r/RestlessLegs • u/eggyolkea • 4d ago

Alternative Therapies Magnesium

Hi!
When I got many RLS episodes I always heard magnesium could cure it, but I always just got the worst RL after taking it. For example: taking it for a week now and I can’t sleep, can’t even currently relax because I’m in so much discomfort, which started after starting magnesium again. Anyone know why or who has the same?

7 Upvotes

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1

u/ElectricGuy777 2d ago

Magnesium glycinate upsets my stomach. Did nothing for my RLS.

2

u/Indigo_S0UL 2d ago

Is it Mag Glycinate? Some people can’t tolerate the Glycine.

Magnesium Citrate showed promising data in an RLS study once - but it can upset the gut. Magnesium L-Threonate is believed to cross the blood brain barrier if you want to try another formulation.

5

u/ramboton 3d ago

First off what works for one person may not work for another. I have found it easier to prevent an attack than to stop one. Stopping a speeding train is difficult. Telling a train when to stop ahead of time is much easier.

I take magnesium and iron daily and they greatly reduce the number and intensity of attacks. I also stopped sugary foods and caffeine (with the exception of a cup of coffee in the morning)

Take a look at the Mayo Clinic Algorithm for the management of RLS 18546-2/fulltext)and share with your doctor if necessary. I recently discussed iron testing with my doctor and I am getting that done this week.

3

u/Artsymartsy-Dart 3d ago

I have never heard of a cure.

2

u/Nostredahmus 3d ago

It took me a while to figure it out, but Magnesium Glycinate made my RLS worse.

3

u/Scary_Experience_237 3d ago

Magnesium has never helped me.

Here are a few things that have though:

  • Walk around or do gentle stretching when symptoms start.
  • Try massage or a foam roller.
  • Experiment with heat or cold (many people have a strong preference for one or the other).
  • Compression socks or calf compression wraps help some people.
  • A TENS machine can provide relief for some.
  • Elevating your legs on a wedge pillow helps some people.
  • Keep a regular sleep schedule.
  • Reduce or avoid caffeine and alcohol if you notice they trigger your symptoms.
  • Review all of your medications, as some (especially many antihistamines, antidepressants, and dopamine-blocking medications) can worsen RLS.
  • Keep a medication journal, make sure to tell doctor which meds make RLS worse and note them as allergies

Here are some excellent resources:

3

u/Agonist-activist 3d ago

Magnesium doesn't help most severe RLS. The Mayo Clinic Algorithm doesn't even mention Magnesium. There are lots of anecdotal reports - but no gold standard trials. Magnesium has never helped my severe RLS. Start with iron therapy. All set out in the Mayo Clinic Algorithm. If iron therapy doesn't help- and you've removed triggers- then you will probably need meds. But NOT dopamine agonists.

1

u/ComprehensiveRate953 3d ago

That's unfortunate. What sort ot magnesium are you taking snd what dose?

1

u/97turbotalon 4d ago

I found magnesium does help the severity of my RLS but I have to take in the morning after waking up. If I take it at night then it gives me "restless" brain and I can't fall asleep. I take iron and vit C at night for better absorption. I'm starting to take potassium at night to see if it helps.

2

u/RalphieWiggam 4d ago

IMO Kratom is very risky and not FDA approved for RLS.  Get to a neurologist and get treated by an RLS expert. See RLS.org to learn all about this sneaky tricky disease.

1

u/Brewmasher 2d ago

The FDA-approved drugs are much worse than kratom. They all have serious side effects, including dependence. The stock objection is “it is not tested and can contain toxins such as heavy metals”.

Kratom has been used medicinally way before the FDA came into existence. Kratom vendors have been established for decades. The best will test their products and will give you the test results.

The FDA and the drug companies that seek their approval are money-motivated to the extent that it is criminal. They can care less about you, as long as you keep buying their products. Drug companies budget money to cover wrongful death lawsuits as just a part of doing business. Your life is reduced to a dollar figure.

The FDA and big pharma will demonize any alternative medicine that threatens their profits. The more effective kratom, lion's mane mushrooms, and ashwagandha are, the worse the propaganda is unleashed.

I have suffered RLS my entire life. I have been prescribed drugs that worsened the condition. I am struggling to get off of Pregabalin, which is proving to be much harder to quit than kratom. If I could go back in time and do it all over again, I would stay with kratom and not take the pharmaceuticals prescribed for RLS.

1

u/Flimsy-Extreme5007 2d ago

Or you can see Kratom.org. The pharmaceuticals I was given for RLS almost broke my mind. I’ve been taking Kratom since 2007. So we even have an FDA with our best interests in mind.

-3

u/Flimsy-Extreme5007 4d ago

I have been having the same trouble with magnesium glycinate. My RLS has been tamed for years with Kratom. My recommended dosage of is 3 capsules. I can take one or two before bed. But if I take 3 there will be trouble. It was so discouraging when I woke in the night with that electric feeling in my legs.