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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Positive Results with Magnesium
        
(Message started by: starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 2:42pm)

Title: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 2:42pm

Hey everyone--

Just wanted to report this in case it can help anyone. I have been using melatonin. Here is what has been happening. I need to keep raising the dose 3 mg every other nights or I get 5 headaches during the night that I need to abort with oxygen. This has been going on for 2 weeks--a very consisten pattern so I tried something. Here is what happened:

7/27: raised melatonin dose 3 mg to 24 mg--slept perfectly with only a headache upon naturally waking up--aborted with O2

7/28: took 24 mg of melatonin--5 headaches at night occurring at 1:30 am, 3:30 am, 5:30 am, 7:30 am and 9:00 am--all aborted with O2

7/29: instead of raising the melatonin dose 3 more mg, I KEPT it at 24 mg and I added 500 mg magnesium with breakfast, 500mg with lunch, 500 mg with dinner and 1000 mg before bed along with 24 mg melatonin. I HAD NO HEADACHES (not even one upon waking which I get every day no matter what). This is astonishing to me and the first headache free day/night yet.

Anyway, I hope this helps someone. The magnesium seems to have a wonderful affect for me I hope it can help someone else. Wishing you all painfree and will keep you all updated if it continues working.

Starlight

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 3:00pm

PS. Before trying the magnesium, I did experiment with both kudzu and taurine. I found that both kudzu and taurine were effective in getting rid of shadows during the day. The shadow would go away for me after taking either of them. However, they did not help with nighttime headaches--although the kudzu may have cut down on the intensity (less time needed to abort with O2 for maybe one of the nightly headaches) however did not alter the frequency. So I gave those up for the magnesium experiment cause I wanted to see if it worked.
Using Life Fitness brand from CVS

Starlight

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by prcole18 on Jul 30^th, 2006, 3:04pm

Ive also started using Magnesium, is there a limit on how much you should use?

Im using 500mg a day?

Recommended daily dose is 250mg [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 3:13pm

prcole18,

I too had been taking 500 mg a day in the morning (I take that amount every day even when not in cycle). So I did up the daily dose an additional 2000 mg. I do not think there are any bad side effects to this amount although it may sound like a lot. Some may not need to take as much--I was using a gut feeling I had that I needed a lot b/c my nighttime headaches are VERY stubborn and frequent (as I know many people's are). I tried to look up information about doses for treating clusters on the net but I couldn't find any--except barry's thread which says he takes 1500 mg a day. I will tool around with the dosage and see if I can get it lower. Good luck if you try it!!! Starlight

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by prcole18 on Jul 30^th, 2006, 3:21pm

Cool, thanks for that.

Ive just started on Verap 2X120mg a day, & just started 500mg of magnesium a day. Also just finished a course of Pred, so trying to stay off that.

Currently getting hit 6 times a day mainly aborting with imigran jabs, although 2 out of the 6 hits may be shadows so I may use nothing.

The headaches do seem a little less intense since I started on the verap & magnesium, weather it has anything to do with either of these i'll never know.

I'm going to take another 500mg magnesium before bed, so that'll be 1000mg today.

Fingers crossed.

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 3:30pm

Hey there--
I did just find on the net where very high doses can cause electrolyte imbalances. I am going to lower my daily dose to maybe 1500 mg. I was not aware there were negative side effects. Clusterheads are deficient in magnesium so I am sure it is ok if we go up higher than recommended dosage but probably I am going too high.
Good luck! I think that your dosage should be fine. I hope you get some luck with it.
Others here might have more info about magnesium and pipe in...

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 3:43pm

Just found another thing on the net that says that only people with kidney disease would be adversely affected by large doses of magnesium so I am stumped...maybe someone else knows more about this?

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by prcole18 on Jul 30^th, 2006, 3:46pm

Ive read something like that too.

Im' gonna go 750mg (maybe 1000) mag a day & see what happens.

Only side affect its having on me at the minute is I may have to run to the toilet!

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 4:03pm

Good luck to you!!!
I am going to lower my dose too to 500, 500, 500 spaced throughout the day and see what happens.
Let me know how it goes for you!

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by prcole18 on Jul 30^th, 2006, 4:32pm

Will let you know starlight. desperatly trying to find my personal preventive that works!

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jul 30^th, 2006, 6:40pm

on 07/30/06 at 15:46:10, prcole18 wrote:

Ive read something like that too.

