrate) and B6 along with it to help absorption. No cramps, not so irritable, RLS is well under control.
Chancery and all who have reflux, two suggestions:
—Raise the head of your bed by putting six-inch cement or wood blocks under the base head posts (four inch works for me). Got rid of my husband’s snoring as well.
—Go to a holistic MD and get blood tested for ferrin iron and the rest of my attached labs. I’m on four times the dose of iron now and taking progesterone (not a hormone or hormone disruptor) as well super-dose of vitamin D for two weeks, liver cleanse etc.
BPC 157 from Dr. Seeds will likely resolve gastrointestinal intestinal issues better than antibiotics. Look it up. A miracle for me.
The raising of the bed is the best ,safest ,cheapest ,oldest trick in the book . All our grandparents had there bedheads raised ,doctors used to recommend this gem
Doctors don’t make money out of people NOT coming back for prescriptions.
Thanks for reminding everyone of this truly genius gem from the past 🙂
I also cannot take Omeprazole/Prilosec. After taking it once for stomach upset I spent the entire night up restless, walking up and down my stairs and taking hot baths. I now list it as an “allergy”. However I can take Ranitidine/Zantac without any exacerbation of my RLS.
Annoyingly, I've been on Ranitidine a few times to give myself a break but I didn't notice whether it improved my RLS or not. In fairness, I probably wasn't off PPIs long enough for my magnesium to recover so I might not have noticed a difference anwyay. Sadly Ranitidine doesn't work as well for me, because I'd far rather use that.
I read about ppi's causing magnesium de ages ago. ...doctor said just eat a banana...yeah. I find the MAIN cause of rls {for me} is sugar even sweet fruit before going to bed...we are all different.
Ironic, Finder, given that it's the NHS who wrote the research I found - they're finding a huge spike in cases because of over-the-counter PPIs, so your doc's glib reply flies in the face of his employer's own evidence! And I have to confess, much as I don't want to, that excessive sugar consumption makes my RLS worse too. I can eat some though, thank God!
Definitely read the American ebook if you can find it online by Marie and Jeffrey Goodwin 'The cause and solution to restless legs syndrome'. It id's too much salt in our diets and prescribes very specifically magnesium citrate and vitamin b6, p5p pyrodoxil. I originally imported it but a long search on Amazon can yield results. The treatment does help but the amount I had to take for it to be effective was too drastic for my system (up to 6 x 100mg a day!). The book is expensive and you need a password to access it. I now take 2 plus the b6 with my evening meal but for their other beneficial effects which you can google. I cut down the salt dramatically as I used to eat salted cashews or crisps almost every day and salt on my dinner. My wife now steams most vegetables which I am getting used to!
A friend recommended aesculus horse chestnut drops only available from A.Vogel and some nights they work for me. I started adding a CBD spray, strong 1200mg (as 300 didn't work) a month ago and it helps my sleep, but nothing works every time but anything that gives even short term relief is welcome until someone does the research to find a remedy.
My legs are starting to twitch now at about the usual time 9.30 so better go and take the medicine and hope and pray for a better night. Yes, I do believe in the power of prayer, otherwise I don't think I would have ever got through.
Glad these work for you, Meritus, but they are too down-the-rabbit-hole for me. I find if you start down the 'alternative medicine' route you can end up a whole lot poorer and not much better off, but that's just me!
So glad I read this thread. Since my bout with anxiety, I noticed heartburn was worse, which made me worry more.....ahhhh vicious cycle. So, I started adding 1 omeprazole to my daily routine about 2 weeks ago. The night before last I was awakened with one of the worst Charley horses I've ever had. I used to get them often as a kid, found out they hurt more as an adult....haha.
This thread shed some real light on the matter. Thanks!
Now I just need to figure out how to live without the omeprazole.
(Side note: I'm on month 10 of no smoking, pushing 40, and overweight .
I've been on magnesium for a couple of weeks now and think I'm seeing some reduction in my RLS. However, bizarrely, I'm getting cramp in my feet every night! Hope it's just the cold weather and poor circulation.
I stopped all acid blockers for my hiatus hernia the rebound was horrid on them . Although they helped the burning and reflux it was not perfect relief .I stopped due to
A brief conversation with an anaesthetist before surgery who suggested they where made to keep you hooked ,he told me about the rebound effect . He said the first 3 days would be tough but to try having mostly fluids first few days and then life would be much better.
He was right I rarely need to take anything now for reflux if I drink 3/4 glasses of wine ( hardly ever ) I would get reflux so I avoid . The very occasional time I do I use a sublingual Zofran wafer .
If you decide to stop acid blockers perhaps Zofram might help in the first 3 days .
I will never ever take another proton inhibitor I have tried heaps of different ones none where as good as taking none .
Ps I did not find taking any of acid blockers made my RSL any worse or stopping them made Rsl any better .
I don't have the stamina to get me through three days of a burning oesophagus, Shumbah. I MIGHT be able to do it if I thought three days would definitely take me to my happy place, but I seriously doubt that after all these years. If I go onto Ranitidine I get problems the whole time, and that's while using a replacement drug, so doing without entirely definitely wouldn't see me clear in 3 days!
I don't know that Zofran is available here in the UK. It's an anti-nausea drug so I'm not sure I would be able to get my doc to prescribe it for oesophagitis anyway, assuming that the drug itself is in use here at all.
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