Posted by JLx on October 30, 2003, at 7:06:15
In reply to migraines, posted by castone on October 29, 2003, at 19:22:16
> I have recently started (2 weeks) a new supplement for migraines. I am taking Magnesium glycinate as well as calcium, a multivitamin and some dietary restrictions.
How much of each and what specifically coincides with the increased depression?
> Does anyone have experience with this? My headaches have improved (today is my first day in over 6 weeks w/o a headache). But my depression has also increased. I do not know if this is due to the long period of headaches or the new supplements.
I wonder if it's the calcium (are you taking more?). There's a discussion on George Eby's site about magnesium/depression/stress regarding calcium here and elsewhere on the page: http://www.coldcure.com/html/dep.html#synapses He says,
"Too much calcium ion and glutamate and not enough magnesium ion, particularly in the hippocampus, play a vital role in brain cell synaptic dysfunction leading to depression and other mood and behavioral disorders. ... However, most surprising was the finding that even endogenous glutamate may cause neurotoxicity via over-excitation under certain conditions - a situation called "excitotoxicity". Processes that increase the sensitivity of glutamate receptors or affect glutamate homeostasis often induce cell death usually connected with Calcium2+ ion overload. ... Psychiatrists have known for many years that loss of hormonal control of calcium causes severe mental illnesses (dementias) including depression. Apparently, long term, stress with excessive calcium intake and limited magnesium intake can cause loss of hormonal control of calcium. ... For those of us that have consumed too much calcium relative to magnesium, excess calcium has become a neurotoxin. For example, I used to be so sensitive to calcium, that a single 500 mg calcium dietary supplement induced in me a strong feeling of depression within 1 hour (relievable with 400 mg magnesium). To me, this is clear evidence that either treatment-resistant or stress-induced depression are not necessarily psychological or psychiatric disorders (although depression certainly can be)."
When I first started magnesium supplementation, I cut out dairy and basically ALL sources of calcium from a formerly very high intake. And I felt great. Now I think I need some again, but I am having a hard time determining what is a good ratio of magnesium/calcium as I think I am sensitive to calcium in that same way. You too, perhaps?
Or, I've also noticed that since I've been supplementing with magnesium, EVERYTHING I thought I knew about how I react to things is out the window. I'm taking tyrosine now with good antidepressant effect, for instance, whereas it made me feel mean and irritable in the past. So, perhaps the magnesium is changing your reactions to other things too and you just need to figure out what. Or you could switch to a different kind of magnesium such as magnesium taurate which is what Eby is recommending these days:
"From early 2000 to summer of 2003, this essay focused upon magnesium glycinate as the preferred source of magnesium. Now, in late summer of 2003, I have shifted emphasis from magnesium glycinate to magnesium taurate, which appears considerably superior to all other forms of magnesium in treating treatment resistant depression. Other effective magnesium compounds mentioned throughout this essay are ranked well behind magnesium taurate and are not recommended unless magnesium taurate can not be obtained."
> I am considering taking Tryptophan because none of the meds for depression seem to help me without keeping me awake 24/7. (I have anxious depression with some panic attacks.) Has anyone combined this with magnesium?
>
> thanksIf you're not taking any meds, I don't see how it should be worrisome. I've taken 5-HTP with magnesium as well as many other things, such as the aminos I'm taking now.
I've never had migraines but I know people who have, and it must be great to be free of them....but then being more depressed instead is too bad. But there may natural remedies that can help there; perhaps just a matter of finding the right thing. I feel better on my amino acids and other things than I have in years (and certainly better than I ever felt on ADs) and it all STARTED with magnesium supplementation. So, I hope you don't get discouraged. :)
poster:JLx
thread:274793
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031023/msgs/274918.html