Trialling magnesium

[50568789]

Been looking for an answer to RLS since my twenties. At one stage I thought the cause might be beer but managed to eliminate that as the prime suspect, thank goodness. Tried ginko biloba tablets, thought we were doing well but eventually lost faith in that. Over the years it was only intermittent and just an occasional nuisance, so didn't bother too much. Any time I mentioned it to a doctor it was met with lack of curiosity and interest. About 5 years ago I was referred to a sleep clinic in Royal Papworth with suspected sleep apnoea, that was excluded but they did show a bit more interest in RLS and recommended Ropinirole. My GP showed little interest until I chased it up and was prescribed. Sad to say, it seemed to have no kind of effect whatsoever and my GP jumped at the chance to delist it, in favour of medications targeting AF which had by then been diagnosed. So I am taking a regime of diabetic, blood pressure, AF and prostate medications - and having regular RLS at night. Then I read on these forums about potential benefits of magnesium for AF and RLS, so am doing my own little trials. So far I've been trying mag citrate 3 x 100mg per day. Started on 100mg, then 2 x 100mg, but no effect, increased to 3 x 100mg and minimised RLS but too much laxative effect. After years of the dreaded Metformin for my diabetes and too many public accidents, stopped when replaced with insulin, I do not want to go through that again, so will now try mag glycinate. Also had short trial of mag oil spray on going to bed but not convinced.Any firm believers in any particular treatment? Am I doing something wrong or missing a trick?

[SueJohnson]

Take your magnesium at night. If you take iron tablets even in a multivitamin, take it 2 hours apart.

I'm not sure which of the medicines listed on your profile you are currently taking so I checked them all.

Unfortunately you are probably taking some medicines that make RLS worse - namely the beta blockers atenolol and bisoprolol. The following treat high blood pressure and should be safe for RLS: Propranolol (Inderal, Hemangeol,InnoPran), Isosorbide Mononitrate (Monoket, Imdur) which is not a beta blocker nor calcium channel blocker, clonidine (Catapres) an Alpha-2-Agonist which may help RLS and which also treats insomnia, tenex (Guanfacine, Intuniv), prazosin (Minipress) an alpha-adrenergic blocker that is also useful in managing sleep-related problems caused by PTSD and Tadalafil a vasodilator that treats prostrate problems and that in one study completely eliminated RLS. Discuss these with your doctor.

Ramipril, an ACE Inhibitor and Rivaroxiban, a blood thinner should be OK.

Unfortunately all statins can make RLS worse. Nexlizet (Nustendi (UK) is a cholesterol lowering drug that is not a statin, but I don’t know if it exacerbates RLS symptoms. Ezetimibe (Zetia) - reduces cholesterol although It doesn't reduce cholesterol as fast as the statins, but according to Chris Columbus it didn't trigger his RLS and then there is Triglide which seems safe. You might want to discuss these with your doctor. A more difficult way to reduce cholesterol is to go vegan. My husband lowered his cholesterol from 221 to 131 this way.

Have you had your ferritin checked? If so, what was it? Improving your ferritin to 100 or more helps 60% of people with RLS and in some cases completely eliminates their symptoms. If not when you see your doctor ask for a full iron panel. Stop taking any iron supplements including multivitamins that have iron in them 48 hours before the test, don't eat a heavy meat meal the night before, fast after midnight and have your test in the morning before 9 am if possible. When you get the results, ask for your ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) numbers. You want your transferrin saturation to be over 20% but less than 45% and your ferritin to be at least 100. If they are not, post them here and we can give you some advice.

Have you tried gabapentin or pregabalin which are the first line treatments for RLS?

[SueJohnson]

Meanwhile some things that can make RLS symptoms worse for some people are alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, sugar, carbs, foods high in sodium, foods that cause inflammation, ice cream, eating late at night, estrogen including HRT, dehydration, MSG, collagen supplements, electrolyte imbalance, melatonin, stress and vigorous exercise. Some things that help some people include caffeine, moderate exercise, weighted blankets, compression socks, elastic bandages, masturbation, magnesium glycinate, fennel, low oxalate diet, selenium, 5 minute shower alternating 20 seconds cold water with 10 seconds hot water finishing with hot water for another couple of minutes, hot baths, distractions, CBD, applying a topical magnesium lotion or spray, doing a magnesium salts soak, vitamins B1, B3, B6, B12, D3, K2, if deficient, and potassium and copper if deficient, massage including using a massage gun, vibration devices, using a standing desk, listening to music, meditation and yoga.

