Red Blood Cell Magnesium Levels in Migraine Patients

Migraine is one of the most common neurological disorders that affects young people, causing a considerable degree of disability in the active population, with an enormous consequent socio-economic impact. Despite intensive research, the pathomechanism of migraine is not completely understood and its fully effective therapy remains to be achieved. A number of experimental studies have implicated the importance of magnesium ion in the pathophysiology of this condition. Magnesium has been also administered for both prophylactic and acute therapy in migraine, but the question of its efficacy has not been studied adequately. The data available suggest that magnesium has a potential role in the prophylaxis, but the results in acute therapy are far less convincing. With a good side effect profile, magnesium is a relatively safe drug with a possible beneficial effect in the prophylaxis of migraine headache, and it may have its niche in the treatment of migraine patients. However, the current medical evidence that has accumulated and the fact that there are far more effective treatment possibilities clearly indicate that this drug is definitely not to be used by every migraineur.

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“…The red blood cell Mg 2? content is significantly lower interictally than in healthy controls (Gallai et al 1993). Low serum Mg 2?…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 79%

Should magnesium be given to every migraineur? No

Párdutz

Vécsei

2012

J Neural Transm

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“…Ramadan et al reported lower intracellular Mg +2 concentrations in migraine patients versus controls either during or between attacks and suggested that there may be a relation between Mg +2 and the triggering of the migraine attack [18]. Later studies have shown that migraine sufferers have low Mg +2 levels in the serum and/or saliva [36,37], erythrocytes [37][38][39][40], monocytes and lymphocytes [22,40,41]. Mauskop et al reported that 42% of patients have low ionized Mg +2 levels during a migraine attack [17].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparative study of magnesium, flunarizine and amitriptyline in the prophylaxis of migraine

et al. 2000

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Circumstantial evidence points to the possible role of magnesium (Mg +2 ) deficiency in the pathogenesis of migraine and has raised questions about the clinical utility of magnesium as a therapeutic regimen in migraine. This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled trial comparing the efficacy and tolerability of 1830 mg magnesium citrate (23 patients), 10 mg flunarizine (22 patients) and 10 mg amitriptyline (20 patients) with placebo (22 patients) in the prophylaxis of migraine diagnosed according to the criteria of the International Headache Society. Patients were evaluated for attack frequency, severity and drug side effects monthly for 3 months. Magnesium, flunarizine and amitriptyline were all superior to placebo (p<0.001) in reducing both attack frequency and severity after the first month. There was no significant difference between the 3 active drugs in reduction of attack frequency and severity. No serious side effects were observed and the frequencies of side effects were not significantly different in all treatment groups. Our results show that oral magnesium is an effective and well tolerated drug in the prophylaxis of migraine and compares well to established drugs like flunarizine and amitriptyline both in effectiveness and occurence of side effects. Magnesium may be an alternative drug in migraine prophylaxis, but more and larger comparative trials are needed to confirm these results.

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“…Studies of serum ionized magnesium, 13,14 whole-brain NMR spectroscopy, 15 intracellular levels in various types of cells, 16,17 and magnesium loading 18 have consistently shown that patients with migraine and cluster headache frequently have a magnesium deficiency. Studies of serum ionized magnesium, 13,14 whole-brain NMR spectroscopy, 15 intracellular levels in various types of cells, 16,17 and magnesium loading 18 have consistently shown that patients with migraine and cluster headache frequently have a magnesium deficiency.…”

Section: Magnesiummentioning

confidence: 99%