Hi Everyone,

I just read a lil' about magnesium the other day in someone elses
thread,and that alot of people with epilepsy can be low on it.So,I
did quite a bit of research the past 2 days on it and found out that
some peoples seizures that are intractable have been able to be controlled
by taking magnesium.I even did a search under this website and the only
one that showed up was the one I read the other day,so I thought that I
would start a thread about this.I did find a few thread under some of the
other bulletin boards though.They even said that the people eventually were
able to go off the AED's altogether.Lamictal even has some magnesium in it.
I also started this thread to find out how many of you have ever tried it,and
has it worked for you? It also stated that if you are low on mag. that drinking
milk can deplete you even more of the magnesium.
One of the other BB that I read,a mother stated that her sons epilepsy could
not be controlled with any of the meds. but magnesium did it.
Please any other comments or knowledge on this subject, I would find very
interesting and would be appreciated.:)

Would get a lab test first before using supplements without your MDs knowledge, or you could mess up an 'imbalance' that wasn't there to begin with. Magnesium deficiency or excess can cause seizures, but these aren't common- get the lab test first :)

Hi Neuro,

Just curious where you read that too much magnesium can
cause seizures? I read that the worse an excess could do
was give you diarhea.
In another forum, a lady said that she had tried every medicine
out there for her 4 year old son (as I have) and that it was her
doctor that had suggested magnesium. I am going to have my magnesium
tested since nothing else seems to work.Thanks for the concern.
My seizures are catamenial and I also read that your magnesium can get
very low during menstruation.
Take care.

:) Magnesium is used as a laxative (milk of magnesia, oral mag sulfate, etc), antacid, but is also a major mineral for muscle contractions, enzyme reactions, and nerve transmission, so any imbalance can cause neurological problems, depending on the severity. And, not having enough can cause neuro problems- depending on the severity.

Mag Sulfate is a standard med given to treat pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnancy), and some types of seizures-eclampsia (seizures from high blood pressure in pregnancy)- however, lab results would be needed prior to starting anyone not pregnant on magnesium to know where they were starting from. Because of all of the 'real' anticonvulsants, mag sulfate is almost exclusively used for seizures or symptoms of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia in pregnancy.....it would have to be a last ditch option for most types of seizures, unless there were an enzyme/biochemical need for magnesium for that type of seizure- with over 100 types of seizure syndromes, and the biochemical reasons for some, I can't give you the exact types of seizures that would be prime candidates for magnesium- but it's not a general epileptic 'medication' (mineral).

The side effects are known to be VERY lousy (pregnant women go through h*ll during treatment to save their babies with this), and is not an easy med to take at the doses needed to provide anticonvulsant properties....the stuff at the drugstore is weenie doses, and essentially pointless for most people.

SO, it IS an anticonvulsant, but the doses needed excede the tolerance most people would have for the side effects, and, other more specific medications for seizures are available, and more targeted for certain types of seizures. Unless I was pregnant and had life-threatening blood pressure that would likely kill me or my baby, there's no way I'd take it, with the side effects, when there are other meds out there for epilepsy.:)

Also, it's not available except for IV or injection doses in the amounts needed to stop seizures...
The only oral uses are laxatives and mineral supplements (the weenie drugstore doses)- and if magnesium isn't taken in a ratio with other minerals, it's not absorbed well orally.

As far as where I read this (sorry- forgot to answer that :)), professional nutrition textbook, professional medication reference books, and other books that would give away my profession, which I'm not allowed to do on this board.....:)

