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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Magnesium?
        
(Message started by: sgarner on Feb 3^rd, 2008, 11:57pm)

Title: Magnesium?
Post by sgarner on Feb 3^rd, 2008, 11:57pm

Have a headache?

A few years ago, Altura’s team at SUNY-Brooklyn witnessed a therapeutic benefit of magnesium in acute symptoms, such as headache pain.

Because some studies had identified an apparent magnesium deficiency in the brains of persons suffering from migraines—both during headaches and between attacks—Altura’s group investigated whether rapid infusions of large amounts of the mineral might ameliorate pain. They administered a solution containing 1 gram of magnesium sulfate intravenously to 40 patients who visited a headache clinic in the throes of moderate to severe pain. They treated not only migraine sufferers but also persons with cluster headaches and chronic daily headaches.

Within 15 minutes, 32 of the men and women—80 percent—experienced relief. Though the headache may not have vanished, the pain lessened by at least 50 percent.

In 18 of these individuals, the pain relief lasted at least 24 hours. Blood tests before treatment confirmed that all but four in this latter group had ionized magnesium concentrations that were lower than the average in a related group of painfree individuals.

Overall, the researchers reported in the March 1996 Headache, "All nine patients with cluster headaches had their acute headache aborted by magnesium therapy." In cluster headaches, considered the most excruciating type (SN: 7/13/91, p. 20), people suffer up to 20 bouts of pain daily in a siege that can last months. For one patient in this trial, a single magnesium infusion ended the cluster. Some of the others received pain relief that lasted 2 to 7 days. Among two whose pain returned full blast within 24 hours, blood tests showed that their ionized magnesium concentrations had remained low. Each subsequent infusion cut the pain for 48 hours.

Migraine sufferers who responded to the treatment experienced a complete alleviation of their current symptoms, including sensitivity to lights and sound. Subsequent studies of additional migraine patients have confirmed a common pattern, Altura says. "Those patients where ionized magnesium in the brain or blood is low will respond to intravenous magnesium very quickly and dramatically."

"Our results support a role for magnesium deficiency in the development of headache," his team concluded.

http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc98/8_29_98/food.htm

Title: Re: Magnesium?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 4^th, 2008, 7:49am

A few years ago this was a hot topic here and there was a web site devoted to the issue (which has disappeared a year or more ago).

My memory says that reports posted here were quite mixed re. effectiveness.

Title: Re: Magnesium?
Post by thomas on Feb 4^th, 2008, 9:10am

It's part of my preventive regimen.

Title: Re: Magnesium?
Post by sandie99 on Feb 4^th, 2008, 9:50am

I've been taking extra magnesium tablet every day ever since I read right here that magnesium might help.

Sanna

Title: Re: Magnesium?
Post by Guiseppi on Feb 4^th, 2008, 10:14am

It's part of my daily regimen on and off cycle. I'm convinced it has had a positive effect in reducing the number and the severity of my attacks.

Guiseppi's 2 cents worth! ;)

Title: Re: Magnesium?
Post by Miz_D on Feb 12^th, 2008, 3:13pm

800 mg Magnesium Oxide is part of my new daily regime....don't know if it is helping but am experiencing some PF time so I don't really care 8)

Besides which, it DOES seem to help counteract the good ole Verapamil blockage, if ya know what I mean! ;;D

Title: Re: Magnesium?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 12^th, 2008, 10:31pm

Just checked PubMed and found only two abstracts related to CH, one in 1995 and one from 2001. Several others involved studies with migraine. Clearly, not an approach which is getting attention!

But, mag is benign and cheap so a trial is worth it to satisfy your curiosity.

Title: Re: Magnesium?
Post by thomas on Feb 13^th, 2008, 9:45am

on 02/12/08 at 15:13:06, Miz_D wrote:

Besides which, it DOES seem to help counteract the good ole Verapamil blockage, if ya know what I mean! ;;D

It most certainly does! lol. Glad to hear you are getting some pf time as well.

Title: Re: Magnesium?
Post by lionsound on Feb 13^th, 2008, 3:40pm

I take 750 mg daily prevent

Title: Re: Magnesium?
Post by Miz_D on Feb 13^th, 2008, 6:23pm

on 02/13/08 at 09:45:39, thomas wrote:

It most certainly does! lol. Glad to hear you are getting some pf time as well.

Thanks Thomas, hoping the same for all of us!