Sarah (North Vancouver, B.C., Canada) on 06/15/2009
I have just started taking magnesium as a supplement ( apro. 150 mg/day ).
Aproximately 1-2 hrs after taking I feel very jittery in my muscles and restless in general. It does not make a difference if I take it with calcuim. I understand magnesium is natures relaxant but it seems to have the opposite effect on me. Has anyone had this problem or know what may be causing this ? Sarah.
EC: Hi Sarah, can you tell us the exact ingredients in your supplement? Thanks!Replied By Liz (New York, NY) on 06/15/2009
Replied By Nopey (Arkansas, USA) on 06/16/2009
Replied By Colleen (Minneapolis, Minnesota) on 10/10/2009
Replied By T (Baltimore, Md, USA) on 10/10/2009
If that pharmacy chain starts with "R", then I would say your reaction to that supplement doesn't surprise me. I've purchased different things from them that smelled like some weird strong glue when opened, way before any expiration date (of course I returned them!). Things I had taken from them that didn't smell like that never seemed to do much anyway. I don't buy their suppplements anymore. It's worth paying more for better quality.
I would suspect the additives in the supplement as causing your problems before suspecting the magnesium itself. How about some food sources to get that extra magnesium? A food source is always better than a supplement if the food source is of good quality. Eating the whole food means you get all the synergistic compounds it may contain as opposed to an isolated nutrient. Pumpkin seeds have very high levels of magnesium as well as lots of other nutrients. I buy an organic dry roasted brand that are low sodium. A handful a day can give you quite a nutritional boost. See this link for lots of good info on pumpkin seeds:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=82
Beans and spinach are also very good sources of magnesium, as are chinook salmon and halibut. If you feel you still need some supplemental magnesium, perhaps you might want to try the magnesium oil foot soak as described here on EC. Bear in mind that magnesium, calcium, and potassium do need to be balanced; this is very important!
Good luck, and please update us!
Replied By Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 01/25/2010
By far the best way to take and absorb Magnesium into your body is either by soaking yourself in the bath for at least 20 mins (adding 3 cups of Epsom salts to the bath water) or to use a little warm water (enough just to submerge the soles of your feet and toes in a small bow), add and dissolve 3 tblsps of Epsom Salts, and soak your feet for half an hour (less wasteful than a bath, but just as good). The reason that this is the best way to absorb magnesium is that its absorbtion does not require the digestive system, so there is no chance of problems like diarrhea. Also, by soaking, the body will only absorb the amount of magnesium that it needs, so this method works well with your body's magnesium regulation.
The first time that I did this foot soak with Epsom Salts was at 9:00 pm at night. By 10 pm, I was so relaxed and tired that I just went to bed (I usually never go to bed before 12 at night) and I woke up the next morning wide awake and fresh for the day. No brain fog or grogginess.
I'm 60 y o and I do this Epsom Salt foot soak once a week now, or whenever I have aches and pains(which rarely happens now).
I also use an 8 oz garden spray -- which contains water 3 teaspoons Epsom Salts 1 teaspoon of Borax(20 Mule Team brand) to spray onto the outside of my body after showering and drying. I rub it in and leave this to dry naturally on my body.
These soaking and spraying methods are far more efficient and safe than supplementing with magnesium pills. They also deliver far larger amounts of magnesium into the body than oral supplements, and it is completely safe with no side-effects.
Replied By Colleen (Minneapolis, Mn) on 02/28/2010
Replied By Bill (San Fernando, Luzon, Philippines) on 02/28/2010