Magnesium

[Catslover-1]

Has anyone had any relief from restless legs or (PLMD ) with taking magnesium, and if so which type?

many thanks

Pam .

[ChrisColumbus]

I'll not repeat all the good advice Replies to your last post, particularly from Sue Johnson and Joolsg....

Magnesium was a great help to me, stopping RLS in a matter of days when I started on it, but then my Iron levels were never problematic and I had never been on any DAs. And I still find that various prescription drugs (such as statins) and dietary issues can still temporarily 'overwhelm' the palliative effects of Magnesium.

Magnesium may help you but the commonly available Magnesium Oxide may not because it's poorly absorbed: you're effectively paying to excrete it.

Magnesium Citrate (available from e.g. Holland & Barrett, but rarely from most Boots branches) is readily absorbable, but an appropriate amount (400-600 mg a day) can cause diarrhoea...

Magnesium certainly works for some, including me, but not for others including my brother.

 Besides the previously mentioned statins I've no doubt that SJ will have listed some of the anti-depressants, anti-histamines etc etc that also commonly trigger RLS. I find that too many highly processed foods, too much sugar, artificial sweeteners etc can trigger RLS also 'overwhelming' Magnesium.

Most UK GPs/neurologists know very little about RLS causes and treatment: it's not covered in their education and they rely on outdated NHS guidelines and guesses. Joolsg and others in the UK have tried for years to improve the situation, but it's a long fight.

Good luck!

[Catslover-1 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thank you for your message , I will purchase some from Holland and Barrett and try them ,

Thanks for the info re sweethers etc I will be mindful of this .

I also feel we are all trying to help ourselves by joining groups as there isn’t much help here in the UK .

Ok can cope day time and evening , it’s when I can’t sleep and then I can’t function effectively at work

Good luck to you too!

Many thanks

Pam

[Simkin]

yes you must take magnesium citrate from H & B as everyone mentions.



[Catslover-1 in reply to Simkin]

Thank you , I have ordered some online .

[TeddiJ]

Hi. Also try 2 iron capsules an hour before bed on an empty stomach-see if that makes a difference. Don't take it near the magnesium though.

[Catslover-1]

Thanks for that , when should I take the magnesium and vitamin D?

[SueJohnson]

Take magnesium 2 hours apart from taking iron. Vitamin D is not a problem for either.

[wendersgame in reply to SueJohnson]

oh gosh I'm getting it all wrong... taking my iron n the morning with my multivitamin and my magnesium 🙈

[Catslover-1 in reply to wendersgame]

Hi there , I’m following what Sue recommend , two iron tablets at bedtime with orange juice or vitamin C , you can read her posts , Magnesium has to be citrate I believe and not taken within two hours of iron , I think my iron is slowly coming up as my legs have calmed down so much 😊

Good luck!

Pam

[Hidden in reply to Catslover-1]

I don’t know that ferritin can be raised in a week or two. Maybe.

[Catslover-1 in reply to Hidden]

It won’t be anywhere near 100 but maybe their is a threshold at a certain point , I’m not sure , but something is helping

[Hidden in reply to Catslover-1]

Yes, I believe iron before bed would help just about everyone. Nothing to do with Ferritin. Timing is everything with RLS.

[sydaway]

Sorry I'm a bit late to the discussion. I take magnesium for RLS - and nothing else - I find it works well enough on it's own.

200 - 400mg citrate in the evening - important that it's in the evening for symptom relief. Though I've found that also taking 100 - 200mg in the morning helps with general anxiety.

Things that make my RLS worse are foods high in calcium, such as cheese. I suspect (but don't know) that my RLS is some sort of calcium/magnesium imbalance thing?

I've never been to a doctor about this, so have avoided prescription meds so far. But without the magnesium, my symptoms are bad enough to drive me crazy!