Magnesium and Apnea

"Magnesium and apnea? Huh?"

I know this sounds like a strange combination. Recently, I asked my doctor about trying a magnesium supplement to help with my PVCs (extra, benign heartbeats) and palpitations, and also because my blood pressure medication contains a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that can leech magnesium from the body.

After some research, I have chosen to go with a low dose chelated magnesium (glycinate/lysinate) because of its absorbability and it's easier on the digestive system. However, one of the benefits/side effects of magnesium is that it supposedly relaxes muscles. Should I be wary of taking this too close to bed time?

One would think a modest amount of a mineral should be safe, but I wouldn't mind other opinions. (BlackSpinner any comments?)

tattooyu wrote: Recently, I asked my doctor about trying a magnesium supplement to help with my PVCs (extra, benign heartbeats) and palpitations, and also because my blood pressure medication contains a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that can leech magnesium from the body.

After some research, I have chosen to go with a low dose chelated magnesium (glycinate/lysinate) because of its absorbability and it's easier on the digestive system. However, one of the benefits/side effects of magnesium is that it supposedly relaxes muscles. Should I be wary of taking this too close to bed time?

One would think a modest amount of a mineral should be safe, but I wouldn't mind other opinions. (BlackSpinner any comments?)

Have you considered asking your doc? He has the rest of your medical history - does he know you also have OSA?

He was the one that referred me for a sleep study, after my gentle yet firm prodding. Unfortunately, as much as he tries to listen and remember, he probably has 1,000 clients or something ridiculous like that, so we don't all get the individual attention we'd like. I found out about the muscle relaxing thing after I saw him. I'll give the office a call.

I used to take 400 mgms mag citrate/day; since apnea diagnosis, I've taken 800 mgms/day (divided doses). Other than my magesium level being slightly above lab range, I've done well. Started taking for palpitations in 2000 (within a day or so 95% were gone). I too am on a diuetic that washes it and potassium and other healthy needed 'stuff' out of my system so I must find other sources to compensate...gotta love that low sodium V8

I take it whenever I feel RLS coming on. I don't get it often maybe once a week, it stops the RLS in 30 minutes. As far as Muse-Inc, I wondered if anyone could drink that low Sodium V8, I couldn't stand it and even adding massive amounts of salt won't fix that nasty taste, I bought a 24 can pack, had to mix it into Chile and hot pepper it hide the taste. Jim

Goofproof wrote:...low Sodium V8, I couldn't stand it...

I thought the same for first 3 wks on a <1800 mgms sodium diet...thank goodness, doc said that his directive was too restrictive and increase my sodium as it was at the low number of the lab range. I added lime juice which mimics the taste of salt. Now I am acutely sensitive to the taste of salt and most prepared food tastes over salted, heck, even beef tenderloin tastes salty now . I don't buy V8 in cans as it develops a metallic taste; I buy the plastic jugs.

Thanks so much for posting this information, everyone! During my recent sleep studies it was discovered that I have PVCs, and I was planning to talk to my primary care doctor about this. I'm also taking a diuretic, but I was having them when not taking the medication too.

This article has general information about PVCs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premature_ ... ontraction.

Interestingly, the article lists among the possible causes of PVCs "lack of sleep" and "hypoxia" (oxygen deprivation), both of which we're all much too familiar with. I'm going to see my sleep doctor again in a few weeks, so I think I'll ask him about this.

~ DreamOn

I take 400mg of magnesium also but never thought about it having an effect on my sleep apnea. But on the subject of magnesium
and potassium I have another comment. I may start using sea salt instead of standard salt. Sea salt contains some magnesium,potassium
and calcium along with the sodium.

Now a little humor. A while back I ordered some a couple of things from Puritin's Pride while they were having a 2 for 1 sale
and they made an error when packing my order and shorted me a bottle of magnesium citrate. They made another error
and sent me 10 bottles of magnesium citrate to make up for the one they had shorted me. ( magnesium citrate in large doses
is a laxative) maybe this was there idea of a Blow Out Sale ......

Interesting that you post this question right now because I've been asking myself a similar one.

I've been taking 400 mg magnesium glycinate a day for several months. (I also take calcium and some other minerals; I have osteopenia.) My PCP, a family practitioner who practices orthomolecular medicine, put me on the minerals. I chose to use magnesium glycinate after reading about magnesium on George Eby's web site (http://george-eby-research.com/html/dep ... xiety.html).

I've had chronic insomnia for years. And so, before I was diagnosed with OSA, my PCP recommended that, in addition to the minerals, I take glycine before bed to help me relax. My PCP now knows I have sleep apnea, but I'm not so sure she's aware of the need to avoid substances that relax the muscles. On the other hand, my sleep doc knows I take some supplements, but I think she's pretty clueless about the effects of the supplements. Most conventional docs know drugs; they're clueless about supplements. So if your doctor is conventional, s/he probably won't know the answer.

