Re: Mag/Ca: RLS & Fibromyalgia

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Magnesium supplements often do help RLS sufferers and that is supported in

the medical literature. If you develop diaherra, that is a sign your body is

getting too much of it, so you might need to cut back on what you are taking

until you find the right dose for you.

For those also suffering from Fibromyalgia, you might find interesting the

article on the Super Malic below from the Journal of Rheumatology. Super Malic

is a supplement with magnesium and malic acid from apples; it frequently, when

the optinum dose is found (as high as 14 tablets a day) relieves diffuse

muscle pain by 50%. For some reason, the Ultra Plus, some type formulation,

has not helped some I know with FMS, obtained from CFIDS. Other magesium

supplements might not do a thing for the diffuse muscle pain in these cases

making me suspect if you have no relief from your RLS symptoms, this

combination might be worth a try.

Below is the article on magnesium from the medical literature and what Dr.

Elaty's Treatise says on it (Dr. Elaty's Treatise is now available for all to

read at Jodi's Web Site: http://www.mlists.net/judson/Elaty.html).

Here is the ordering info, not a big money maker for the Central Florida

Support Group, for first class printed copies of Dr. Elaty's 8 page write up

on RLS reprinted with his permission (front and back so 4 pages for mailing

purposes).

Many doctors are leary of something printed off from the Internet; the write

up as I said is beautifully printed up on salmon colored paper and looks very

credible as Lynne and in WI and others who have ordered it can confirm.

Doctors are like a union; if they see a fellow physician saying in writing

something and it looks credible, they usually go along with it like ordering

ferritin, B-12 & folic acid levels checked, treatments suggested be tried by

Dr. Elaty, etc.

Dr. Elaty's Treatise on RLS are $1 each plus a No.10 or long white envelope

of at least 4 1/8 " X 9 1/4 " or the 4 1/4 " X 9 1/2 " plus 33 in postage on it.

If ordering multiple copies, 2 = 55 cents, 3 = 77 and 4 = 99 cents in postage

plus the $1 each. The No. 10 envelope will hold a maximum of 4 copies. If you

wish to order more then four, let me know before sending anything, first.

Please save this or post to me individually if you decide you want copies.

Send $1 a copy and your SASE per above to me at:

Barbara Stock

415 Kilshore Lane

Winter Park, FL 32789

Barbara

In a message dated 3/9/99 6:37:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, RAINBOWPED@...

writes:

<< I, too, take calcium and I take 500mg Magnesium caps ( 1-5 a day). OBTW, my

MD recommended the magnesium! And another benefit, some of the RLS meds (e.g.

Permax) can cause constipation and the magnesium (MOM) helps a lot with that

problem. >>

FROM DR. ELATY'S TREATISE ON RLS: http://www.mlists.net/judson/Elaty.html

Magnesium Deficiency

Tests for magnesium deficiency can be inaccurate except for loading or taking

magnesium and collecting urine for 24 hours: it is perhaps easier to try a

bottle of Malic Acid/Magnesium purchased at the health food store and taking

it for 3 months at perhaps even higher doses than indicated on the label, if

no results after 30 days. If diaherra occurs, this might be a sign you are

taking too much.* Consult your physician.

*Going to talk to Dr. Elaty about adding this!

MAGNESIUM THERAPY FOR PERIODIC LEG MOVEMENT-RELATED INSOMNIA AND RESTLESS

LEGS SYNDROME: AN OPEN PILOT STUDY

Author: Hornyak M; Voderholzer U; Hohagen F; Berger M; Riemann D

Address: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-

University, Freiburg, Germany.

Source: Sleep, 1998 Aug 1, 21:5, 501-5

Abstract: Periodic limb movements during sleep (PLMS), with or without

symptoms of a restless legs syndrome (RLS), may cause sleep disturbances. The

pharmacologic treatments of choice are dopaminergic drugs. Their use, however,

may be limited due to tolerance development or rebound phenomena. Anecdotal

observations have shown that oral magnesium therapy may ameliorate symptoms in

patients with moderate RLS.

We report on an open clinical and polysomnographic study in 10 patients (mean

age 57 +/- 9 years; 6 men, 4 women) suffering from insomnia related to PLMS (n

= 4) or mild-to-moderate RLS (n = 6). Magnesium was administered orally at a

dose of 12.4 mmol in the evening over a period of 4-6 weeks. Following

magnesium treatment, PLMS associated with arousals (PLMS-A) decreased

significantly (17 +/- 7 vs 7 +/- 7 events per hour of total sleep time, p <

0.05). PLMS without arousal were also moderately reduced (PLMS per hour of

total sleep time 33 +/- 16 vs 21 +/- 23, p = 0.07). Sleep efficiency improved

from 75 +/- 12% to 85 +/- 8% (p < 0.01).

In the group of patients estimating their sleep and/or symptoms of RLS as

improved after therapy (n = 7), the effects of magnesium on PLMS and PLMS-A

were even more pronounced. Our study indicates that magnesium treatment may be

a useful alternative therapy in patients with mild or moderate RLS-or PLMS-

related insomnia. Further investigations regarding the role of magnesium in

the pathophysiology of RLS and placebo-controlled studies need to be

performed.

Treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome with Super Malic: a randomized, double

blind, placebo controlled, crossover pilot study

Author: IJ; Michalek JE; Flechas JD; Abraham GE

Address: Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center,

San 78284-7874, USA.

Source: Journal of Rheumatology, 1995 May, 22:5, 953-8

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE. To study the efficacy and safety of Super Malic, a

proprietary tablet containing malic acid (200 mg) and magnesium (50 mg), in

treatment of primary fibromyalgia syndrome (FM). METHODS. Twenty-four

sequential patients with primary FM were randomized to a fixed dose (3 tablets

bid), placebo controlled, 4-week/course, pilot trial followed by a 6-month,

open label, dose escalation (up to 6 tablets bid) trial. A 2-week, medication

free, washout period was required before receiving treatment, between blinded

courses, and again before starting open label treatment. The 3 primary outcome

variables were measures of pain and tenderness but functional and

psychological measures were also assessed. With dose escalation and a longer

duration of treatment in the open label trial, significant reductions in the

severity of all 3 primary pain/tenderness measures were obtained without

limiting risks. CONCLUSIONS. Patients reported dramatic relief from pain in FM

with short term, open label administration of Super Malic, which contains

malic acid and magnesium hydroxide.