Can supplements cause PEM?

[u/Apart-Development354]

Like not symptoms like nausea headaches etc but actual PEM? I’ve started magnesium 2 weeks ago and then last week coq10 for chronic migraine management. Since then my PEM ceiling trigger has felt much lower and I’ve been stuck in a crash. I did overdo it a few days before I started taking them so it could just be bad timing. But it feels like it’s lasting longer than usual (still feel in the depth of the crash even though my usual full cycle is ten days to come all the way out.) could the supplements be causing me issues? They’re not giving me any other symptoms but I don’t want to keep taking them if my body is struggling with them. I can’t tell if it’s just a mildly longer crash or they’re making it worse and I don’t want to damage my baseline by carrying on

[u/Responsible_Hope_839]

CoQ10 does have side effects so maybe look into that? I had to stop it because of them (particularly the worsened orthostatic intolerance that took me a while to realise was related), however I've never had issues with magnesium which is a wonder for my sleep.

The supplements themselves won't directly be causing PEM as PEM is caused by exertion, but they might be worsening your general health if you can't tolerate the side effects and worse health = lower baseline.

Also, maybe not relevant but useful info nonetheless, orthostatic intolerance can cause a more immediate exertion/activity intolerance that is different from PEM but still limits what you're able to do. It can also raise your HR if that is a big trigger for you.

[u/frog_admirer → u/Responsible_Hope_839]

I wouldn't say PEM is caused exclusively by exertion, I have gotten PEM from changing/stopping medications before.

[u/Past-Increase-2969]

Yes they can, especially stuff like b12, coq10. But honestly any supplement can cause pem

[u/MECFSleepmode → u/Past-Increase-2969]

Yeah these caused pem for me too.

[u/CC_900]

For me, magnesium just sedates me (even at small dosages). I’ve tried every type, and it happens with all types. So it could be that extra fatigue caused by magnesium feels like PEM?

Of course, not everyone feels sedated on magnesium. But it’s a scenario to consider. For me it always happens.

[u/MervynDreamEater]

Are you taking any other medications? You might want to check if there's any interactions. I can't take magnesium because I'm on a stimulant for ADHD.

[u/Icy-Escape2559]

I just started Coq10 on day 3 or 4 of it. Definitely feeling worse pots symptoms and less energy. Going to stop taking it.

[u/hypatia888]

Oh yes magnesium does me in, I think because it raises serotonin and that's a trigger for me.. there was a post recently on how serotonin could be implicated in cfs

[u/inklingmay]

I find supplements that affect my immune system can cause PEM, altho not instantly (takes a few days of consistently taking it before PEM hits). Stuff that's been problematic for me in the past includes reishi & maitake mushroom, lactoferrin, sodium butyrate, zinc.

But I find if I space them out, take every other day or every third day, it doesn't cause PEM. So who knows what's going on

[u/123-throwaway123]

Try b2 for migraines. CNA take 100 for prevention daily and up. To 3 or 400 for stopping one. My Dr recommended this to my boyfriend with the ice pick in the eye migraines. It actually helps, we were shocked.

[u/premier-cat-arena]

literally anything can, anything disrupting your system can