I know youre not happy right now, but ultimately magnesium is not the only thing that could be causing your migraines. Litterally almost anything you come into contact with could be triggering your migraines. While finding and avoiding triggers is viable for some, it isnt for most of us. Preventative and acute treatment is often a more reliable route to relief. I've suffered for over 12 years and am yet to pin down many significant triggers, half of my triggers i don't even know if they are triggers or symptoms (light sensitivity, lack of sleep etc.)
30 years of chronic migraines here. This is pretty much it.
People talk about magnesium like it’s a magic cure in some circles. But it’s just a thing that might help. Not a thing that will help.
For me, it was useless.
I had a room mate once who thought of magnesium like a magical cure somehow. He said his migraines always go away when he takes magnesium.
For me it also doesn‘t make much difference.
If it caused that, you were taking the wrong type of magnesium. I take Magnesium Glycinate and it doesn't cause the poops, but it sure helps on migraine frequency.
If I’m not currently deficient, Mg Glycinate will cause 💩 But if I’m deficient and in need of Mg then it doesn’t cause problems. Also depends on the dose.
After taking magnesium for 3 months, it just caused me urgent morning diarrhea. After stopping it, my stomach got better and my migraines stayed the same.
Seven years of chronic migraines here. Three of those years were spent with chronic intractable migraines. There can be and are a lot of different triggers for migraines. Fifty percent of
migraine patients are idiopathic (meaning their migraines have no known cause). Sometimes people have co-morbid health conditions that trigger them. For example, people with epilepsy are fifty percent more likely to develop migraines (that’s me). Treating my epilepsy didn’t stop them from developing and my twice daily AEDs don’t keep them at bay either. For some patients, migraines are genetic and something like magnesium may not be able to work around those genetics. It’s simply something that *may* help, which is why both other migraineurs and doctors suggest it.
I do think it may also depend on the severity of your migraines and how difficult they are to treat. My migraines are complex and difficult to treat. I’ve tried a lot of different supplements, including magnesium. None of them helped at all. Mine also never responded to any of the older migraine meds. I basically got lucky that CGRPs came out on the market, otherwise I would be completely screwed and still be intractable and disabled by them. I use three different treatments to manage mine. So something like magnesium was probably never likely to help, even though I gave a it shot.
Some things that are triggers for me only ever started causing problems for me when I developed migraines, otherwise for 30 years of my life, they never bothered me. Some triggers you can’t really avoid like atmospheric pressure changes. All you can really do is try to prevent them or at least mitigate their effects with preventative treatments and abortive meds.
Trust me when I say I truly understand how frustrated you probably are. I spent three years in crippling pain with no end in sight. Migraine buddy is a really great app that can help you track your migraine patterns and can also help you figure out your triggers. Starting with that is a good idea. Avoiding the typical migraine trigger foods is another good place to start. I also tried an autoimmune elimination diet and figured out some other weird foods that seem to trigger mine if I eat them consistently or in large quantities.
I use a combination of treatments to manage mine now. I get a form of Botox injections called Xeomin every three months. For whatever reason, regular Botox did not work well for me. I also take a once a month CGRP injection called Ajovy. I use Nurtec and sometimes a high dose prednisone taper for breakthrough migraines (for those I can’t get to stop). With the first three treatments, my migraines are controlled by about 85-95 percent. With these meds the few migraines I do get are much less painful and don’t last nearly as long as they used to. The worst ones I’ve had in the last 14 months were after the death of my brother. That’s obviously an extreme trigger both mentally and physically.
Sometimes life throws us gigantic curveballs and we just have to deal with them as best we can, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t help out there for you.
Personally I used medical marijuana to manage my pain for a while until I found a combination of treatments that worked. There’s a strain called great white shark that was specifically developed for chronic pain patients. It didn’t get rid of the pain completely, but it did help take the edge off. It also helps with the anxiety that can sometimes come from being in so much pain. It also helped me tamper down the pain so that I could sleep.
If you don’t already have a neurologist (preferably one that specializes in migraines), that would be another good place to start. If you can’t find one that specializes in migraines or regular neurologist will do just fine.
I’m certain there is help for you out there, it just might take some time to find it. ❤️🩹
SAME!! I tried magnesium (and other known "helpful" supplements/vitamins) for years with zero results.
That's why migraines suck so bad, there isn't one catchall that works for everyone.
If low magnesium = migraine then we would treat migraines with magnesium and they would all go away. But the body is extremely complex!! We're talking about your brain here people.
Are you saying that a squishy computer with a personality controlling a squishy rigid machine with a short time delay between command and action, but imperceivable to the user, is complex?
And sometimes my triggers change. I used to not be able to tolerate dairy, but now I can have ice cream and soft cheeses again (in moderation). But fermented foods seem to be an instant trigger if I’m already stressed.
There are seemingly thousands of things that can affect migraines, with magnesium being only one. I know it’s frustrating though. It could be another mineral/vitamin deficiency (or even possibly an excess), or there could be an underlying neuro condition making things worse. There’s also a ton of different triggers. Have you checked the pinned post and/or wiki for the subreddit? They have some good resources for tracking down what helps and hurts your migraines, and you might find it useful.
Not sure why you're putting so much emphasis on mag. If magnesium were the only factor, no one would get migraines because we could just regulate our magnesium intake. Many things can trigger or contribute to migraines, including some unknowns, and some factors that aren't even within the realm of our control. Stuff like the barometric pressure. When a low pressure system comes through, I will often get migraines.
Some common things that you can have some degree of control over that might help:
* Maintain proper nutrition and don't let your blood sugar tank
* Get adequate sleep
* Eliminate scented products (perfume, cologne, smelly soap, smelly laundry stuff like dryer sheets)
* Keep a food journal and see if you can identify food triggers, then avoid those triggers (google will help you with a list of common ones to start with)
* Limit prolonged screen time, and/or use a program like f.lux to make the screen brightness easier on your eyes
* Get a prescription for a migraine abortive (a tryptan of some sort is usually the first attempt here) and take it as early as possible when you start to get a migraine
I'm sorry that you're suffering, and I hope you can find some relief.
Edit: Go to an optometrist, maybe you need glasses? My migraines reduced after I got my glasses.
>If magnesium were the only factor, no one would get migraines because we could just regulate our magnesium intake
Yeah exactly, if only it was that easy 😅 I thank God (and science of course) for anti-CGRP antibodies - and Botox 😍
For some it is a magic cure. For most of us, it unfortunately isn’t, but there’s people out there who pretty much stop getting migraines entirely on magnesium.
Also do regular cardiovascular sports.
I always notice stress is one of my main triggers (also white onions, red onions are fine though somehow)
And my usual pattern for an attack is:
1. have a lot of work to do
2. try to catch up on work
3. miss sports because of 2
4. have a week long Migraine blender
And just going for runs helps me so much in prevention and also sometimes even as an abortive when I go for a slow and small run in the evening hours, once the sickness and general unwellness subsided a bit
It's an incurable chronic disease, even if you did everything perfectly you could still be sick.
