How much Magnesium to take for RLS?

[67Waterman]

I know that this has been answered many times ... so many apologies. How much Magnesium should one take for RLS, what sort of Magnesium (glycinate?), and at what time of the day? Big thanks, Sally

[Madlegs1]

Any of the --ates are good-. I use citrate.

How much? Enough to have an effect but not to be a laxative. That is dependent on the form. Generally between 100 and 400mg works for most people.

Start low and see how it goes.

Don't forget that mg interacts with many other medications, including Gabapentin. Keep 2 hours apart.

I take Citrate 100mg after my evening meal 6pm, but sometimes will up it to 200mg.

It's very much an experiment. So good luck.

[67Waterman in reply to Madlegs1]

Perfectly clear - a million thanks!

[ChrisColumbus]

I too take Mg citrate: I might have tried Mg glycinate but none of the pharmacies or health food shops in my area stock it. (The advantages of glycinate are that reportedly it doesn't have a laxative effect and, if taken in the evening, is said to aid sleep. It seems more readily available in the US).

I get my Solgar brand 200mg citrate tablets from Holland & Barrett shops or a local pharmacy or online: I buy these instead of H&B own brand because both are large pills but the Solgar ones are coated so don't stick to the tongue or back of throat. I did try 100mg tablets once when I couldn't get 200mg but found that I had to take the same dose but using more pills!

The dose on the Solgar bottle is 2x200mg a day: I took these one with breakfast and one with lunch or dinner, as I found that if I took two together I noticed the laxative effect. This varies from person to person.

When I was particularly struggling I increased to 3x200mg, again separately at meal times.

As Madlegs says timing will to an extent be determined by what other meds or supplements you are taking, as you have to separate Mg from both e.g. gabapentin and iron supplements.

I have now cut down to 1x200mg a day for maintenance, as I no longer have RLS symptoms. However, magnesium didn't help my brother at all.

[Whymelord in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Hi ChrisColumbus,you said that you no longer have RLS,may I ask how did you managed to stop this horrible affliction.

[67Waterman]

Thank you Chris .... it really is all a nuisance (!). Magnesium after dinner, then Pregabalin plus iron plus Vitamin C before bed. And I also still take a very small amount of Ropinirole (0.125mg) - without it, the Pregabalin just is not enough (even at 300mg). Happy weekend.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to 67Waterman]

Magnesium initially stopped my RLS very quickly.I never found timing an issue with magnesium: if taking glycinate, doing so in the evening makes sense as it may aid sleep - you just have to juggle the timing around other things you're taking.

I found taking citrate earlier in the day worked as well as taking it in the evening.

If magnesium doesn't seem to help, if your iron levels are OK and you're taking your other meds, I'd be looking for other triggers.

For me, no matter how much magnesium I take, when I was taking statins - and subsequently afterwards if I was using too much sugar, drinking artificially sweetened diet food and drinks, imbibing too much caffeine, too much or too little exercise - I'd still have RLS. Cutting out these things stopped my RLS.

Good luck!

[Artnmusiclover]

I was prescribed statins and noticed my RLS worsened. I now swear by my Glycinate! 1 hour before bed, relaxes everything! Used to use Citrate, which was good, but as mentioned before had a laxative effect, and have tried chelated (which did nothing). Glycinate all the way 👏 hope you get it under control 🌻