Magnesium

Can magnesium help prevent migraine?

Updated 10 Nov 2026

Short answer

It may make migraines less frequent. In 2012, US neurology and headache societies rated magnesium as probably effective for preventing migraine.[1] In a 2025 review, magnesium lowered the number of attacks and gave 1.66 fewer migraine days a month.[2]

The trials are small and do not all agree. In a 12-week trial in 81 adults, 600 mg a day as trimagnesium dicitrate cut attacks by 41.6%, against 15.8% with placebo.[3] Another trial in 69 adults, with 10 mmol twice a day, found no benefit and was stopped early.[4] A 2018 review graded magnesium as possibly effective.[5]

The usual migraine dose is above the US upper limit of 350 mg a day from supplements. NIH ODS says to take it only under a health professional's supervision.[6] Diarrhea was common: it affected 18.6% of people on 600 mg a day in one trial.[3] In the other trial, 45.7% on magnesium had mild side effects such as soft stools and diarrhea, against 23.5% on placebo.[4]

Sources (6)

  1. Evidence-based guideline update: NSAIDs and other complementary treatments for episodic migraine prevention in adults: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. Holland S, Silberstein SD, Freitag F, Dodick DW, Argoff C, Ashman E Neurology, 2012. PMID 22529203
  2. Effects of selected dietary supplements on migraine prophylaxis: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Talandashti MK, Shahinfar H, Delgarm P, Jazayeri S Neurol Sci, 2025. PMID 39404918
  3. Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: results from a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized study. Peikert A, Wilimzig C, Köhne-Volland R Cephalalgia, 1996. PMID 8792038
  4. Magnesium in the prophylaxis of migraine--a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Pfaffenrath V, Wessely P, Meyer C, Isler HR, Evers S, Grotemeyer KH, et al. Cephalalgia, 1996. PMID 8902254
  5. Magnesium in Migraine Prophylaxis-Is There an Evidence-Based Rationale? A Systematic Review. von Luckner A, Riederer F Headache, 2018. PMID 29131326
  6. Magnesium: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. ods.od.nih.gov

More about magnesium

What is magnesium?Which foods are good sources of magnesium?What does elemental magnesium mean on a supplement label?What are magnesium's main benefits?Who is most likely to have low magnesium?Is magnesium safe?

For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.