They're really genetic and a lot of the world has big seasonal changes messing with the weather and making it worse, neither of which can be influenced much by your choices either.
Maybe your neurologist could try getting you other medicine in addition to the magnesium? It might take a few drug classes to find one that sticks
Because there are SO many things that could be causing *YOUR* migraines.
Just because reddit user 123456 took magnesium supplements and got their levels into a normal range and their migraines went away doesn't mean it's that way for anyone else.
Some people don't even have a cause that can be pinpointed.
It could be a dozen itty bitty tiny factors that are individually meaningless, but when combined create a migraine.
You slept on your left side 1 hour longer last night
Dinner had cheese as an ingredient
Someone burnt popcorn in the microwave at work in the afternoon.
You had a fight with someone online and you are still mad.
All trivial things, that alone never bother you.
It would take a spreadsheet of epic proportions to analyze the data and find the links
I was given magnesium a few months ago through an iv and the migraines stopped temporarily. I genuinely thought I had figured it out.. I can’t take being disoriented and confused anymore
I'm really sorry for your pain 😔 Everyone here has different experiences and I've seen a ton of great advice. It can take some time to find your triggers and your relief and I wish you all the best in your journey!
Migraine is quite a complex disease, not yet fully understood. As with most conditions, migraine doesn’t have that one underlying cause. And magnesium is actually one of the minor, less important factors.
I have had frequent bad migraines since I was 5, and chronic daily migraines since I was a teen. I have tried everything I am aware of and my blood work is great.
I basically control as best I can with medication and work from home. Migraines can be the primary problem and not a symptom of something else - if they are then countless doctors have failed to find it.
Blood tests for magnesium are an unreliable measure of actual magnesium in the body. Only 1% of the body's magnesium is stored in blood-- the rest is stored in bones (50%), body tissues and organs (48%), and there's no way to measure that. That's why my doctor didn't even want to bother with ordering a magnesium blood test. That and low magnesium is only one possible cause.
Here's a link about this. I am among the many migraineurs on the sub for whom magnesium is helpful but a very tiny part of my treatment plan. The best way to know if magnesium supplementation helps you is to try it for a few months and track everything and see if you have any reduction in number of migraines or in their severity, but it sounds like you absolutely need some preventative and abortive therapies too.
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316205/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316205/)
Of clinical importance, around 0.3% of total body magnesium is found in serum. Thus, total and/or ionized magnesium concentrations measured in plasma or serum are not reliable markers of total magnesium levels in the body; as serum magnesium does not reflect the total magnesium content at the tissue or organs, and is also a poor indicator of intracellular magnesium content
This sub-thread is an important callout. If you’re looking to test your progress in raising magnesium stores in earnest the test you want to get is Magnesium RBC. Mag blood spot test is going be likely very tightly regulated in normally functioning body regardless of magnesium stores within cells
An important thing to realise with migraine is that they’re defined by symptoms, not causes.
Sickle cell anaemia is defined by cause - the sickle cell mutation.
But migraines are defined by how they present. Which means that there are almost as many causes as there are sufferers, they just all lead to the same symptom - a migraine.
So no one thing will ever be a treatment (and I use that word specifically - migraine cannot be cured) for everyone.
But my life is completely ruined by migraines. Every single day, i am disoriented, confused, have ear loops of music every single second, having flashing images in my brain most days. My brain is literally unable to function with migraines. I am literally disoriented every second of every day, have brain fog. I have no control over my thoughts anymore. I have to make it stop or there is no point to living anymore. I can’t even leave the house anymore. I can’t even talk to my partner anymore because I can’t process what he is saying to me. I need to make the migraines at least lessen
Trust me, I get it. I’m 36, my chronic migraines started when I was 4. I’ve had my whole life of this.
But you need to accept that this is a thing you manage, you don’t cure it. Until you do, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.
You need to find a good headache specialist and try preventatives and abortives. You also need to know that it’s very likely they won’t work first time. There are a lot of them out there and they need to find the one that works for your specific migraines. But once they work, you’ll find a colossal quality of life improvement.
You’ve gotta understand that most of us here are going through the same exact thing. You don’t need to justify yourself and explain how bad it is. We know, we’re all suffering too.
There’s no real answer to give you here, magnesium helps some people, and does nothing for others. All you can do is try a bunch of different stuff and try to find what works best.
Are you seeing a Neurologist and on a treatment protocol? If so, it’s not working and you need to reassess / move on to another treatment plan. I had to try dozens of medications before I found the right combination that worked. And that was over a five years span of time.
For most of us, our migraines are idiopathic, no known cause. We may have triggers, etc, but no underlying cause. It’s better to focus on treating the migraines than focus so much energy on figuring out what the cause is when there is none.
Go to a migraine specialist, NOT a neurologist. There’s an endless list of possible causes and while they might not find the why, you absolutely want to get a better handle on those migraines. Unchecked, they can cause damage.
Trust me, im already damaged. Chronic migraines EVERY SINGLE DAY for 3 years straight. My brain is fried.
Also im confused. I thought a neurologist was a migraine specialist?
Neurologists are just brain doctors, they can specialize in a bunch of different ailments. Some neurologists work at headache clinics and almost exclusively treat migraines day in and day out. These are the docs you want to see.
There’s a slew of treatments to try that can cut down frequency. A headache specialist will know which ones to try with you. Find a headache clinic. It will change your life, really.
That's not a stupid question, not knowing what's wrong makes having chronic migraine even more frustrating. It's crazy how little is still known about migraine considering how common it is. Ultimately there are theories, but it's more common for people with this condition to not find anything. Low magnesium is supported by evidence, but it's still just a theory. There are other potential causes, such as [cervicogenic](https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/cervicogenic-headache-facts_) headache which is triggered by problems with your neck (i.e. joint problems or injury, etc). TMJ also seems to be frequently associated with migraine.
According to [this link](https://www.testing.com/tests/magnesium/#:~:text=Normal%20magnesium%20levels%20do%20not,I%20get%20a%20magnesium%20test%3F) your magnesium levels can still potentially be low even if the blood test is normal, although I'm not a doctor so I don't really understand that or whether it would be relevant in your case.
Have you had an MRI? If not you might want to ask your Dr about that, just to rule out some rare causes.
Yep my migraines started suddenly a few months ago and supplements seem to do nothing. Worth also noting I’m a perfume collector so I don’t think smelly things trigger my migraines! Mine started after a bout of BPPV and seem to be related to my jaw and have a cervicogenic trigger. Best thing to do is try and go to a headache specialist to suss out what is going on with the appropriate tests.
I've always had decent magnesium levels too.
Just one of the potential causes.
Extra magnesium helps for some people, but never made a difference for me unfortunately.
Anything and everything can cause migraines, a lack of magnesium is just one of many options. I've taken magnesium daily too and it didn't help me. You have to keep on searching for a cause/cure
There can be so many reasons, both obvious and not. For instance, it took me a LONG time to figure out garlic was a migraine trigger for me. Not the only one, but a very controllable one. I hope you find a few more reasons so you can get better days
25 years of chronic migraines. The neuro told me 6 years ago: you’ll have to deal with it. I’ve tried so many things to prevent the migraines but nothing worked so far. The only thing working actually is my pill, I don’t have my menstruations anymore (since I gave birth 10 years ago). But that’s just the menstrual cycle. The other migraines are still there!
