magnesium and depression?

[Darrell2006]

As some of you know from my posts I have had depression and constipation, I've noticed after taking magnesium citrate laxative, that I feel better and the severe despair is gone,just 20 min after taking the magnesium, I'm not sure if it's just because I'm constipated or if it has a antidepressant effect, I know when I take other laxatives it doesn't make me feel less depressed, I,m thinking of trying a liquid magnesium supplement and seeing if I get the same results, since it's probaby not healthy for me to take the magnesium citrate daily since it's a high dose of magnesium.

Daryl

ps, I have found most supplements at the local drugstore to be awful, if you know of a good high quality pharmaceutical grade supplments please send me a pm, please don't list it on a post, that way we don't have people advertising products.(like they do many other forums)

 

[Frangible]

Deficiencies of Mg can produce depression but there is no evidence that it can be used as a general antidepressant.

However, there is a type of genetic condition that results in many of the symptoms you've described on this forum (including depression), which Mg does help with, called [SIZE=-1]Gitelman's syndrome[/SIZE].

http://www.naika.or.jp/im2/43/05/02e.aspx is an article about it, and I would strongly suggest seeing a doctor about the problems you are having soon. You should mention all the symptoms you are having to the doctor, and that magnesium helps. It may be useful to get a blood test for mineral levels to know for certain, but the doctor will be able to determine what's wrong and help you far better than I can.

How about making a list of all the symptoms you're having (physical and mental), the duration, severity of them, and the treatments that help, and go to a regular doctor (if you have one) or a clinic tomorrow and discuss that list with them?

Good luck.

 

[Darrell2006]

Deficiencies of Mg can produce depression but there is no evidence that it can be used as a general antidepressant.

However, there is a type of genetic condition that results in many of the symptoms you've described on this forum (including depression), which Mg does help with, called [SIZE=-1]Gitelman's syndrome[/SIZE].

http://www.naika.or.jp/im2/43/05/02e.aspx is an article about it, and I would strongly suggest seeing a doctor about the problems you are having soon. You should mention all the symptoms you are having to the doctor, and that magnesium helps. It may be useful to get a blood test for mineral levels to know for certain, but the doctor will be able to determine what's wrong and help you far better than I can.

How about making a list of all the symptoms you're having (physical and mental), the duration, severity of them, and the treatments that help, and go to a regular doctor (if you have one) or a clinic tomorrow and discuss that list with them?

Good luck.

Thanks for your reply, I don't think it's a genetic disorder, I looked at the magnesium citrate and it has 3000 mg of magnesium content per bottle, thats about 2600 more than the rda, I think it just made me intoxicated, kinda of like lithium the theraputic dose is near the toxic dose.

 

[Frangible]

Just be careful with overdoing it, you can go too far in either direction. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp is a decent summary of Mg in the diet. NIH recommends an upward limit of 350mg/day supplemented; could you try that and see if it helps depression, and save the larger doses for an occasional bowel movement?

Regarding your constipation, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constipation contains some basic information about constipation, and http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020601/2283.html gets into greater depth about it.

You also might want to keep a food log for a week or so of everything you eat, and see if you're getting the RDA for fiber and Mg to begin with (amongst other things you can track too).

High Mg consumption is hard on the kidneys and you can develop a tolerance to laxatives after a while... it's good that it's helped you, but I hope you can find a more long-term solution.

 

[Darrell2006]

I took one ounce of magnesium citrate (290mg) I see if that helps.
My constipation is linked to my smoking and depression, I know the last time I quit my bowels started fuctioning normally, I was on medicinne last time I quit so I didn't get the severe depression from withdrawl, so I will probably have to be back on meds in order to quit, hopefully the new smoking censation drug varenicline will be effective, or I may have to opt for a antidepressant and just tolerate the side effects for a month or so till
I'm through nicotine withdrawl.
I havn't had much of an appetite, I have been eating soup wich seems easy to digest and I dont get the severe cramps. I have noticed a positve effect from nuts like cashews wich are high in magnesium, but they arent the easiest thing to digest.
Yeh I definetly don't want to mess up my kidneys so I will stay away from the high doses of magnesium, Ialso drink a moderate amount of coffee and I smoke, I dont know if those are processed by the kidneys but I don't want to takeany chances on damaging them.
I definetly want to resolve my issues, just seems like I've been kinda in a rut, I have been on many meds in the past, had some pretty bad side effects and had to be taken of all meds to let my liver get back to normal, that was 2 years ago and since then my tolerance to meds have decreased and even small doses tend to cause adverse effects, but I realize that I may have to suffer some side effects at least for a short time in order to get back on track, I guess I'm still hopeful that it's as simple as taking a mineral like magnesium.
Thanks for all your input it's greatly appreciated,
it give me hope to have people who care enough to take time to offer assistance.

Thanks and god bless
Daryl

 

[Frangible]

No problem, I'm just sorry I can't help more-- it pains me to see people suffering.

If your stomach is sensitive some other things you can try are bananas, applesauce, toast, and crackers (whole wheat is the best for fiber, ie Triscuits, Wheat Thins). Popcorn (plain) is pretty good too, and is high in fiber for the calorie content. Maybe orange juice if you're not citrus-sensitive? This is America, land of obesity, should be something you can eat Dark chocolate maybe? It tastes good, effects the mood positively, and has a lot of magnesium and antioxidants. (man, I'm totally craving fruit juice after typing this)

If you're only getting soup that's pretty rough and you might even be feeling some ill effects from malnutrition. Even if you're not hungry you might try eating more "light" things so that you're getting enough calories and nutrients. Also, there are many types of soup out there, some are more healthy and nutritious than others, if you can tolerate it look for one with meat, veggies, and whole grains, that should give you some good protein and fiber.

Coffee isn't damaging and I wouldn't worry about it too much, but caffeine's half-life is 4 hours so if you switch to decaff or fruit juice or something after 6pm sleeping should be easier for you. It's good for improving your energy and mood through the day though.

And finally, if you're willing to take supplements... a multivitamin, fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids), and maybe calcium/magnesium supplements in addition to those can help you get the nutrition your body needs. There's no RDA for omega-3s but there probably should be.


I hope you're at least getting a non-starvation amount of calories per day, if you drop too low your body doesn't have enough sugar and goes into ketosis, where ketones are generated. These are acidic and can worsen stomach problems. You will also feel fatigued and tired in ketosis. You need at least 400 calories (100 grams) of carbohydrates to maintain your liver glycogen stores each day, and some extra for activities etc (you burn it faster with stimulants too), so make sure to suck down that sugar. Also try to get 60 grams of protein per day and 200 fat calories or so, that will keep your body out of muscle cannibalization and starvation mode.

Sorry, enough rambling about nutrition... I just hope you start feeling better soon, and make sure to eat what your body needs even if you aren't hungry, nicotine is very good at masking your appetite, so you might not be able to rely on hunger alone with it in your system. I don't know what food you can safely put down with your stomach the way it is but try things in small quantities and see how they do. Might want to be careful with prunes .

Good luck man... you can get through this!