Before I took magnesium, I would wake up at the slightest sound and then be awake for 2-3 hours.
I started at 1/2 teaspoon of magnesium poweder in 1/2 glass of warm water and have slowly worked my way up to 1 teaspoon because of the loose stools effect. I did get a series of stomach aches and a few rounds of diarrhea when I started taking magnesium but now I can tolerate larger and larger doses. It did take a few weeks to go from 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon.
Replied By Tom (Fort Worth, Texas) on 09/24/2013
Wendy: Thank you for that great post on the use of magnesium and insomnia. I have insomnia problems that herbals haven't seemed to help. (Worry about work I think.) But I'll try the mag at night as you recommended.Replied By Toourlady (Hayward, Ca) on 09/25/2013
There several forms of Magnesium. One of the most absorbable would be Mg Glycinate capsules, it does not have the laxative side effect.Replied By Wendy (Westport, Ct) on 10/01/2013
Thanks Tourlady89, I will try Mag Glycinate. Would be nice not to experience side effects from Magnesium! I have also recently tried magnesium oil but waiting around for the oil to absorb into the skin for 20 minutes isn't much fun!Replied By Tim (Chicago, Illinois) on 04/10/2014
Liquid forms of magnesium chloride or magnesium citrate are great, and there is also a pill form of Magnesium Glycinate that's also very effective. Magnesium definitely helps to cure insomnia, that's for sure! Best, too, if you take small doses throughout the day, not just at night when you want to go to sleep. Take it throughout the day so it can build up in your system. A lot of times people (and people in general) with insomnia are deficient in magnesium.Replied By KT (Usa) on 04/11/2014
Compelled to provide this warning: according to a nutrition almanac, high levels of magnesium can cause skeletal paralysis, respiratory depression, coma and death. Magnesium is generally well tolerated but there are exceptions and when in doubt, a physician should be consulted. Sometimes less is better.Replied By Gabrielle (Los Angeles, Ca) on 04/16/2014
Magnesium Chloride, liquid form 2 teaspoons 3 X a day. Magnesium Glycinate (tablets), and liquid Magnesium Citrate all have been very effective for me in helping me relax and having a good, sound night's sleep.Replied By Yc (Virginia) on 01/17/2017
I took 400 mg magnesium glycerinate an hour before bed for 2 nights and had severe insomnia both nights. Does that mean I am not MG deficient? Or should I take them during the day? I have been having menopause based insomnia, I think, for over 5 years, and so eager to find something that can help me sleep.Replied By Jean H. (Us) on 04/15/2018
I don't doubt what you're saying, but magnesium has what's called 'bowel tolerance' where your body shunts any excess to the GI tract washing it out. When you've reached the amount your body needs, you develop loose stools and/or diarrhea that washes the excess out of your system. Look at the magnesium citrate given for bowel cleanses and colonoscopies that are at least 12,000 mg, and are considered to be safe.