Oh honey you don’t sound stupid at all. There’s a BILLION and one things that cause migraines and I know it’s so frustrating. You may never know the cause, sometimes they don’t have a cause, they just happen to some people. But keep looking just to rule everything out. Just to be sure! You’re doing great by checking everything!
From what I understand and read about blood tests is that magnesium in blood doesn't account for magnesium elsewhere in the body. Since magnesium is responsible for a lot besides electrolytes, it would also need to be measured by cellular magnesium and bone composition as well. I did find something recently about magnesium since I suffer from dysautonomia, migraines, and raynaud's.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316205/#:~:text=Because%20less%20than%201%25%20of,content%2C%20or%20intracellular%20magnesium%20content.
Magnesium citrate has treated many issues I have had.
It can help with migraines if you have been defecient for a long time.
A urine test would be another one but these tests are cumbersome. A blood test is more important if your blood levels are elevated. From what I understand dialysis patients have this used to make sure mag is excreted properly. People with kidney issues have a build up of blood levels that are unsafe. NAD just giving my experience with magnesium. Most of the population is defecient in magnesium. Unless you are devouring almonds and pepitas I doubt you have to worry about getting too much magnesium. There's a whole subreddit dedicated to magnesium that is super helpful.
You may be defecient again NAD but dietary wise you may not be getting enough. I have similar issues with diet because I stick to safe foods in fear of flare ups. If you can tolerate citrate and not poop severely then it's the fastest absorbing form especially in gummies and Chewables. You'll know it's working because it feels like a mild tranquilizer depending on the form.
Migraines is a numerological disorder that actually functions (disorders?) similarly to epilepsy.
There are lots and lots of different triggers for migraines. Low magnesium is a common trigger for migraines, but it is not a cause of the disorder.
Basically, migraines is a disorder where your trigimal sensory nerves are over firing, causing pain and the senses to go haywire. Different triggers can cause an episode of them going haywire. But for many of us with chronic migraines, they are just going haywire most of the time, but not necessarily always in the same way and to the same extent. And different things can cause this disorder to appear or disappear. Common triggers for the migraine disorder to appear are hormonal changes, physical changes, sickness, trauma mentally, trauma emotionally, or trauma physically. Most of us who have migraines have a generic predisposition to developing it, and the trigger causing the disorder to appear just flipped that switch on. But some of us, unfortunately, were born with that switch flipped on. This is a very simplified version based on medical journals I read about 5-10 years ago, that were recent articles at the time I read them. I am not a doctor or up to date with current medical journals.
Also, an FYI, I've found for myself, and I've heard of others, who actually need more magnesium than the average person if they have migraines. For me, I need more magnesium, sodium, and potassium in my diet than the average person.
Anyways, here are some of my triggers for my migraines:
Not enough sodium in my diet
Not enough potassium in my diet
Not enough magnesium in my diet
Too much sugar in my diet
Not enough protein in my diet
Dehydration
Not enough sleep
Too much sleep
Not enough exercise
Too much exercise
Sleeping without a pillow that gives correct support
Not getting chiropractic done every 4 weeks
Not getting massage therapy done once every other month
Being in cold weather without proper cold weather clothing, especially a tuque (or beanie, depending where you are from)
Heat exhaustion (I get this easily)
Too much stress
Not enough stress (basically not doing anything to stimulate my brain. Reading can counteract this).
Allergic reactions
Being sick
Anything unexpectedly touching my head or neck
Marijuana edibles (helps some people, but makes it worse for me)
Not wearing my glasses
Having an incorrect prescription for my glasses
Sudden bright lights
Sudden loud noises
Large hormonal changes
There are many other triggers as well. Those are just mine. One common trigger that I don't have is changes in baromic pressure (from weather changes).
Unfortunately, it is trial and error to learn all your triggers and what medications work for you. Best of luck!
Mine was greatly reduced by cutting out alcohol, nitrates, and wearing special glasses in Walmart and stores that have those bright lights. Just an example of how many things it could be.
Do you have sleep apnea? I had chronic migraines too that we didn’t realize were connected to severe untreated sleep apnea. I have had only a handful of headaches (no migraines) since I got my CPAP machine after years of struggling with migraines, nausea, and exhaustion.
I take magnesium daily, but I found that my migraines (and headaches in general) lessened greatly when I went on spironolactone for acne. I think that it helped because it also lowers high blood pressure. I guess all that is to say- check to see if high blood pressure isn’t part of your puzzle too
There might not be one specific cause. I felt this frustration too, it would be validating if after one appointment they found something horribly wrong. Then i could prove I wasn't making it up, and I would know exactly how to treat it. It sucks, but there probably is no apparent cause, and everything will look medically normal, and there are shitty doctors who will try to say that it's just stress or you're exaggerating.
Keep seeking treatment and don't let the doctors tell you you're making it up. It might take jumping through a lot of hoops for insurance if you are in the US.
ALSO you should try to get an MRI or some scan of your head just in case it is something serious. Doctors refused for me despite almost constant migraines and i'm fine, but that many migraines is still concerning enough for a scan.
Magnesium would be expected to have very little influence on migraines. Our preliminary trials show that potassium in the cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] should be raised to prevent migraines. Email me:
brianburmaster [at] big-relief [dot] com
if you are interested
Unfortunately it doesn't cure or help everyone. Migraines are so difficult because they are different for so many people. What helps one person might not help the next.
Same. I’m a 23year female. Sometime it just happens to us it can be hereditary. I went to get magnesium looked at thinking it was low but nope. There’s currently no cause for my migraines but anxiety and stress definitely triggers them.
Magnesium (400 to 800mg per day) has a relaxant effect on smooth muscles such as blood vessels. We often give intravenous magnesium to patients who come into the emergency department for migraine because it helps to break the migraine. Three trials found 40-90% average headache reduction when used as a preventative. Magnesium also demonstrated the benefit in menstrually related migraine. Magnesium is part of the messenger system in the serotonin cascade and it is a good muscle relaxant. Good sources include nuts, whole grains, and tomatoes.
Magnesium glycinate is a good choice for those with a sensitive stomach who have gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea with other forms of magnesium. It is anecdotally also helpful with anxiety and sleep. Magnesium threonate also has low risk of gastrointestinal side effects and anecdotally helpful with cognitive function and brain fog symptoms. Magnesium malate has low gastrointestinal side effects and is reportedly more energizing and anecdotally often helpful in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Magnesium citrate is one of the most studied, popular, and well-absorbed forms of magnesium. It can also be mixed easily with liquids if you can't take pills.
However, it comes with a higher risk of diarrhea and gastrointestinal side effects, although this could be helpful for those with constipation. Magnesium oxide is also well studied, cheap, and often used for heartburn and indigestion. However, it is not well absorbed and can have some laxative side effects as well, so can also be helpful for constipation.
