magnesium and pregabalin

[soupersuzy]

I've read in several posts that magnesium citrate is good for RLS/PLMD and am going to try it. However I am taking Pregabalin every night so not sure if I can take magnesium at the same time. Does anyone have any advice please.

[SueJohnson]

Take the magnesium at least 3 hours before the pregabalin since it interferes with the absorption of pregabalin.

[soupersuzy in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you Sue. I take my Pregabalin at around 8 o/c (250mg) as it seems to work best then, so would it be ok to take the magnesium at 11 o/c or before bed if later?

[SueJohnson in reply to soupersuzy]

Yes that would be OK.

[soupersuzy in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you Sue, I'll try the magnesium.

[ChrisColumbus]

Magnesium Citrate helps some, including me, but does nothing for others. I take 400-600mg a day, but some people can't take this because it can cause diarrhoea. Other ways to use magnesium can be a magnesium oil spray on the legs (does nothing for me) or a couple of cups of Epsom Salts -Magnesium Sulphate - in a bath (never tried)

As Sue says, you're best to separate taking oral Magnesium from taking Pregabalin (or oral iron). On that point, have you had a full iron panel done recently? It should be done as early as possible in the day after overnight fasting and - if you're taking oral iron - 48 hours after taking your last iron supplement. Your serum Ferritin level should be over 100, preferably over 200. If it's not, try iron supplementation.

[soupersuzy in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thanks for your reply Chris. I too tried the oil but no help, and don't do baths! I had my iron levels checked earlier in the year and the Ferritin level was 180 so think that's ok.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to soupersuzy]

Iron supplementation doesn't sound necessary in your case. Good luck with Magnesium: it helped me within days, but did nothing for my brother. As I've said elsewhere though, other meds and diet (in my case statins and sweeteners in diet drinks) can effectively stop Magnesium working to counteract RLS. It's a matter of experimentation! Good luck!!

[soupersuzy in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thank you, fingers crossed it will.

[Hidden]

There's nothing in the literature to say that pregabalin and magnesium shouldn't be taken together.

Because gabapentin and magnesium shouldn't be taken together,some members on this forum have extrapolated this to pregabalin.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to Hidden]

True, I can't see such evidence. And I believe that another forum member corrected themselves on this point.

But while gabapentin & pregabalin may be being lumped together in some advice, the UK NHS says there's not enough information to say that herbal medicines, vitamins and supplements are always safe to take with pregabalin. "They're not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines

In view of that, if it's not a difficult matter to separate the two things, it seems one might as well keep them apart.

[SueJohnson in reply to Hidden]

I agree - I haven't found anything but Joolsg pointed out that since pregabalin and gabapentin are basically the same thing, it is better to err on the side of caution.

[Wiggler]

Hi, my specialist is one of the lead psychiatrists at The Priory, in Roehampton UK. He has prescribed Pregabalin 50/50/175mg per day with super strength Omega Oil with the AM Pregabalin and 2000mg of Magnesium Bisglycinate with PM 175mg dose. Also 2/2/5mg of diazepam. All of which has knocked the RLS on the head about 95%, even after a couple of alcoholic drinks! See previous posts on everything I’ve tried in the past but the consultant I am now seeing is a god send as he has been able to combine this with other medication for side issues but this is the RLS response for me but I know we all follow our own individual path of symptoms and successes. Short answer, I was positively encouraged to take the 2 together by a very knowledgeable and understanding Consultant so I wouldn’t be concerned about it. Good luck!

[LFIT in reply to Wiggler]

interesting post and combi of drugs/ supplements. May I ask how bad is your RLS without this medication routine? Is everything you take for RLS alone ?

I presently take 125mg Pregabalin and 250ug Clonezpam, however am slowly elevating Pregabalin dose as symptoms have resumed after a stable period . Thanks

[Wiggler in reply to LFIT]

Short answer is to the point of feeling suicidal. I’ve had RLS as long as I can remember (childhood). I was in the military for sometime and during this time it decreased which I can only put down to rigorous physical training, significant daily adrenaline, putting my life in danger etc. since then it came back with vengeance along with a diagnosis of PTSD. As a result I’ve also been round the SSRI route and other antidepressants until finding the wonderful people on this site. After an awful stint on opiates and the gabapentin experience a chance meeting found me at the door of my current consultant. Amongst other things he diagnosed an ‘amygdala highjack’ not something I’d heard of but linked into neuropathways, bipolar indicators etc so I also take Limotrigine for the ‘mental health’ side of things but we deal with these 2 issues in tandem. Better mental health and a current solution for the RLS have given me my life back. I’m able to live in the present with my amazingly patient family and no longer find myself sleeping on the floor next to our bed to save my wife from the RLS and regular nightmares.

From the personal stories I’ve read here, RLS often seems to go hand in hand with depression, anxiety, chronic pain etc. my consultant recognises this and treats the ‘whole package’ of issues rather than just the bits that GP’s feel they can understand and try to ‘fix’.

I could go on for ages but as I stress, this is just my story. A long and painful one but I have stuck with it and feel like a new person. There is hope and success out there if you keep going, kick down the locked doors and ignorance and don’t take no or I don’t know for an answer!! Sorry, Sunday sermon over!!

[briscc in reply to Wiggler]

First and foremost, thank you for your service. And I'm glad you are on a positive path to deal with PTSD and RLS. I am inquiring as to how much a Omega oil ?

[Wiggler in reply to briscc]

Hi briscc, sorry for the delay in replying. I wanted to get a photo of what I take/recommended.

I take 2 of these every morning.

Omega 3

[soupersuzy in reply to Wiggler]

Thanks Wiggler, pleased you've managed to find a consultant that's been such a help, they really are few and far between. My GP knows nothing about RLS/PLMD so I just get any queries answered by the wonderfully knowledgeable people on this site. You really are a Godsend.

[TeddiJ in reply to Wiggler]

Hi and great news. Did you take DA's (ROP or PRAM)?

[Wiggler in reply to TeddiJ]

Hi, tried ROP but had usual issues with it eventually and at which point my GP just offered me opiates (again) and Prozac.

[TeddiJ in reply to Wiggler]

Thanks! Did you take it for years then? (It matters to those of us who took them for years.)

[Wiggler in reply to TeddiJ]

Hi, no it was only for about a year and a low dose but I was aware of worsening symptoms but didn’t want to up the dosage due to all the info on augmentation here and getting into that mess. Hence why I gave up on ROP and went back to GP. Hope that helps.

[TeddiJ in reply to Wiggler]

Thanks. Good for you-you should have a much easier time finding a solution then.

[briscc]

I agree with soupersuzy. This site has been most helpful!