Migraines are chronic, severe headaches that can be triggered by certain foods, hormonal fluctuations, sensory stimulants, stress, physical activity, environmental changes and some medications. Taking a magnesium supplement may help lessen the frequency of your migraine headaches. Consult your doctor before taking magnesium for your migraines to discuss the correct dosage and potential dangers.
Identification
When you suffer a migraine, the headache will likely centralize on one side of your head, in your forehead or at your temples, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The classic signs of a migraine are a moderate to severe headache accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light and sound and visual disturbances called auras. You're at a greater risk of having migraines if other people in your family have them and if you're female, especially if you're experiencing hormonal changes due to your menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause, the Mayo Clinic website notes. Most people begin experiencing migraines before they're 30 years old.
Function
If you suffer from migraines, you might be deficient in magnesium, an essential dietary mineral, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Magnesium supplementation appears to work especially well in easing migraines triggered by changes in estrogen levels. Still, taking oral magnesium supplements or receiving magnesium intravenously seems to be most effective for people with migraines who have a magnesium deficiency, according to the Mayo Clinic website.
Effects
Taking magnesium supplements may reduce the frequency of your migraine headaches, the Mayo Clinic site continues. Intravenous magnesium may ease or otherwise treat a severe migraine headache episode. A three-month-long, double-blind medical study published in the online journal Cephalalgia , which focuses on the causes and treatment of headache, in 1996 found that taking magnesium supplements reduced the frequency of migraine headaches in the study participants, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Another study in Germany in 1994 found similar results from magnesium supplementation in treating migraines.
Dosage
You might take 200 to 600 milligrams of magnesium each day to lessen your migraine frequency, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you have a magnesium deficiency, your doctor may prescribe a specific dosage that's tailored to your needs. Many studies have used the higher dosage -- 600 milligrams -- of magnesium for migraine headaches, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Ask your physician about the dosage that's right for you before taking the supplement.
Warning
The most common side effects of taking therapeutic doses of magnesium are gastrointestinal irritation and diarrhea, notes the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Magnesium supplementation might also reduce your blood pressure, which could be dangerous for people who already have low blood pressure or who are taking antihypertensive medications, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. Discuss these and other possible health dangers with your health care provider before taking magnesium for migraines.