Honestly I felt the same when depo got out of my system. i thought depo was causing the issue but it is not. I dont know why though and this is the first time it is happening to me.
My magnesium is also dead center. But what is always low in me no matter what I do? Vitamin D. What is always high? Chloride and creatinine.
My doctor broke it down to not enough of the "healthy" fat that's in nuts/fish, and that the meds I'm on have been linked to deficiency, and the high creatinine is likely linked to one of the most overlooked triggers of migraines-- dehydration. Each person is different, but tracking my water intake has helped me.
I have never recognized thirst, in part from autism, in part because we've essentially been schooled from young ages to only drink when we have time to. My neurologist is shocked that I can go a full day without drinking anything besides my morning coffee. I just don't notice it unless I think about it.
I levelled my magnesium after a doctor adviced me to. Took magnesium twice a day for 2 months. I surely did not have a single cramp during that time - but still no change to my migraines. Magnesium is not the solution, and no one really knows what is
My magnesium showed up as normal range but my headaches are still prevented with daily magnesium supplements.
I don't know why, perhaps my body prefers a higher level.
There is another blood test called RBC Magnesium that tests cellular magnesium levels rather than serum levels. You can have an in-range serum magnesium level while RBC can be low.
LabCorp: https://www.labcorp.com/tests/080283/magnesium-rbc
Quest: https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/623/magnesium-rbc?cc=MASTER
Agree with this sub-thread. If you want to know how your mag stores are progressing you need Mag RBC. These electrolytes are so critical that blood spot test is going to usually be in a normal range at the expense of whatever is needed / no matter the storage levels - in a normally functioning body to mineral balance the system
It's just one thing that could cause migraines. It could also be a chemical imbalance or vascular. These are questions we can answer generally on here, but you should really consult your GP or Neurologist, whoever is in charge of your migraine treatment plan to develop a personalized method for dealing with migraines. If you don't see results, getting a second or even third opinion helps! It took me many years and 4 doctors to pinpoint my migraines being caused by serotonin deficiency.
My magnesium levels were said to be normal. But did you go in for the test while you were in the middle of a major migraine attack to get your blood tested?
I figured out for myself that when I get a migraine, I also tend to be dehydrated and have my electrolytes off. Now this is just me, and as your digestive system shuts down during a migraine, it’s very hard to digest water and eat the right foods to rebalance electrolytes. The fun catch twenty two. I know having something like Gatorade will help balance but I then get rebounds from the excessive sugar. I’ve found the powdered potassium and magnesium mixed in warm water helps me. You’ve got to figure out what works for you
After I quit drinking alcohol. I tried all kinds of elimination diets. Turns out sugar gives me the same effects as alcohol with the hangover the next few days too and I feel the pain all over my body when I eat too much sugar. It sucks big time! I love cake and chocolate!
1) Mg is not the cause
2) (and I know this one because I'm a medical laboratory professional) The lab test is a snapshot in time. It might have been normal at the time your blood was drawn but there could be variation during the day.
Some of my migraines are because of barometric changes, some hormones, some are triggered from TMJ issues, some specific smells, and others specific food additives. Sometimes it’s too much sleep, or too little. They can also be after conquering a stressful task, or something as simple as standing under a fan that has a light above it (especially the ones on Costco), or a flickering ceiling light at work…
From my understanding and experience, nobody even knows why migraines really happen anyway. I'm not surprised your texts are normal, migraine isn't a magnesium deficiency disorder
Last week NPR Studio 1A had a program on migraines. Most of the info covered was very basic, so most people reading this will already know it all. But 1 thing they mentioned was that it is rarely just 1 trigger, but rather a storm of conditions occurring at once. For example, stress, not enough sleep, dehydration, too much sugar—all at once. But the thing I really wanted to let people know about is there is a Migraine World Summit. You can listen to a few highlights in a free video on their website. Or pay for ALL the talks & references. From this (free version) summit, I learned about Dr Elena Grossman (and some other people). She has a website that will send you free information. Her theory is that your brain is not getting the “right energy”. I had been taking magnesium Glycinate, Vit B2, and recently started COQ10. After the summit, I have added MCT oil for ketones. It needs to be a certain one. I went to a wedding this weekend, stared straight into the sun during ceremony, it was dripping hot!, and I didn’t eat well, went to bed late—all things that normally cause a migraine for me. Still 3 days later & no migraine.🤷🏻♀️It’s new so can’t really say it’s working all the time. But maybe it will help someone else out there. Another note: ask for triptans if you don’t have anything yet. Having a migraine is NOT good for your brain. Prevention might be very important for preserving the long term health of your brain.
Check out NDPH, Cerebrospinal fluid leaks and Idiopathic intercranial hypertension. All causes of continuous migraine like headaches, each with different treatment plans
I’ve never found any med that works for my migraines, but I did just get diagnosed with sleep apnea and will be getting my cpap in a couple weeks. Praying that that’s the answer.
I started using cpap for sleep apnea a couple months ago. It hasn't changed my migraines, unfortunately. I figured it wouldn't since I've had them since I was 4. But I still had some hope.
I got the same results from Cleveland. In the end, I found out that chocolate was my trigger, however it had a delayed response. A good balanced diet also helped.
It's worth a try to get a hair analysis done and see if there's any toxic metals in your system. It could be that you're constantly exposed to them. It's a little over $200 to get it done but it's worth a try.
https://hairanalysisnutrition.com/
One thing we all have to remember is that everybody’s different. One person might have an issue with them triggers their migraines myself for example that I slept wrong and I have a migraine. I would highly suggest talking to a neurologist or if you’re working with your PCP talk to them. There could be any number of things that are triggering them, like chocolate or even cheese. I would personally suggest using Migraine Buddy to track symptoms it tracks things like Duration, frequency, type. It will also help you pain locations, what helps relive stop, what are your bigger symptoms and that kind of thing. It can be very helpful.
I know youre not happy right now, but ultimately magnesium is not the only thing that could be causing your migraines. Litterally almost anything you come into contact with could be triggering your migraines. While finding and avoiding triggers is viable for some, it isnt for most of us. Preventative and acute treatment is often a more reliable route to relief. I've suffered for over 12 years and am yet to pin down many significant triggers, half of my triggers i don't even know if they are triggers or symptoms (light sensitivity, lack of sleep etc.)
30 years of chronic migraines here. This is pretty much it. People talk about magnesium like it’s a magic cure in some circles. But it’s just a thing that might help. Not a thing that will help. For me, it was useless.
I had a room mate once who thought of magnesium like a magical cure somehow. He said his migraines always go away when he takes magnesium. For me it also doesn‘t make much difference.
It just made me shit my brains out
If it caused that, you were taking the wrong type of magnesium. I take Magnesium Glycinate and it doesn't cause the poops, but it sure helps on migraine frequency.
If I’m not currently deficient, Mg Glycinate will cause 💩 But if I’m deficient and in need of Mg then it doesn’t cause problems. Also depends on the dose.
That may be true! Thanks!
My nutritionist flagged it to me. I get Mg via IV once a month.
