magnesium levels and epilepsy?

Hi Searching71, welcome to Connect.
I have seen this question about magnesium and epilepsy management asked on other forums too. This review of clinical data seems to indicate that the relationship between magnesium and epilepsy has not been well studied.
- Addressing potential role of magnesium dyshomeostasis to improve treatment efficacy for epilepsy: A reexamination of the literature. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26313363

You might also be interested in this study
- Can magnesium supplementation reduce seizures in people with epilepsy? A hypothesis. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22406257

I'd like to invite @thoferer81017 @sam_nova @jktaheri @ahernandez @seancaden @bonnieh218 and @robertjr into this discussion to see if they have any experiences with magnesium or reducing zonisamide.

Searching71, congrats on feeling better with the diet changes you've been making.

Only one way to find out. Don’t forget to research absorption when you pick it out. I think magnesium citrate is one of the more easily absorbed forms of magnesium. Magnesium oxide, not so much. I know it’s frustrating to pinpoint what’s working and what’s not when there are so many variables involved in life that change every day. If nothing else, the placebo effect can be strong so i’d Just try upping the magnesium dose.

Hello @searching71
Speaking from experience as I to am a 45 year old woman with epilepsy. My neurologist put me on magnesium many years ago along with folic acid. He explained to me as beneficial for both seizures and helps combat headaches associated with both migraines and menstral cycles. I use to get headaches daily and take heavy medication and nerve block injections weekly with little success. Added the supplements and changed my seizure medication to Trileptal and no more heads. Haven’t take migraine medication (Frova) in 11 years.

Good luck
Dawn

Thank you for including my thoughts here! I am a 44 year old that was OFFICIALLY diagnosed with Epilepsy 5 years ago.

I went back online and reviewed my last few lab results. I did not see where my magnesium levels had been specifically tested. However, per my neurologist's suggestions long ago, I do take zinc, selenium, and magnesium. Low sodium is the main issue that I have had, seemingly due to the two seizure medications I take that are known to lower sodium levels.

I too try to approach my overall condition from a nutritional stance. I try to consume lots of salmon, avocado, almonds, blueberries, and coconut/coconut oil. I have read that those are some of the best foods one can eat for their neurological health. Nutrition affects all. "You are what you eat", as Grandma always said (I guess this makes me a nutty fish, but kinda sweet!).

Unfortunately I don't have any experience on these topics. I hope you find the information you're looking for.

Hi Colleen,ive had grand mals for alot of years,my seizures have not been ina steady time frame ,might go few months then a year or so.As ive gotten oldermy consumptionof magnesium and calcium has increased,i also have copd and had cancer,which caused me to get other problems,evenwith these meds my grand mals have been incresing.From what ive read one theory is magneasiumdeficiency may be a cause,butif true my seizures should be less not more.In my life next to impossible to figure next seizure,it will 58 years with grandmals this year for me.still no real answers yet.

I have no experience in using magnesium. Hopefully you will have a solution soon.

Hi
My son's seizure disorder is minimally responsive to medication. He currently is on Banzel and has a VNS. Has anyone used magnesium as a supplement to medication to help control seizures? We have tried modified Atkins. Are there any other wholistic strategies/supplements that you all have found to be effective in treating a intractable seizure disorder?

Hello, @lmcquade, and welcome to Connect.

Since you are inquiring about using magnesium as a supplement to help control seizures, I merged your post with this discussion, "Magnesium levels and epilepsy?" so you could read past posts on this topic and talk with members in this discussion like @ks835 @dawn_giacabazi @jktaheri @robertjr and others. @jakedduck1 also may have some thoughts for you.

You also mentioned that you had tried modified Atkins in looking to try some holistic strategies/supplements that may be effective in treating a intractable seizure disorder. How did this diet work for your son?

Hi @lisalucier We tried the modified atkins for about 9 months. I would say the first 3 months we saw a dramatic decrease in break through seizures and in general while my son was on the modified atkins he was "clearer" if that makes sense. We eventually ended up discontinuing the diet because it was so restrictive and hard to maintain as I work full time and my son was 10/11 at the time. We are investigating trying Keto again in addition to his VNS. I feel that with seizure disorders there are so many opportunities for trial and error until you find a mix that works to control seizure activity. My son has experienced moderate level of success with the modified atkins and the VNS. Banzel is a staple for him as well. I am hopeful that now with the VNS if we go back to the diet we will be able to wean off of the medication. That's always my goal for him, to have seizure control without medication.