I was on pretty high levels of prednisone and was having really bad calf cramps. I read that prednisone can deplete electrolytes. I was having frequent blood tests and sodium and potassium were fine. I asked that magnesium be tested and guess what, doc, fine as well.

Never learned the cause of the cramps. I kept a squeeze bottle of mustard on my night stand, because a dollop of mustard stops cramps nearly instantly for me. After tapering off the prednisone cramps ceased.

I hate that drug but when it's necessary use it.

Is my best guess. I've seen a few over the last few months.

Not high on my list of concerns for my health.

I'm sure most of the folks bugging you about it have no idea what magnesium does in the body and absolutely no clue what a low magnesium level looked and acted like, you know...symptoms. But they hear the snake oil peddlers and wanna solve that non-problem because some idiot on a website is selling something.

what's the most common deficiency you encounter (other than common sense, of course)?

It doesn't rain all the time, as the regional stereotype would have you believe. But we do get less sunlight than other parts of the country.

Vitamin D deficiency is the easiest thing in the world to treat; we just give the patient Vitamin D. Problem solved. (Routine monitoring included, of course).

The midwest gets more sunlight than the northwest, I'm sure, but we're not the sunniest part of the country, either. I found out my vitamin D was low a few years ago and have taken a supplement ever since. If that test hadn't been included in my routine bloodwork, I'd never have known.

Last edited Fri Sep 12, 2025, 11:52 PM - Edit history (1)

getting information from actual medical folk and scientists seems to be coming a concept from the past..........

Advertisers use psychology to make us believe we need something we really don't need. Just about every product shown on TV, online, or in an ad tells us how much better off we'd be with their product. The drug and supplement industries are notorious for this. Not feeling your energetic self, take this pill. Testosterone levels down, take this pill. Erectile dysfunction, take this pill.

I get a physical every year and my doctor goes over my lab results with me. The only supplement I need is a Vitamin D pill daily. The rest of my levels like iron and such are within normal levels. In most cases, eating reasonably healthy meals is usually enough for most people.

I was referred to a dermatologist earlier this year for a rash on my ankles. As he was going over what medications I took he asked about supplements. I told him I only take Vitamin D per my doctor's orders. He ask if I took any other and I said No. He was surprised considering I was 74 years old and didn't take any other supplements. I guess most of his older patients take a number of supplements.