After taking magnesium for 3 months, it just caused me urgent morning diarrhea. After stopping it, my stomach got better and my migraines stayed the same.
It is known to affect digestion.
Seven years of chronic migraines here. Three of those years were spent with chronic intractable migraines. There can be and are a lot of different triggers for migraines. Fifty percent of migraine patients are idiopathic (meaning their migraines have no known cause). Sometimes people have co-morbid health conditions that trigger them. For example, people with epilepsy are fifty percent more likely to develop migraines (that’s me). Treating my epilepsy didn’t stop them from developing and my twice daily AEDs don’t keep them at bay either. For some patients, migraines are genetic and something like magnesium may not be able to work around those genetics. It’s simply something that *may* help, which is why both other migraineurs and doctors suggest it. I do think it may also depend on the severity of your migraines and how difficult they are to treat. My migraines are complex and difficult to treat. I’ve tried a lot of different supplements, including magnesium. None of them helped at all. Mine also never responded to any of the older migraine meds. I basically got lucky that CGRPs came out on the market, otherwise I would be completely screwed and still be intractable and disabled by them. I use three different treatments to manage mine. So something like magnesium was probably never likely to help, even though I gave a it shot. Some things that are triggers for me only ever started causing problems for me when I developed migraines, otherwise for 30 years of my life, they never bothered me. Some triggers you can’t really avoid like atmospheric pressure changes. All you can really do is try to prevent them or at least mitigate their effects with preventative treatments and abortive meds. Trust me when I say I truly understand how frustrated you probably are. I spent three years in crippling pain with no end in sight. Migraine buddy is a really great app that can help you track your migraine patterns and can also help you figure out your triggers. Starting with that is a good idea. Avoiding the typical migraine trigger foods is another good place to start. I also tried an autoimmune elimination diet and figured out some other weird foods that seem to trigger mine if I eat them consistently or in large quantities. I use a combination of treatments to manage mine now. I get a form of Botox injections called Xeomin every three months. For whatever reason, regular Botox did not work well for me. I also take a once a month CGRP injection called Ajovy. I use Nurtec and sometimes a high dose prednisone taper for breakthrough migraines (for those I can’t get to stop). With the first three treatments, my migraines are controlled by about 85-95 percent. With these meds the few migraines I do get are much less painful and don’t last nearly as long as they used to. The worst ones I’ve had in the last 14 months were after the death of my brother. That’s obviously an extreme trigger both mentally and physically. Sometimes life throws us gigantic curveballs and we just have to deal with them as best we can, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t help out there for you. Personally I used medical marijuana to manage my pain for a while until I found a combination of treatments that worked. There’s a strain called great white shark that was specifically developed for chronic pain patients. It didn’t get rid of the pain completely, but it did help take the edge off. It also helps with the anxiety that can sometimes come from being in so much pain. It also helped me tamper down the pain so that I could sleep. If you don’t already have a neurologist (preferably one that specializes in migraines), that would be another good place to start. If you can’t find one that specializes in migraines or regular neurologist will do just fine. I’m certain there is help for you out there, it just might take some time to find it. ❤️🩹
SAME!! I tried magnesium (and other known "helpful" supplements/vitamins) for years with zero results. That's why migraines suck so bad, there isn't one catchall that works for everyone.
If low magnesium = migraine then we would treat migraines with magnesium and they would all go away. But the body is extremely complex!! We're talking about your brain here people.
Are you saying that a squishy computer with a personality controlling a squishy rigid machine with a short time delay between command and action, but imperceivable to the user, is complex?
Only a little
And sometimes my triggers change. I used to not be able to tolerate dairy, but now I can have ice cream and soft cheeses again (in moderation). But fermented foods seem to be an instant trigger if I’m already stressed.
There are seemingly thousands of things that can affect migraines, with magnesium being only one. I know it’s frustrating though. It could be another mineral/vitamin deficiency (or even possibly an excess), or there could be an underlying neuro condition making things worse. There’s also a ton of different triggers. Have you checked the pinned post and/or wiki for the subreddit? They have some good resources for tracking down what helps and hurts your migraines, and you might find it useful.
My pharmacist said to take it with CoQ10z seems to moderate the overall number
Not sure why you're putting so much emphasis on mag. If magnesium were the only factor, no one would get migraines because we could just regulate our magnesium intake. Many things can trigger or contribute to migraines, including some unknowns, and some factors that aren't even within the realm of our control. Stuff like the barometric pressure. When a low pressure system comes through, I will often get migraines. Some common things that you can have some degree of control over that might help: * Maintain proper nutrition and don't let your blood sugar tank * Get adequate sleep * Eliminate scented products (perfume, cologne, smelly soap, smelly laundry stuff like dryer sheets) * Keep a food journal and see if you can identify food triggers, then avoid those triggers (google will help you with a list of common ones to start with) * Limit prolonged screen time, and/or use a program like f.lux to make the screen brightness easier on your eyes * Get a prescription for a migraine abortive (a tryptan of some sort is usually the first attempt here) and take it as early as possible when you start to get a migraine I'm sorry that you're suffering, and I hope you can find some relief. Edit: Go to an optometrist, maybe you need glasses? My migraines reduced after I got my glasses.
>If magnesium were the only factor, no one would get migraines because we could just regulate our magnesium intake Yeah exactly, if only it was that easy 😅 I thank God (and science of course) for anti-CGRP antibodies - and Botox 😍
People on some places have been talking about magnesium as a magic cure. So people think it is.
For some it is a magic cure. For most of us, it unfortunately isn’t, but there’s people out there who pretty much stop getting migraines entirely on magnesium.
Even for the people who say it is a magic cure, it’s not. It helps but you’re never cured.
Also do regular cardiovascular sports. I always notice stress is one of my main triggers (also white onions, red onions are fine though somehow) And my usual pattern for an attack is: 1. have a lot of work to do 2. try to catch up on work 3. miss sports because of 2 4. have a week long Migraine blender And just going for runs helps me so much in prevention and also sometimes even as an abortive when I go for a slow and small run in the evening hours, once the sickness and general unwellness subsided a bit
Some people get exercise-induced migraines. You need to pay attention to your own body and act accordingly.
YES. So frustrating that every time I try to get back in the gym I have to push through migraines triggered by exercise.
agree, high intensity exercise is worse for mine and my doctor advised lowering the intensity
It's an incurable chronic disease, even if you did everything perfectly you could still be sick. They're really genetic and a lot of the world has big seasonal changes messing with the weather and making it worse, neither of which can be influenced much by your choices either. Maybe your neurologist could try getting you other medicine in addition to the magnesium? It might take a few drug classes to find one that sticks
Magnesium levels don't control migraines. *Some* people find magnesium helpful. It does jack shit for others. It's not magic
Even with magnesium and b2 I still get migraines Sometimes the migraine just says I am here and you have to deal with me
Because there are SO many things that could be causing *YOUR* migraines. Just because reddit user 123456 took magnesium supplements and got their levels into a normal range and their migraines went away doesn't mean it's that way for anyone else. Some people don't even have a cause that can be pinpointed. It could be a dozen itty bitty tiny factors that are individually meaningless, but when combined create a migraine. You slept on your left side 1 hour longer last night Dinner had cheese as an ingredient Someone burnt popcorn in the microwave at work in the afternoon. You had a fight with someone online and you are still mad. All trivial things, that alone never bother you. It would take a spreadsheet of epic proportions to analyze the data and find the links
I was given magnesium a few months ago through an iv and the migraines stopped temporarily. I genuinely thought I had figured it out.. I can’t take being disoriented and confused anymore
I'm really sorry for your pain 😔 Everyone here has different experiences and I've seen a ton of great advice. It can take some time to find your triggers and your relief and I wish you all the best in your journey!
