Magnesium supplement

Hi everyone,

     I have read so many good things about how magnesium helps with muscle and nerve function, so I have started using it. After one 250mg dose I felt a real difference. I took it at bed time, and by morning i felt alot better. Still not great, but better. I stayed on the 250mg for a week, and was fine. The following week I started taking a second dose in the afternoon 250mg also. that is when i started having diareah(sp). I was just wonder if maybe i went too fast with upping the dose or if maybe it's the brand i use. I always take it with food. I would hate to give it up. I feel that it may really help me. Anyone have any idea as to how I should start to increase the dosage and how much is enough, so I can avoid this "Problem" in the future?

A few years back I tried the malic acid/magnesium supplement that seems to help lots of people. It did nothing for me. Last year I started having severe leg cramps while trying to sleep. My chiropractor suggested that I take at least 500mg of magnesium about 2 hours before bed. That really did a great job for me, no more spasms. Diarrhea indeed can be a problem though with taking mag. I think that some laxatives even contain some mag to help get the job done. Do you take any other supplements or even a multi-vitamin? They may contain mag also which could be added to your problem. I know that my multi-vitamin and my calcium supplement both contain mag and of course I get some in my diet. My point is that you may be getting way more mag than the 500mg that you are trying to take. also if you are taking Vit. C it can cause diarrhea as well as many prescription drugs. So maybe taking a closer look at all the things you take and eat might help you find a solution. Since it is helping you I really hope you find a good compromise so you can keep taking it without that difficult side effect. Lisa

Magnesium comes in many different forms. Some are easier to digest than others, some forms are more likely to cause D. Milk of Magnesia, commonly used to treat D, is actually magnesium. My GI recommends that I take extra magnesium when I get constipated.

Go back to the lower dose, 250 mg. and stay there for a few more weeks. That may be all that you can take or even all that you need. You can always try a different form, magnesium is not very expensive. There is no magic dose so take what you need to help you but not enough to get D.

I take about 1000mg/day and it helps me with my pain and helps a lot when I exercise.