I know there have been many threads on this before. I did a search, and my head is spinning!
It seems that there are pros and cons to taking magnesium: there is usually a deficiency, but taking it may feed the spirochetes/bart organisms?
And there are so many forms of magnesium. A search has pulled up:
Mag Tab SR (recommended in Dr. B's guidelines) Mag glycinate Mag oxide Mag chlride Mag citrate....
If you feel oral magnesium has helped you, can you please share which type/brand and the dosage?
My husband is about to start Levaquin, and I want to proceed with extreme caution.
Many thanks, Viva
Posted by welcome (Member # 7953) on :
Oxide is the most commonly found....and the least bio-available.
Citrate is easy to find and much more bio-available.
Lower, regular (4xday min) consumption in conjunction with B-50. Dose should be individually based on tolerance and symptoms.
IMO (90% funtional lymie)
Godspeed
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
I take NOW brand magnesium citrate capsules. Tablets do not dissolve well at all, so I take no supplements in tablet form. They are appx. 170 mgs. each, and I take one, 3-4 times daily, with meals and at bed time.
They help my heart palpitations, my 2 types of arrhythmias, my sleep, my nerves, my bowels, my bones, my mood, and most of all they totally prevent the dangerous arterial spasms I was having when I went outside in colder weather.
Since Mg is an absolute requirement for so many basic bodily functions, I cannot see not taking it when there is a proven deficiency present. If you defeat borrelia, but die in the trying, what does it matter?
Just my two cents, Klutzo
Posted by luvs2ride (Member # 8090) on :
Do you have any inflammation? If so, magnesium is a must have. Inflammation actually depletes our mag making the inflammation even worse.
As far as whether or not we are also feeding the bugs, I just don't buy into this argument. We need the magnesium and other vitamins and minerals whether it helps the bugs or not.
If you stop supplementing the bugs, you will suffer too. Better to keep yourself well supplemented and kill the bugs another way.
Posted by luvdogs (Member # 9507) on :
I get conflicting info - but I have heard that one clinic in Kansas City absolutely takes their patients off magnesium if they have babs.
Another doc I have heard is adamently against mag for bart because it helps them to build biofilms, which makes abx no able to get the bugs.
That being said though, I believe that magnesiuim is essential when taking the quinolones (levaguin etc) to prevent tendon rupture.
Go figure. I am not sure what to say.
I quit the magnesium about a month ago and actually feel that my bart sx are going away and am currently treating babs. I feel better than before.
However, I am not taking a quinolone.
And, the calcium would be a problem since we are not supposed to take calcium unopposed by mag - and therefore I have pretty much cut out the calcium and hope to get it from food sources.
Dr. R. is Kansas City and Dr. F. of the bart tests might be good ones for your husbands doc to speak with re. this.
I hope this helps a little bit.
Posted by valymemom (Member # 7076) on :
On the Cowden protocol magnesium malate is used.
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Thanks so much for all the responses!
I'm worried enough about the potential tendon damage that I think it makes sense to risk feeding the critters.
I didn't know the B-vitamins were important in conjunction with the magnesium. Husband already does B-12 injections and takes homocysteine formula. So hopefully we're okay on that count.
Klutzo, thanks for the tip on capsules vs tablets.
And Luvs2ride, yes, inflammation is absolutely an issue for my husband.
Sounds like different forms of magnesium each have their advantages and down sides. Any thoughts on the Niche Mag Tab SR? They claim superior absorption and solubility, and 12-hour sustained release.
Viva
Posted by luvdogs (Member # 9507) on :
The mag-tab SR is my favorite and seems to work the best for me when I have taken mag in the past.
Highly recommended by Burrascano and many other LLMDs. Very bioavailable.
I use the oxide only as a laxative Posted by Cass A (Member # 11134) on :
I use the Peter Gilliam CALM powdered magnesium citrate. You mix it with hot water, and it goes into a slightly-acid solution.
Mag doesen't get absorbed if it isn't in an acid environment. Taking it as a liquid makes it very easy to assimilate.
Hope this helps.
Best,
Cass A
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
Im taking magnesium malate, for some reason the other forms of magnesium really irritate my Interstitial cystitis. The malate doesnt.
I havent seen all that much from it yet, hoping it starts to help some of my symptoms.
Posted by LocalMan (Member # 11648) on :
How about dosage?
Nutramedix mag malate bottle confusing...is it really 500mg, or 150mg "per serving?
Can anybody else make sense of that bottle?
I was told to shoot for 2,000 - 3,000 mg/ day.
lm
Posted by KauaiGoddess (Member # 11782) on :
Aloha Viva~
I take Mag Malate...my LLMD (smiles) told me to take this form...forget why he said malate specifically...
I have tried many many brands...it's not always easy to find malate, so sometimes get another kind...
'solaray' had a good one but the health food store doesn't have it anymore...
I've tried that CALM mix that Cass A mentioned...
it's very pleasent tasting (doesn't even taste like your drinking mag!!!SMILES!) ...a little too sweet for me though...(just stevia & natural flavors)...I think it's a great one though...it's citrate
I prefer powder over pills (but switch around often)...as I have to take WAY to many pills to get what I need...and I think the powder is easier for me to absorb ...
I found a Mag Malate powder that you mix in water( it has no fillers or other ingredients, which I like- PURE!!)- it's by Nature's Life (bright yellow label)-
It's nice too cause 1/2 rounded teaspoon is 600 mg!!! so if your husband has to take A LOT- which I do, he can get that amount easier- than TONS of pills!!
Local Man-
yes NutraMedix's mag malate is VERY confusing! I bought these, as I was SO EXCITED that there was a mag malate that was 500mg/pill!!!
I have no idea why it says 500mg on the front...!??!?!!
ON the back-the Supplement Facts- it says that 2 pills are ONLY a measly 150mg!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm currently taking 8 and no loose stools or anything....(I should be taking more, but can't handle taking more pills...)
so I'm convinced that there's no way possible it's 500mg a pill, which I tought it was when purchased...
I called today, but they were gone...as time difference is large between hawaii and florida..
will find out...
Hope this helped viva-- sorry if it's lengthy and wordy!
Much love!
Hugs and Smiles too! Fawne
Posted by painted turtle (Member # 7801) on :
I took a mag malate in order to address high aluminum levels and don't know if it is coincidental but for several days after felt as if all the blood was drained from me. Doc said stop taking it.
I have NOW magnesium and calcium in tablet that I take almost daily with no adverse reaction, but no seeming positive difference or improvement either.
I started taking the Calm powder magnesium and since then, after taking it for two days, my body has begun to vibrate again...which had previously stopped. I have a strong intuition that somehow the magnesium powder has caused a resurgence of the vibrating, but I couldn't explain it scientifically, although I'm sure some here could.
It' definitely a balancing act.
Posted by wxrock (Member # 13039) on :
I've been taking Mag Malate for 4 months...it stomachs well, and I believe it has helped me somewhat...at least in terms of less muscle soreness/tightness...and perhaps in terms of nerve issues.
Posted by chamade (Member # 11472) on :
I am taking mag citrate and malate, it is one of the supplements that helps a lot with my muscle twitching and I think nerve pain.
Magnesium is involved in so many processes in your body that it is essential to take when you are fighting Lyme, since Lyme depletes it.
It is a REQUIRED supplement in the Burrascano guidelines. I would listen to him and his clinical experience before some internet rumor about it being bad for us.
Posted by cantgiveupyet (Member # 8165) on :
the bottle is very confusing. I cant figure out why the 500mg is on the front either.
Anyone find the cheapest place to buy the nutramedix brand?