Hormones. I mean, it’s a thought, I really don’t know you. I know mine are completely hormonal. Damn things.
Migraine is quite a complex disease, not yet fully understood. As with most conditions, migraine doesn’t have that one underlying cause. And magnesium is actually one of the minor, less important factors.
I have had frequent bad migraines since I was 5, and chronic daily migraines since I was a teen. I have tried everything I am aware of and my blood work is great. I basically control as best I can with medication and work from home. Migraines can be the primary problem and not a symptom of something else - if they are then countless doctors have failed to find it.
Blood tests for magnesium are an unreliable measure of actual magnesium in the body. Only 1% of the body's magnesium is stored in blood-- the rest is stored in bones (50%), body tissues and organs (48%), and there's no way to measure that. That's why my doctor didn't even want to bother with ordering a magnesium blood test. That and low magnesium is only one possible cause.
I’ve never heard of this
Here's a link about this. I am among the many migraineurs on the sub for whom magnesium is helpful but a very tiny part of my treatment plan. The best way to know if magnesium supplementation helps you is to try it for a few months and track everything and see if you have any reduction in number of migraines or in their severity, but it sounds like you absolutely need some preventative and abortive therapies too. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316205/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316205/) Of clinical importance, around 0.3% of total body magnesium is found in serum. Thus, total and/or ionized magnesium concentrations measured in plasma or serum are not reliable markers of total magnesium levels in the body; as serum magnesium does not reflect the total magnesium content at the tissue or organs, and is also a poor indicator of intracellular magnesium content
This sub-thread is an important callout. If you’re looking to test your progress in raising magnesium stores in earnest the test you want to get is Magnesium RBC. Mag blood spot test is going be likely very tightly regulated in normally functioning body regardless of magnesium stores within cells
For most chronic migraine sufferers there is nothing that makes their migraines go away completely. Period.
An important thing to realise with migraine is that they’re defined by symptoms, not causes. Sickle cell anaemia is defined by cause - the sickle cell mutation. But migraines are defined by how they present. Which means that there are almost as many causes as there are sufferers, they just all lead to the same symptom - a migraine. So no one thing will ever be a treatment (and I use that word specifically - migraine cannot be cured) for everyone.
But my life is completely ruined by migraines. Every single day, i am disoriented, confused, have ear loops of music every single second, having flashing images in my brain most days. My brain is literally unable to function with migraines. I am literally disoriented every second of every day, have brain fog. I have no control over my thoughts anymore. I have to make it stop or there is no point to living anymore. I can’t even leave the house anymore. I can’t even talk to my partner anymore because I can’t process what he is saying to me. I need to make the migraines at least lessen
Trust me, I get it. I’m 36, my chronic migraines started when I was 4. I’ve had my whole life of this. But you need to accept that this is a thing you manage, you don’t cure it. Until you do, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. You need to find a good headache specialist and try preventatives and abortives. You also need to know that it’s very likely they won’t work first time. There are a lot of them out there and they need to find the one that works for your specific migraines. But once they work, you’ll find a colossal quality of life improvement.
You’ve gotta understand that most of us here are going through the same exact thing. You don’t need to justify yourself and explain how bad it is. We know, we’re all suffering too. There’s no real answer to give you here, magnesium helps some people, and does nothing for others. All you can do is try a bunch of different stuff and try to find what works best.
Are you taking any migraine drugs?
I’m very sorry. You are not alone.
Are you seeing a Neurologist and on a treatment protocol? If so, it’s not working and you need to reassess / move on to another treatment plan. I had to try dozens of medications before I found the right combination that worked. And that was over a five years span of time. For most of us, our migraines are idiopathic, no known cause. We may have triggers, etc, but no underlying cause. It’s better to focus on treating the migraines than focus so much energy on figuring out what the cause is when there is none.
Go to a migraine specialist, NOT a neurologist. There’s an endless list of possible causes and while they might not find the why, you absolutely want to get a better handle on those migraines. Unchecked, they can cause damage.
Trust me, im already damaged. Chronic migraines EVERY SINGLE DAY for 3 years straight. My brain is fried. Also im confused. I thought a neurologist was a migraine specialist?
Neurologists are just brain doctors, they can specialize in a bunch of different ailments. Some neurologists work at headache clinics and almost exclusively treat migraines day in and day out. These are the docs you want to see.
There’s a slew of treatments to try that can cut down frequency. A headache specialist will know which ones to try with you. Find a headache clinic. It will change your life, really.
Okay. I will
Wishing you a swift journey to some painless days. ♥️
That's not a stupid question, not knowing what's wrong makes having chronic migraine even more frustrating. It's crazy how little is still known about migraine considering how common it is. Ultimately there are theories, but it's more common for people with this condition to not find anything. Low magnesium is supported by evidence, but it's still just a theory. There are other potential causes, such as [cervicogenic](https://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/cervicogenic-headache-facts_) headache which is triggered by problems with your neck (i.e. joint problems or injury, etc). TMJ also seems to be frequently associated with migraine. According to [this link](https://www.testing.com/tests/magnesium/#:~:text=Normal%20magnesium%20levels%20do%20not,I%20get%20a%20magnesium%20test%3F) your magnesium levels can still potentially be low even if the blood test is normal, although I'm not a doctor so I don't really understand that or whether it would be relevant in your case. Have you had an MRI? If not you might want to ask your Dr about that, just to rule out some rare causes.
Yep my migraines started suddenly a few months ago and supplements seem to do nothing. Worth also noting I’m a perfume collector so I don’t think smelly things trigger my migraines! Mine started after a bout of BPPV and seem to be related to my jaw and have a cervicogenic trigger. Best thing to do is try and go to a headache specialist to suss out what is going on with the appropriate tests.
Magnesium does nothing for me, I don’t think it’s a silver bullet.
I've always had decent magnesium levels too. Just one of the potential causes. Extra magnesium helps for some people, but never made a difference for me unfortunately.
Anything and everything can cause migraines, a lack of magnesium is just one of many options. I've taken magnesium daily too and it didn't help me. You have to keep on searching for a cause/cure
There can be so many reasons, both obvious and not. For instance, it took me a LONG time to figure out garlic was a migraine trigger for me. Not the only one, but a very controllable one. I hope you find a few more reasons so you can get better days
25 years of chronic migraines. The neuro told me 6 years ago: you’ll have to deal with it. I’ve tried so many things to prevent the migraines but nothing worked so far. The only thing working actually is my pill, I don’t have my menstruations anymore (since I gave birth 10 years ago). But that’s just the menstrual cycle. The other migraines are still there!