After not taking glycine for a while, I took some a few nights ago. I took 2 caps (1000 mg) before bed. The next morning, I felt as though I had slept better. I remembered dreaming and I thought "Oh, wow . . . I'm probably gonna feel better today." I proceeded to have a horrible day. So I haven't taken any more.

Two days ago I started thinking about the magnesium glycinate I take. It contains glycine too, I assume. So I didn't take any yesterday. And although I had some major leak issues last night and slept fewer hours than usual, I don't feel as bad this morning as usual. I'm breaking in a new ASV, so it's possible that it's beginning to help more than I realize. On the other hand, not having that glycine in my system may have improved my breathing. It's hard to say when you're changing more than one variable.

Bottom line: I can't really say for sure, but I suspect that taking magnesium in a form other than glycinate (maybe magnesium taurate) wouldn't cause your muscles to relax too much, especially if you're simply meeting your minimum daily requirement. But glycine by itself, or in magnesium glycinate may not be a good thing.

If anyone can produce journal articles or research to support the effects of magnesium and/or glycine on OSA patients, that would be great.

wearysoul

Woody3 wrote:Now a little humor. A while back I ordered some a couple of things from Puritin's Pride while they were having a 2 for 1 sale
and they made an error when packing my order and shorted me a bottle of magnesium citrate. They made another error
and sent me 10 bottles of magnesium citrate to make up for the one they had shorted me. ( magnesium citrate in large doses
is a laxative) maybe this was there idea of a Blow Out Sale ......

Well, think of it this way... you now never, ever have to worry about being stopped up!

Wearysoul, I am planning on taking it in the morning and then in the afternoon to minimize the possibility of more apnea events. I believe the magnesium I bought is absorbed within an hour or two.

Here are some studies I found regarding glycine:

(Subjective effects of glycine ingestion before bedtime on sleep quality)
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/jour ... 1&SRETRY=0

(A study showing apneas being caused by nonketotic hyperglycinemia, an autosomal recessive disorder)
http://www.neurology.org/cgi/content/ab ... 63/10/1847

(An article that shows reversible apnea in rats via glycine injection)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17321805


Here are some studies I found regarding magnesium:

The quote below is a snippet from a Google search. The article is about apnea and premature babies. The actual page had this text hidden to non-members.

http://neoreviews.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/3/4/e66 wrote:... and drugs that depress muscle function (eg, magnesium) can produce apnea, .... Long-term Effect of Apnea. Because idiopathic apnea is seen most often in ...

(Role of Intra-muscular Magnesium Therapy in Mangement of Persistent Apnea and Prevention of Adverse Life Threatening Events)
http://indianpediatrics.net/june2001/june-646-649.htm

Now-a-days, magnesium is also claimed to be effective in management of apenea.

(Insomnia: Studies Confirm Calcium and Magnesium Effective)
http://sleepapneadisorder.info/?p=1185

Goofproof, how much magnesium do you take for rls? Do you take it every evening, or ? I take Mirapex for rls, and would love to find a different solution.

T-yu , you ask an interesting, and possibly important question.

I have suspected for a long time that many of we apneic patients are especially at risk for having low Mg levels (for one thing, excessive sweating at night) and other elimination routes as well.

I have taken supplemental Mg for years, and believe it to be beneficial (but it's always difficult to know with an N of one).

Here's an article, one of many searchable online, that discusses Mg deficiency. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2007/feb ... ter_01.htm

I'll note here that I'm not a physician, and I don't give med advice online. Do your own DD, of course, and make wise and informed decisions on that basis.

Regards all - - Capt M



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Irene P. wrote:Goofproof, how much magnesium do you take for rls? Do you take it every evening, or ? I take Mirapex for rls, and would love to find a different solution.

I have never been dianosed with RLS, I just get the feeling that I can't sit still and it doesn't feel right, the wife gets it too. I take one Members Mark (from Sam's Club), Calcium, Mangnesium, & Zinc Tablet when that happens In 15 minutes the problem passes.

Per tablet it has 333MG Calcium, 133 mg Magnesium and 5 mg Zinc, the dose is up to 3 tablets daily. I only take one as needed, usually once or twice weekly. Cheap, and works well for us. Jim

I have been able to reliably repeat in myself much worse apnea if I take magnesium before bed, it seems to relax the muscles in my mouth and throat making my apnea so bad I notice breathing issues before I even fall asleep.

Something to consider if you don't have low levels of magnesium, it absolutely can make it worse.

Overdose?
That would be most likely.