Method and composition for treatment of headache using magnesium

Abstract

A method for monitoring ionized Mg 2+ concentrations and ionized Ca 2+ :Mg 2+ ratios in a patient, useful in diagnosing and prognosing disease states including headache, cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, hypertension, abnormal pregnancy, head trauma, and fetal abnormalities is provided as well as a composition and a method of treating a patient with ionized Mg 2+ or ionized Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ . A method of treating headache is provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of diagnosis or prognosis of a headache in a patient, said headache capable of being diagnosed or prognosed by a method for determining ionized magnesium ion concentrations in biological samples, the method comprising: 
 a. collecting the biological sample under conditions which minimize or prevent exchange of gases between the biological sample and atmospheric air,    b. maintaining the biological sample under conditions which minimize or prevent exchange of gases between the biological sample and atmospheric air prior to measurement of ionized Mg 2+ ,    c. measuring ionized Mg 2+  concentrations, and    d. comparing the ionized Mg 2+  concentration of the patient to a normal ionized Mg 2+  concentration.    
     
     
         2 . A method of    claim 1    wherein the normal ionized magnesium ion concentration is approximately 0.54 to 0.67 mM for the biological sample of whole blood, serum or plasma.  
     
     
         3 . A composition for prevention or treatment of headache in an individual, the composition comprising as an active ingredient bioavailable magnesium, wherein a concentration of bioavailable magnesium in said composition is sufficient to prevent or treat the headache in the individual, said individual having an ionized magnesium deficiency prior to treatment.  
     
     
         4 . A composition of    claim 3    wherein the concentration of elemental magnesium is at least 200 mg.  
     
     
         5 . A composition of    claim 3    wherein the concentration of elemental magnesium is about 200 mg to about 400 mg.  
     
     
         6 . A composition of    claim 3    wherein the magnesium is in the form of a highly water soluble, bioavailable, nontoxic salt.  
     
     
         7 . A composition of    claim 3    wherein the magnesium is in the form of magnesium sulfate, MgSO 4 .7H 2 O, MgCl or MgCl.6H 2 O.  
     
     
         8 . A composition of    claim 6    wherein the magnesium salt is in a concentration of about 500 mg to about 5 gms.  
     
     
         9 . A composition of    claim 7    wherein the magnesium sulfate is in a concentration of about 1 to about 3 grams.  
     
     
         10 . Method of treating a headache in an individual comprising: 
 a. administration of bioavailable magnesium in an amount sufficient to inhibit at least one headache symptom in the individual.    
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 10    wherein the symptom is pain, aura, photophobia, nausea, unilateral pain, or phonophobia.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 10    wherein the administration is intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, rectal, nasal, or aqueous oral administration.  
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 10    wherein the administration is provided intravenously over a two-to-fifteen-minute period.  
     
     
         14 . The method of    claim 10    wherein the administration is more than one dose.  
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 10    wherein the magnesium is in the form of a highly water soluble, bioavailable, non-toxic salt.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 15    wherein the magnesium salt is magnesium sulfate. MgSO 4 .7H 2 O, MgCl, or MgCl.6H 2 O.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 15    wherein about 500 mg to about 5 grams of the magnesium is administered.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 10    wherein the amount is sufficient to raise a serum ionized magnesium concentration in the patient to about 0.55 mM to about 0.67 mM.