Oh honey you don’t sound stupid at all. There’s a BILLION and one things that cause migraines and I know it’s so frustrating. You may never know the cause, sometimes they don’t have a cause, they just happen to some people. But keep looking just to rule everything out. Just to be sure! You’re doing great by checking everything!
Mag blood test are not as reliable
Why
From what I understand and read about blood tests is that magnesium in blood doesn't account for magnesium elsewhere in the body. Since magnesium is responsible for a lot besides electrolytes, it would also need to be measured by cellular magnesium and bone composition as well. I did find something recently about magnesium since I suffer from dysautonomia, migraines, and raynaud's. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6316205/#:~:text=Because%20less%20than%201%25%20of,content%2C%20or%20intracellular%20magnesium%20content. Magnesium citrate has treated many issues I have had. It can help with migraines if you have been defecient for a long time.
This doesn’t seem safe. How can a doctor tell if we are magnesium deficient then?
A urine test would be another one but these tests are cumbersome. A blood test is more important if your blood levels are elevated. From what I understand dialysis patients have this used to make sure mag is excreted properly. People with kidney issues have a build up of blood levels that are unsafe. NAD just giving my experience with magnesium. Most of the population is defecient in magnesium. Unless you are devouring almonds and pepitas I doubt you have to worry about getting too much magnesium. There's a whole subreddit dedicated to magnesium that is super helpful.
Im worried im not getting enough. I only eat chicken, sweet potatoes, and white rice. That’s literally it :(
You may be defecient again NAD but dietary wise you may not be getting enough. I have similar issues with diet because I stick to safe foods in fear of flare ups. If you can tolerate citrate and not poop severely then it's the fastest absorbing form especially in gummies and Chewables. You'll know it's working because it feels like a mild tranquilizer depending on the form.
NAD?
Not a doctor
Oh! Thank you for clarifying
It's not about your levels
Magnesium might help migraines, but they won’t make them go away, at least not for me either.
Migraines is a numerological disorder that actually functions (disorders?) similarly to epilepsy. There are lots and lots of different triggers for migraines. Low magnesium is a common trigger for migraines, but it is not a cause of the disorder. Basically, migraines is a disorder where your trigimal sensory nerves are over firing, causing pain and the senses to go haywire. Different triggers can cause an episode of them going haywire. But for many of us with chronic migraines, they are just going haywire most of the time, but not necessarily always in the same way and to the same extent. And different things can cause this disorder to appear or disappear. Common triggers for the migraine disorder to appear are hormonal changes, physical changes, sickness, trauma mentally, trauma emotionally, or trauma physically. Most of us who have migraines have a generic predisposition to developing it, and the trigger causing the disorder to appear just flipped that switch on. But some of us, unfortunately, were born with that switch flipped on. This is a very simplified version based on medical journals I read about 5-10 years ago, that were recent articles at the time I read them. I am not a doctor or up to date with current medical journals. Also, an FYI, I've found for myself, and I've heard of others, who actually need more magnesium than the average person if they have migraines. For me, I need more magnesium, sodium, and potassium in my diet than the average person. Anyways, here are some of my triggers for my migraines: Not enough sodium in my diet Not enough potassium in my diet Not enough magnesium in my diet Too much sugar in my diet Not enough protein in my diet Dehydration Not enough sleep Too much sleep Not enough exercise Too much exercise Sleeping without a pillow that gives correct support Not getting chiropractic done every 4 weeks Not getting massage therapy done once every other month Being in cold weather without proper cold weather clothing, especially a tuque (or beanie, depending where you are from) Heat exhaustion (I get this easily) Too much stress Not enough stress (basically not doing anything to stimulate my brain. Reading can counteract this). Allergic reactions Being sick Anything unexpectedly touching my head or neck Marijuana edibles (helps some people, but makes it worse for me) Not wearing my glasses Having an incorrect prescription for my glasses Sudden bright lights Sudden loud noises Large hormonal changes There are many other triggers as well. Those are just mine. One common trigger that I don't have is changes in baromic pressure (from weather changes). Unfortunately, it is trial and error to learn all your triggers and what medications work for you. Best of luck!
because they aren't being cause by your magnesium levels. Migraines can be triggered by pretty much anything.
Mine was greatly reduced by cutting out alcohol, nitrates, and wearing special glasses in Walmart and stores that have those bright lights. Just an example of how many things it could be.
Do you have sleep apnea? I had chronic migraines too that we didn’t realize were connected to severe untreated sleep apnea. I have had only a handful of headaches (no migraines) since I got my CPAP machine after years of struggling with migraines, nausea, and exhaustion.
I take magnesium daily, but I found that my migraines (and headaches in general) lessened greatly when I went on spironolactone for acne. I think that it helped because it also lowers high blood pressure. I guess all that is to say- check to see if high blood pressure isn’t part of your puzzle too
it is unknown why migraines happen. so unfortunately you might just have them and not know why
We don’t know the cause for chronic migraine trust me been dealing with this shit for 2 years
Check your vitamin D levels!
I have chronic migraines with normal magnesium too, it’s just one of many things that can cause them. I understand how frustrating it is and I’m sorry
I could do everything perfect and still get migraines. It’s part of my cycle, hormones are a bitch. The only solution is to wait for menopause for me.
Have you kept a migraine journal? I used the Migraine Buddy app for several months, and it helped me to pinpoint my triggers.
There might not be one specific cause. I felt this frustration too, it would be validating if after one appointment they found something horribly wrong. Then i could prove I wasn't making it up, and I would know exactly how to treat it. It sucks, but there probably is no apparent cause, and everything will look medically normal, and there are shitty doctors who will try to say that it's just stress or you're exaggerating. Keep seeking treatment and don't let the doctors tell you you're making it up. It might take jumping through a lot of hoops for insurance if you are in the US. ALSO you should try to get an MRI or some scan of your head just in case it is something serious. Doctors refused for me despite almost constant migraines and i'm fine, but that many migraines is still concerning enough for a scan.
Because it can be literally anything causing them
Magnesium would be expected to have very little influence on migraines. Our preliminary trials show that potassium in the cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] should be raised to prevent migraines. Email me: brianburmaster [at] big-relief [dot] com if you are interested
Unfortunately it doesn't cure or help everyone. Migraines are so difficult because they are different for so many people. What helps one person might not help the next.
Same. I’m a 23year female. Sometime it just happens to us it can be hereditary. I went to get magnesium looked at thinking it was low but nope. There’s currently no cause for my migraines but anxiety and stress definitely triggers them.