Many medicines and OTC supplements can make RLS worse. If you are taking any that were not listed on your profile and you list them here, I can tell you if any make RLS symptoms worse and if so may be able to give you a safe substitute

Check out the Mayo Clinic Updated Algorithm on RLS which discusses the latest guidelines on RLS treatment and refer your doctor to it if needed as many doctors do not know much about RLS or are not uptodate on it Https://mayoclinicproceedings.org/a...

[50568789 in reply to SueJohnson]

Thanks for your response. The only medicines not listed on my profile (have now updated) are lansoprazole and gaviscon advance aniseed flavour for acid reflux, and tamsulosin for enlarged prostate. I will try to digest the Mayo Clinic algorithm.

[SueJohnson]

Lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor. I haven't found anything that says it makes RLS worse but several people on the forum say it does and RLS-UK says most proton pump Inhibitors worsen RLS. Gaviscon advance is fine. I haven't found anything that says tamsulosin makes RLS worse although 1 person on the form said it did for him.

[50568789 in reply to SueJohnson]

I'm worried about my long term use of lansoprazole , PPIs are getting a bad name these days, but doubt I can do without and not convinced there is anything better on the market at present. Also have an uneasy feeling about Tamsulosin, like I did about ropinirole , will keep under observation. Much appreciate your input and efforts.

[SueJohnson]

The gaviscon is not enough to keep your acid reflux at bay?

[50568789]

No, 30mg lansaprazole before breakfast sees me through to bedtime but need gaviscon then to get through the night protecting against reflux while I sleep (or battle with RLS)

[booras]

Hello, I don’t know if I will be of much help but here is my story: have had intermittent rls since my teenage years. Played tennis quite a bit then and too much of that in a day definitely triggered it. Alcohol did even then and over the years alcohol would continue to trigger it. Tried metformin, then marijuana, both triggered it. I stopped drinking which has helped some and taking iron with vitamin C and that also definitely helps to minimize the rls. My doc recently put me on gabapentin (we had tried Ropinirole which helped but I was experiencing some augmentation so was weaning off of that) and was increasing the dose slowly but at 800 mg of the gaba-I had then developed adverse sexual side effects which caused me to look for alternatives. I read that trazodone might be an alternative for rls so am currently weaning off of the gaba and trying the trazodone. Jury is still not out on that but I am hoping. What does help is tramodol but I have read that can be a problem with augmentation too so I use it only sporadically when I am desperate for a good nights sleep. This is where I am at to date. Still room for improvement but things are better with just adequate iron levels and not drinking alcohol and occasional tramodol. Will report later on how the trazodone works after I get lower or off of the gaba. Maz

[50568789 in reply to booras]

Good luck with all that. I am yet to be convinced by anything but the search goes on!

[Pte82 in reply to 50568789]

Search on SIBO thiamine. The stomach esophagus spincter is connected to the vagus nerve and needs activated vitamin B1 (thiamine), as well as the brain, to function properly for control of the digestive system. There are foods, beverages and medications containing antithiamine factors that diminish or eliminate thiamine. Thiamine needs magnesium for activation and there are forms of each that have an easier time passing through the blood brain barrier than others. I had reflux but for almost a year now no longer suffer. I use boron to incrase magnesium absorption and reduce it's loss. Search on "nothing boring about boron" for more info. Always consult your health care professional before using any supplement.

[ChrisColumbus]

I've just seen this older post about Magnesium. The recommended dose level for Mg Citrate in the UK is 400mg/day, and I found that I had to go to 600mg/day at first. But I note that you had issues even at 300mg. I found that I could avoid a laxative effect by spreading intake through the day, and by not taking more than 200mg at a time. But some people are just more sensitive to magnesium citrate. You could try magnesium glycinate - which aids sleep and has little to no laxative effect - but you'd probably have to order this online...

[ChrisColumbus in reply to ChrisColumbus]

...but in any case, magnesium doesn't help everyone: it helps me but not my brother. And it probably won't help much if your iron level is too low, or you're taking another medication - such as a statin or beta blocker or antihistamine - which exacerbates RLS, or there's too much sugar in your diet etc.

[50568789 in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thanks for input. Since my original post, I have tweaked my meds routine by moving Tamsulosin to morning and Ramipril to evening, halving Avorstatin to 40g, and taking 520mg Magnesium Glycinate an hour before bed. It's working well for me (although who knows which bit is effective or placebo). RLS is mostly dormant at present but if any early sign I use Therapulse for 10 mins, that also has been effective.