DEAR DR. GOTT: I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia seven years ago and went to a clinic at a local hospital where I was evaluated by a doctor and a naturopath. The doctor put me on a clinical trial of vitamin B injections and the naturopath recommended a supplement of magesium/malic acid.
I experienced relief quite quickly and thought it was due to the “miracle” injections; however, I had to discontinue them. For the past six years I have continued to take the malic acid/magnesium supplements daily and have found that they alleviate all my pain. Occasionally I will run out of supplements and after three days the pain will start to creep in again. I had previously been on many sleep and pain medications which made me a walking zombie. Avoiding sugar and alcohol also helps.
The only place I have found the combination supplement is the Vitamin Shoppe or online. Hopefully this will work for some of your readers. Thank you for your informative column.
DEAR READER: I had not heard of malic acid and magnesium being used for the pain of fibromyalgia. After a quick search, however, I found many sources of anecdotal advice. One reliable source even mentioned this is a possible treatment but also that more research needs to be done as currently there is only one very small preliminary clinical trial that found it to be helpful whereas a review article stated several other studies found it provided no relief. I even found one mention that the combination may be helpful in relieving joint and muscle pain associated with Lyme disease.
You don’t mention what dosage you are taking and my research turned up several possibilities ranging from 1200-1400 mg malic acid and 300 mg magnesium anywhere from one to three times a day. I’d like to know what your naturopath recommended you take.
I should also point out that before anyone begins taking a magnesium supplement, they should first consult a physician. This mineral can interact with several medications, and may cause upset stomach and diarrhea. If the user has pre-existing low blood calcium levels, magnesium supplements can cause further deficiency. At high doses, it can cause nausea, vomiting, severely lowered blood pressure, a slowed heart rate, confusion, respiratory paralysis, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, deficiency of other minerals, cardiac arrest, and even death.
That said, I’m intrigued. If taken under physician supervision and monitored regularly, the risk of serious side effects should be low. I know of several fibromyalgia sufferers who have tried just about everything for relief. Perhaps this could be the answer they are looking for. I’d even be interested in knowing if it works for arthritis pain which can cause somewhat similar symptoms to fibromylagia and Lyme disease.
Readers who are interested in learning more can order my Health Reports “Fibromyalgia” and “Managing Chronic Pain” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 (for each report) US check or money order to Dr. Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title when writing or print an order form from my website, www.AskDrGottMD.com.