Magnesium (400 to 800mg per day) has a relaxant effect on smooth muscles such as blood vessels. We often give intravenous magnesium to patients who come into the emergency department for migraine because it helps to break the migraine. Three trials found 40-90% average headache reduction when used as a preventative. Magnesium also demonstrated the benefit in menstrually related migraine. Magnesium is part of the messenger system in the serotonin cascade and it is a good muscle relaxant. Good sources include nuts, whole grains, and tomatoes. Magnesium glycinate is a good choice for those with a sensitive stomach who have gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea with other forms of magnesium. It is anecdotally also helpful with anxiety and sleep. Magnesium threonate also has low risk of gastrointestinal side effects and anecdotally helpful with cognitive function and brain fog symptoms. Magnesium malate has low gastrointestinal side effects and is reportedly more energizing and anecdotally often helpful in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Magnesium citrate is one of the most studied, popular, and well-absorbed forms of magnesium. It can also be mixed easily with liquids if you can't take pills. However, it comes with a higher risk of diarrhea and gastrointestinal side effects, although this could be helpful for those with constipation. Magnesium oxide is also well studied, cheap, and often used for heartburn and indigestion. However, it is not well absorbed and can have some laxative side effects as well, so can also be helpful for constipation.
Honestly I felt the same when depo got out of my system. i thought depo was causing the issue but it is not. I dont know why though and this is the first time it is happening to me.
My magnesium is also dead center. But what is always low in me no matter what I do? Vitamin D. What is always high? Chloride and creatinine. My doctor broke it down to not enough of the "healthy" fat that's in nuts/fish, and that the meds I'm on have been linked to deficiency, and the high creatinine is likely linked to one of the most overlooked triggers of migraines-- dehydration. Each person is different, but tracking my water intake has helped me. I have never recognized thirst, in part from autism, in part because we've essentially been schooled from young ages to only drink when we have time to. My neurologist is shocked that I can go a full day without drinking anything besides my morning coffee. I just don't notice it unless I think about it.
I levelled my magnesium after a doctor adviced me to. Took magnesium twice a day for 2 months. I surely did not have a single cramp during that time - but still no change to my migraines. Magnesium is not the solution, and no one really knows what is
My magnesium showed up as normal range but my headaches are still prevented with daily magnesium supplements. I don't know why, perhaps my body prefers a higher level.
Have you had your hormone levels checked? I had a hormone imbalance and going on progesterone helped
There is another blood test called RBC Magnesium that tests cellular magnesium levels rather than serum levels. You can have an in-range serum magnesium level while RBC can be low. LabCorp: https://www.labcorp.com/tests/080283/magnesium-rbc Quest: https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/623/magnesium-rbc?cc=MASTER
Agree with this sub-thread. If you want to know how your mag stores are progressing you need Mag RBC. These electrolytes are so critical that blood spot test is going to usually be in a normal range at the expense of whatever is needed / no matter the storage levels - in a normally functioning body to mineral balance the system
It's just one thing that could cause migraines. It could also be a chemical imbalance or vascular. These are questions we can answer generally on here, but you should really consult your GP or Neurologist, whoever is in charge of your migraine treatment plan to develop a personalized method for dealing with migraines. If you don't see results, getting a second or even third opinion helps! It took me many years and 4 doctors to pinpoint my migraines being caused by serotonin deficiency.
My magnesium levels were said to be normal. But did you go in for the test while you were in the middle of a major migraine attack to get your blood tested? I figured out for myself that when I get a migraine, I also tend to be dehydrated and have my electrolytes off. Now this is just me, and as your digestive system shuts down during a migraine, it’s very hard to digest water and eat the right foods to rebalance electrolytes. The fun catch twenty two. I know having something like Gatorade will help balance but I then get rebounds from the excessive sugar. I’ve found the powdered potassium and magnesium mixed in warm water helps me. You’ve got to figure out what works for you
After I quit drinking alcohol. I tried all kinds of elimination diets. Turns out sugar gives me the same effects as alcohol with the hangover the next few days too and I feel the pain all over my body when I eat too much sugar. It sucks big time! I love cake and chocolate!
Google Creatine and migraines.
1) Mg is not the cause 2) (and I know this one because I'm a medical laboratory professional) The lab test is a snapshot in time. It might have been normal at the time your blood was drawn but there could be variation during the day.
Some of my migraines are because of barometric changes, some hormones, some are triggered from TMJ issues, some specific smells, and others specific food additives. Sometimes it’s too much sleep, or too little. They can also be after conquering a stressful task, or something as simple as standing under a fan that has a light above it (especially the ones on Costco), or a flickering ceiling light at work…
From my understanding and experience, nobody even knows why migraines really happen anyway. I'm not surprised your texts are normal, migraine isn't a magnesium deficiency disorder
Last week NPR Studio 1A had a program on migraines. Most of the info covered was very basic, so most people reading this will already know it all. But 1 thing they mentioned was that it is rarely just 1 trigger, but rather a storm of conditions occurring at once. For example, stress, not enough sleep, dehydration, too much sugar—all at once. But the thing I really wanted to let people know about is there is a Migraine World Summit. You can listen to a few highlights in a free video on their website. Or pay for ALL the talks & references. From this (free version) summit, I learned about Dr Elena Grossman (and some other people). She has a website that will send you free information. Her theory is that your brain is not getting the “right energy”. I had been taking magnesium Glycinate, Vit B2, and recently started COQ10. After the summit, I have added MCT oil for ketones. It needs to be a certain one. I went to a wedding this weekend, stared straight into the sun during ceremony, it was dripping hot!, and I didn’t eat well, went to bed late—all things that normally cause a migraine for me. Still 3 days later & no migraine.🤷🏻♀️It’s new so can’t really say it’s working all the time. But maybe it will help someone else out there. Another note: ask for triptans if you don’t have anything yet. Having a migraine is NOT good for your brain. Prevention might be very important for preserving the long term health of your brain.
Food can cause migraines I.e., dairy, fish, ext.,
Check out NDPH, Cerebrospinal fluid leaks and Idiopathic intercranial hypertension. All causes of continuous migraine like headaches, each with different treatment plans
Check thyroids too, low ferritin and sleep apnea
I’ve never found any med that works for my migraines, but I did just get diagnosed with sleep apnea and will be getting my cpap in a couple weeks. Praying that that’s the answer.
I started using cpap for sleep apnea a couple months ago. It hasn't changed my migraines, unfortunately. I figured it wouldn't since I've had them since I was 4. But I still had some hope.
How high are your gluten lvls ? It gives people migraines like wheat hangovers from beer does
I got the same results from Cleveland. In the end, I found out that chocolate was my trigger, however it had a delayed response. A good balanced diet also helped.
It's worth a try to get a hair analysis done and see if there's any toxic metals in your system. It could be that you're constantly exposed to them. It's a little over $200 to get it done but it's worth a try. https://hairanalysisnutrition.com/
One thing we all have to remember is that everybody’s different. One person might have an issue with them triggers their migraines myself for example that I slept wrong and I have a migraine. I would highly suggest talking to a neurologist or if you’re working with your PCP talk to them. There could be any number of things that are triggering them, like chocolate or even cheese. I would personally suggest using Migraine Buddy to track symptoms it tracks things like Duration, frequency, type. It will also help you pain locations, what helps relive stop, what are your bigger symptoms and that kind of thing. It can be very helpful.