Evidence supporting the use of: Magnesium
For the health condition: Epilepsy

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

Magnesium is sometimes used as an adjunctive treatment in epilepsy, with its use supported by a modest amount of scientific evidence. Magnesium plays a crucial role in neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission, acting as a natural antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, which is implicated in the pathophysiology of seizures. Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels) has been associated with an increased risk of seizures; therefore, correcting magnesium deficiency is considered important in managing seizure disorders. Some studies, particularly in cases of refractory epilepsy and in specific syndromes such as eclampsia (where magnesium sulfate is the treatment of choice for seizure prevention), suggest benefits of magnesium supplementation. However, for most types of epilepsy, robust randomized controlled trials are lacking, and the evidence remains limited, primarily to observational studies and case reports. Major guidelines do not recommend magnesium as a primary therapy for epilepsy, but supplementation may be justified in individuals with demonstrable deficiency or in specific clinical scenarios.

Overall, while magnesium's use in epilepsy has a biochemical rationale and some supportive evidence, it is not a mainstream standalone treatment for epilepsy. Its benefit is most recognized in treating seizures due to magnesium deficiency or in the context of eclampsia, rather than in idiopathic or genetic epilepsies.

More about magnesium
More about Epilepsy

Other health conditions supported by magnesium

Addictions (drugs)
Addictions (general remedies for)
Aging (prevention)
Alcoholism
Alkalosis
Alzheimer's Disease
Angina
Anorexia
Anxiety
Anxiety Disorders
Apathy
Arrhythmia
Arteriosclerosis
Arthritis
Asthma
Athletic and Exercise Aids
Attention Deficit Disorder
Autism
Autoimmune Disorders
Backache
Bipolar Mood Disorder
Birth Control (countering side effects)
Body Building
Body Odor
Boils
Broken Bones
Bronchitis
Bulimia
Calcium Deficiency
Calcium Deposits
Cancer Treatment (reducing side effects)
Canker Sores
Carbuncles
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiovascular Disease
Chest Pain
Colon (atonic)
Dysmenorrhea
Emotional Sensitivity
Endurance (lack of)
Energy (lack of)
Epilepsy
Exercise
Fatigue
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Headache (cluster)
Headache (tension)
Hearing Loss
Heart (weakness)
Mental Illness
Migraine
Mood Swings
Muscle Tone (lack of)
Nerve Damage
Nervous Exhaustion
Nervousness
Neurosis
Numbness
Osteoporosis
Oxygen Deficiency
Pain (general remedies for)
Paralysis
Pets (supplements for)
PMS (general)
PMS Type A
PMS Type C
PMS Type D
PMS Type H
PMS Type P
Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Weakness
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Pregnancy (herbs and supplements for)
Progesterone (low)
Psoriasis
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rhinitis
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seizures
Senility
Shock
Skin (dry and/or flaky)
Skin Care (general)
Sleep (restless and disturbed)
Stress
Sugar Cravings
Surgery (healing from)
Surgery (preparation for)
Tachycardia
Tension
Testosterone (low)
Tetanus
Thinking (cloudy)
Tics
Tinnitus
TMJ
Tooth Decay
Toxemia
Triglycerides (high)
Twitching
Wasting
Wheezing
Worry
Wounds and Sores
Adrenal Fatigue
Abscesses
Allergies (respiratory)
Abdominal Pain
Acid Indigestion
Cholesterol (high)
Circulation (poor)
Constipation (adults)
Convulsions
Cramps (leg)
Cramps (menstrual)
Cramps and Spasms
Depression
Diabetes
Digestion (poor)
Dizziness
Gastritis
Headache (general)
Heart Fibrillation or Palpitations
Hypertension
Insomnia