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If you suffered from ANXIETY and I offered you DEPRESSION as a cure – would you take it? Maybe for a day or two the relief from anxiety would make the depression worth it. But after a week you may find you feel even worse off with depression. Sounds sort of crazy, but people take doctors up on the offer all the time. Remember the reader I told you about (in Saturday’s post, “My Goodness! Don’t Take Magnesium With That…”) who’s doctor prescribed Ativan for her anxiety. Well, known side effects to Ativan (according to medscape.com) include depression, irritability, nervousness and “suicidal ideation.” Now, admittedly, not every patient suffers depression as a result of taking Ativan – but it’s on the warning label (along with well over 30 other possible side effects). The pharmacy information package will even warn you (in case your doctor didn’t have time) that if you are depressed you shouldn’t take the drug at all. In most cases, however, anxiety and depression overlap onto each other’s territory. It’s sort of like saying “don’t use this sunscreen if you have sensitive skin.” Wouldn’t it be far better to start upping your magnesium intake, instead? Magnesium is essential for relaxing every muscle in your body (including your heart). Anxiety is a natural side effect of not having enough magnesium. It’s not a result of an “Ativan deficiency.” Unless magnesium deficiency is your only issue, then supplementation won’t work like a magic bullet. Health is integrated and requires an integrated approach. (Make sure to check out my 48-week foundation of health online course — coming soon). But one thing is for sure, magnesium doesn’t come with 34 warnings. Have a relaxing weekend! Talk to you Monday.
P.S. Join the discussion! Leave your comments about today’s post below… |
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18 responses...
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Thank you for this Carolyn! I agree 100%. I have a prescription for ativan and if I take more than half of one I feel down. I also just finished a round of antibiotics and I believe I’m suffering with yeast overgrowth and have no idea wha tot do. I’ve been struggling with severe anxiety with agoraphobia and after being pressured to take effexor from my Dr. last week I feel afraid to go back to her. I also read in a book by Charles Linden tht ativan and the other drugs in the same family can create or make yeast overgrowth worse.
Thank you, Dr. Dean for all you do! Since hearing your comments on Dr. Hotze one day a couple of years ago, I religiously take 800 mg. Magnesium Citrate EVERY DAY. Gotta have it!! I take other stuff too, but I recommend magnesium to everyone and make sure I take it. Last trip to the doc, my BP (which was never high) was 106/67 on 5/1/09. Eat your heart out, y’all!
My wonderful new 53 yo gentleman friend was on Lexapro AND Wellbutrin when I met him, as well as Micardis for high blood pressure. I told him that he’d need to eventually get off of those, because I don’t want them in my life. (His wife left him suddenly, and that’s all over now.) I’ve heard too many stories on Dr. Hotze’s show to tolerate them. Since tapering off the two drugs, he’s much happier and he’s bursting with ideas. (We’re going to start a business together, and eventually get married.) He said that he really didn’t feel that much different than he did on the meds. FINALLY he started on magnesium citrate this week after my mentioning it for a while. His birthday is next week, I think I’ll get him a bigger bottle of magnesium along with a “real” gift.
Thank you, Dr. Dean! Magnesium is IT!!!
Amy
Houston, TX
Dr. Dean thank you for being honest, you are in the minority of doctors who want to spread the truth. After my nightmarish experience with candida ( yeast overgrowth I am still fighting) I now see anxiety as a symptom and not an illness in and of itself. Of course I am not a doctor. But slapping a bandaid or should I say drugs to make it so you cannot feel it was never a reasonable answer to me. I probabnly unnecessarily tortured myself by refusing to take any medications when i suffered from anxiety. But the result is I learned a heck of alot about my body and what causes each of the symptoms I experienced. Doing alot of eneams helped me get rid of alot of candida. taking a product called Florastor helped me greatley especially the b vitamin situation as candia can deplete. Drinking lots of water. Adn this might sound crazy but eating plenty of sea salt to support my adrenals along with taking magnesium , concentrace in all my spring water, working out at the gym, and doing things for myself has all made a HUGE difference. I am no longer anxious and never took a single drug.
Good for you Michelle!
You are an inspiration!
Aloha
Carolyn
Hi Amy,
Congratulations to your “new man” for making the change, not everyone is that “brave” and then they keep suffering side effects that slowly take over their lives.
Aloha
Carolyn
Hi Jenny,
Start learning about yeast at http://www.yeastconnection.com. It’s a yeast free diet, probiotics and natural antifungals, like garlic.
Aloha
Carolyn
Thank you Carolyn! I bought the Yeast Connection book. I guess my main problem right now is managing the anxiety long enough to learn about all of this. I guess I’m also afraid of the heartburn and troubles breathing I’ve been having. I never seem to know if they’re caused by anxiety or heartburn. It’s been tuff managing it all. Thanks so much.
Be carefull with taking magnesium when your kidneys dus not work properly, your kidney problems may get worse when taking to much magnesium.
NOTE: See John’s reply above: 2009/06/01 at 6:31am
Rens (last commenter) where did you get that information about kidney problems and magnesium? My wife has had chronic kidney disease for 7+ years and this year went on dialysis. Magnesium has never been an issue.
If anything, I can assure you her life is a LOT better (especially sleeping) when she’s taking about 500mg a day.
She even checked with her nephrology department about magnesium and they say it’s not an issue. Potassium, phosphate and sodium definitely need to be kept low if you have kidney problems but magnesium doesn’t seem to be a concern. Seems like your body protects itself from excess by excreting it out through the bowels — not the renal system.
Hello Jennie,
You can start by taking magnesium–try it in powder form or in topical form. See previous posts for sources or under Resources and click on “The Most Often Asked Question”.
Aloha
Carolyn
Hello Carolyn,
I would like to know besides taking the magnesium in H20 minerals, What other types of Magnesium would you recommend? Say if a person goes to a really good Health food store?
Thank-you,
Kathy
Hello Kathy,
I recommend Natural Calm mag citrate/mag chloride powder; magnesium oil transdermal; and the angstrom minerals. All are listed on my recommendations page on the website.
Aloha
Carolyn
I was on lexapro for a few years but finally got off it after a long spell of therapy and also because a lot of my problem was alcohol abuse. It is possible to fully recover from depression but it takes time. Good post.
Dr. Dean,
What is your take on the ideal cal/mag ratio? I connot find anything credible online. Should it be 2:1 or more 1:1? How should it change for someone who is lactose intolerant?
Also, do you recommend magnesium taurate?
Thanks,
Anna
Hello Anna,
In my book, The Magnesium Miracle, I recommend 2 parts magnesium to 1 part calcium since there is much more calcium in the diet than magnesium…even without dairy.
FIRST Magazine just interviewed me about magnesium taurate and since it’s still a “dirt” mineral, and not the angstrom minerals that I highly recommend, I don’t recommend it in particular. Angstrom is the size of the molecule of mineral which allows it to be absorbed into the cell, not just into the blood.
But some doctors…those who don’t know about the angstrom minerals, recommend it highly and it’s as good as or even a little better than most forms of oral “dirt” magnesium.
It’s all a matter of ‘what we know’.
Aloha
Carolyn
I just finished reading your book Magnesium Miracle
and found it most interesting. I have a 17 year old granddaughter with Complex Regional Syndrome and is in much pain and distress. We have her taking topical and Natural Calm now, is there anything else you would suggest she could take that would help in her healing. Thanks so much. Elsie Fuhrman
Weather is a great metaphor for life – sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad, and there’s nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella.
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.