Im' gonna go 750mg (maybe 1000) mag a day & see what happens.

Only side affect its having on me at the minute is I may have to run to the toilet!

Interesting about the effect of having to run to the toilet, 10 days ago I changed my brand of magnesium cos I couldnt get the usual and iv'e had the runs ever since so I cut back on the dosage to 1 X 500 per day.
Going bush again for a couple of days so will look in again Thursday.
Regards
Barry

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by ShaneM on Jul 30^th, 2006, 8:31pm

Hey Star,
I have also been considering using it. The side effect that I was warned about was mostly upset stomach. Have you had any problems with that? I was also told that if I chose to use it I needed to add extra Calcium (from the Pharmisist), but I can't remember why exactly. When I was at WalMart the other day I noticed that they had a Manesium and Calcium suppliment mixed together.

Shane

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 10:46pm

Shane,

Good luck if you try it! Strangely enough, my stomach has not been upset--maybe a SLIGHT change in well, you know, bathroom stuff, but nothing to cause any problem or write home about :)
It's definitely worth a shot taking some (especially before bed). The difference was remarkable. There is no doubt that the magnesium "worked" at least last night. I hope it can help you! Let me know how it goes! Pain free Wishes, Starlight

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 10:48pm

PrCole--Good luck to you! I hope you find what works for you! Keep trying and let us know! Pain Free Wishes,
Starlight

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 10:51pm

Barry--

Good luck with your new dose! Thanks for posting your log--it has been really helpful to read! Good luck to you! Starlight

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 30^th, 2006, 10:54pm

PS Shane--I did not know that about the calcium--that is probably a good idea though--maybe it helps with absorption?? Let me know how it goes for you. Star

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by ShaneM on Jul 31^st, 2006, 8:19am

on 07/30/06 at 22:46:00, starlight wrote:

Shane,

Good luck if you try it! Strangely enough, my stomach has not been upset--maybe a SLIGHT change in well, you know, bathroom stuff, but nothing to cause any problem or write home about :)

Star

So, what you're saying is, I most likely won't be needing a stool softener anymore for my other meds? ;)

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Jul 31^st, 2006, 11:07am

Shane--

You hit the nail on the head :)

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by Radha on Aug 1^st, 2006, 12:25am

what form of magnesium helped you? just plain old oxide or the glycinate or some other form?
radha

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Aug 1^st, 2006, 9:45am

Radha--

I am just using regular magnesium oxide--Life Fitness Brand from CVS--250 mg tablets.

Also, further evidence that it does indeed work: I felt so good--had two perfect nights with the magnesium and melatonin that I didn't take any magnesium yesterday (I guess I just got bold--not a smart move). Last night was hell (5 slammer headaches). First thing this morning I popped some magnesium. The stuff does work.

Good luck if you try it! Star

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by prcole18 on Aug 1^st, 2006, 9:54am

Starlight, how much you taking a day now?

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by starlight on Aug 2^nd, 2006, 10:42am

prcole,

I am taking now 500 mg morning (this helps with daytime shadows) and 1000 mg before bed (with the melatonin). Good luck to you!

Starlight

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by skorpio1104 on Aug 3^rd, 2006, 4:31pm

I am also taking mag, 500mg along with other vitamins. Last two days are between Kip 4 to 7 with mag +, before I was 8-10. Not sure if that's the reason, but will let you all know. Another thing that definately works for me is gallons of coffee....has anyone tried that yet? Did it work?

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Aug 4^th, 2006, 10:48pm

Looks like lowering my dose of magnesium was a bad move, I got hit 3 days in a row missed 1 day and got hit again last night.
I got my old brand of Mag going again and hope it gets into the system soon.

Just had a look at the difference in the 2 types of Mag I've got, the one that works the best is amino acid chelated the other that sent me off to the toilet is a mixture of magnesium as (oxide) (orotate) (phosphate) & amino acid chelate.

Cheers
Barry

Title: Re: Positive Results with Magnesium
Post by hilbily on Aug 5^th, 2006, 4:33pm

My doc ups my Verap up to 2 x 240 per day during cycle (which puts an end to most trips to the can) then has me use Magnesium to get things moving again. He also has me on B-complex, Feverfew and CoQ10, with Melatonin at night. Nothing stops the hits, but it seems to reduce the intensity. Good luck!