Hi Everyone,

I just read a lil' about magnesium the other day in someone elses
thread,and that alot of people with epilepsy can be low on it.So,I
did quite a bit of research the past 2 days on it and found out that
some peoples seizures that are intractable have been able to be controlled
by taking magnesium.I even did a search under this website and the only
one that showed up was the one I read the other day,so I thought that I
would start a thread about this.I did find a few thread under some of the
other bulletin boards though.They even said that the people eventually were
able to go off the AED's altogether.Lamictal even has some magnesium in it.
I also started this thread to find out how many of you have ever tried it,and
has it worked for you? It also stated that if you are low on mag. that drinking
milk can deplete you even more of the magnesium.
One of the other BB that I read,a mother stated that her sons epilepsy could
not be controlled with any of the meds. but magnesium did it.
Please any other comments or knowledge on this subject, I would find very
interesting and would be appreciated.:)
HI, I'M A MUM OF 3. IM 37 YEARS OLD WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY EPILEPSY YOU CAN THINK OF.
ON A BAD DAY (BELIEVE IT OR NOT) I FIT EVERY 20 SECS *(PETI#MAL FITS)*. MY WHOLE AIM ON DAYS LIKE THAT IS TO BE ABLE TO COUNT TO 20 ??WHY ? BECAUSE THEN I KNOW THERE SLOWING DOWN WHEN I CAN COUNT TO 21. YOUR ASKING ABOUT MAGNISIUM .OH MY GOD ...FOR EVERY NEUROLOGIST READING THIS ,IF YOU ARE EVEN A HALF DESCENT DR THEN EVERYONE OF YOUR EPILEPTIC PATIENTS SHOULD HAVE THERE MAGNISIUM LEVELS CHECKED AND TREATED ACCORDINGLY....FOR ME IT DOESN'T ALWAYS MEAN A DROP IN FITS BUT IT DOES MEAN IF I AM HAVING A TOUGH TIME OF IT THAT AFTER MY RECOVERY (WHICH CAN SOMETIMES BE VERY SCAREY) IS A MUCH EASIER RIDE. IT MEANS I CAN FORM MY WORDS AND RECALL EASIER. SOUNDS VERY LITTLE DOESN'T IT ???????

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IM NOT STUPID IT IS SOUL DESTROYING CONSTANTLY ASKING PEOPLE WHAT YOU WERE LAST SAYING OR DOING, AND HOW SCARED DO YOU THING WE FEEL WHEN WE REALISE THAT THE PERSON TELLING US WHAT HAPPENED LAST COULD REALLY BE TALKING TOTAL RUBBISH ....WE JUST HAVE TO TRUST THEM...
THEN COMES ALONG........
MAGIC MAGNISIUM.....I CAN TALK MORE FLUENTLEY AND REMEMBER MORE (STILL CAN'T SPELL THOUGH HAHA) BUT TO SOMEONE LIKE ME IT'S GIVEN ME MY LIFE BACK..SO FOR ANYONE READING THIS..YOU HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE .........................

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE XXXXXXXXXX FROM PINKY1

Good idea about having levels checked first- and figuring out the dose needed if you're going to use this-- and ask why magnesium is helpful for the type of seizure involved...might need other lab tests and mineral levels done.

Hi Neuro and Pinky,

I am going to have my level of magnesium checked.But,I have to
unfortunately wait until I can afford to.
If you read in other epilepsy forums it is like magic,just like Pinky
stated.I do even believe one of the websites I visited actually called
it Magic Magnesium:)
Take care and thanks for all the info.

Pinky,


Sorry to hear about you having so many daily.But,I am happy
to hear that the magnesium has helped you speak more
fluent,and helped your memory.My memory also is gone,mainly
my short-term.Good luck in your future:) I also have very bad
times in word-find,as I have read many that have epilepsy does.

Just be careful....there are all sorts of snake oils out there when people are wanting to find relief no matter what. There's nothing in conventional medical info that substantiates the uses of small oral doses for seizures (and I do believe in other types of medicine). The stuff at the store is minute doses compared to the ones needed in medication reference books....just be careful. Yet, I also believe that if someone believes something works, regardless of clinical research, and their life is better, and not harmed by it, go for it....just get the levels first :)

Absolutley. Get Your Levels Checked. The Magnisium Hasn't Slowed My Fits Down It Just Alows Me To Get My Brain Back To What I Call Normal. It Helps Me With My Memory And Flow Of Words. But Regardless To What You Take You Should Always Get Your Levels Checked Before And After

Pinky1

neurowreck...thanks for your input mag. is the worst thing i've ever been on!!! i had it through iv because of me being pregnant and going into premature labor at 20 wks. needless to say my contractions stopped but i had seizures though it? don't know how it happened but it did. they gave it to me because they needed time to transport me to a bigger hospital. i was on it till i delivered my daughter and hated every second of it. i just caution people that are thinking about taking it to talk to there doctor. the only reason i agreed to stay on it was because my daughter's life depended on it. even though she was still born prematurely mag. helped me carry her to a better gestation.

I think it's great that people read up on possible alternative medicines. I think it's a possible death sentence to just take them without the doc's input and reasoning. These are not 'simple' pills just because you can buy them at any grocery or 'mart' store. Mineral levels in the body have set levels that hardly ever need our interference. If you have talked to your doc about the need to take them, then by all means, listen to them- but taking them without MD or neuro awareness is Russian roulette.....your choice.