Magnesium and iron supplements.

[Tpebop]

As a dim relative newby I would be grateful if someone would clarify the use of magnesium and iron for RLS sufferers. From reading previous posts, it seems we need magnesium for some reason (I took some and felt wonderful) and iron (something to do with the brain-blood barrier according to a pharmacist). The problem is iron tabs say "don't take with magnesium and aluminium", which causes a problem. Advice please. Tpebop (Kent).

[Hidden]

Your first port of call is to see your doctor and ask for a Ferritin level test, ferritin is how your iron is stored. If your ferritin level is below 75 then you MIGHT benefit from taking iron pills, the usual dose from your doctor is 375, three times a day, it can take months and months to get the ferritin level up, some cant even get it up by much. and some find it helps with the RLS some dont.

Magnesium seems to help some people with the RLS, and definately for cramps.

I have tried both the iron didnt help me, just gave me really bad constipation. Magnesium just done the opposite to the constipation

I havent heard of taking iron and magnesium to be a problem, but i guess we all learn something new.

So which one to take iron or magnesium....did the magnesium help with your RLS, i suppose might decide what one you go for..

Where did you read about the iron and magnesium not mixing...?

Irene. West Sussex..

[Tpebop in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Elisse, I read about the two not mixing on the insert to a pack of Ferrous Sulphate tabs. Yeah, I really do need to go and see my doc to sort all this sort of stuff out. Bloomin' NHS managers though, they expect us to make the time up for seeing GPs and I live miles way from where I work. I must use Occy Health's subtle hints and say going to the GP to sort out RLS based sleepyness can only benefit all concerned... Thanks for the support.

[nightdancer in reply to Hidden]

all tre. Do NOT take iron tablets without getting tested first. If it says not to take them together, they mean hrs apart, not "not at all". Iron overload can be more dangerous than a lot of prescriptins. YO do not want iron overload, trust me. Like Ekisse says. It MIGHT help, but don;t get excited. Iron supplements by mouth can take months and months to get your Ferritin up. But, you MUST (emphasis) get tested first. I cannot overemphasize that enough.

[BobM in reply to nightdancer]

As usual Nightdancer speaks well. All makes sense to me and also matches my experience with Iron problems.

Kindest

Bob

[BobM in reply to Hidden]

Top reply Irene

[marsha2306 in reply to Hidden]

I take both. Just have to separate them by 2 hours.

I take magnesium at 8:00 pm and iron at 10:15 pm.

[Hidden]

I have started taking Magnesium Oil some weeks ago and find that it really helps to calm down the legs, which in turn helps me to sleep much better. Instead of 1-2 hours at a time I now get at least 6! At times i also use an oil called Night Time Leg Calming Oil. Both these oils help to relax the legs and have helped me to sleep much better. Otherwise, they have no effect on the RLS. Perhaps the oils send a message to the brain to tell the legs to relax.

I have no idea how it all works but I do know that for me the oils ( one or the other ) have changed my sleeping pattern. I still have to take Mirapex to control the RLS.

[Fidgetygirl]

Hey

Just to say I am currently on prescribed iron (my ferriitin level was 6!) and after just over a month it does seem to have made a difference. It's a bit different for me though as I am currently pregnant which I think is why my legs have become so unbearable. It's worth getting it checked out, I know it might not help everyone but it's making a difference to me.

[nightdancer in reply to Fidgetygirl]

Especially since you are pregnant!! some people actually develop RLS while they are pregnant, even if they have never had it before. My niece did. The latest theory is that during pregnancy, the stress hormone cortisol is released at a higher rate, so that may be why RLS tortures pregnant women who desperately need sleep.

Congrats on the baby; keep us posted about how things are going, ok? :o)

[Fidgetygirl]

Thanks Nightdancer! It's baby number two, my legs were awful with my first and weren't much better while I was breastfeeding either. They calmed down after that but it was one of the first symptoms I had with this baby! I hadn't really linked the iron thing up before, even though I took it last time so it was great to find some info on here. Anyway, sorry, am getting carried away on someone else's thread, will stop waffling now.................

[harecatcher in reply to Fidgetygirl]

Not at all - Reading baby updates at 3 in the morning certainly helps take the mind off the RLS for a moment !!!! Any relief no matter how small is wirth it!!!!

[nightdancer in reply to Fidgetygirl]

that's cool. :o) We waffe all the tije! We can because we are sleep deprived!! lol My niece had never had RLS; first pregnancy she had it awful. she cried through a lot of nights. then no RLS after the baby was born. 2nd pregnancy- no RLS. Now that her kids are 5 and 8, she has developed raging RLS. A biig study cited that women who have RLS during pregnancy, even without havig it previously, are 13 more times liely to develop RLS later in lfe. Plus my family has the gene , so now she is exploring meds. yikes I wish you well!

[hairy-mary]

Hi there.

Iron and Magnesium should be taken 2-3 hours apart as they inhibit the absorption of one another. You could try taking Iron in the morning and Magnesium at night, or if you're taking more than one dose of each, space them out with meals and bedtime.

Also taking Iron with Orange Juice (or other sources of Vitamin C) will increase its absorption.

Best of luck

[hairy-mary in reply to hairy-mary]

Magnesium is required for muscle contractions. Depleted levels of Magnesium can cause muscle aches, pains, cramping and spasms. Magnesium acts as a muscle relaxant and thus is useful in treating RLS, anxiety and menstrual cramps to name a few.

[Hidden in reply to hairy-mary]

Best answer Hairy Mary! Thanks

[marsha2306 in reply to hairy-mary]

There is an over the counter pill called Vitron C. Combines Vitamin C and Iron - gentler on your stomach.

[tustin7]

livestrong.com/article/5496... According to Livestrong Magnesium and Iron can be taken together and magnesium enhances absorption.