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Patients with fibromyalgia may benefit from transdermal magnesium chloride
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The use of transdermal magnesium chloride may improve scores on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire for patients with fibromyalgia, but skin irritation accounted for many study dropouts, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic.
Forty postmenopausal women diagnosed with fibromyalgia were enrolled in a pilot study. Patients were supplied with a spray bottle of FibroFlex (formerly DermaMag, Magnesium Direct, Inc.), a 31% magnesium chloride solution, water and “a proprietary blend of trace minerals,” according to the manufacturer. Patients were instructed to apply four sprays per arm into the palm and rub onto one limb and repeat for each limb every 4 waking hours. The application was intended to not be washed off until bedtime or for at least 1 hour before showering. At the end of the 4-week trial, bottles were collected and the unused product was measured.
The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), SF-36 and a quality-of-life analog scale (QOL) were administered at baseline, week 2 and week 4.
Twenty-four women completed the trial, with 22% of dropouts related to skin irritation. Improvements in all domains of the FIQ were observed in patients who followed treatment protocols. In an intent-to-treat group analysis with missing values substituted with each missing patient’s previous score, FIQ scores and SF-36 areas of physical function, role physical and physical health domains were significantly improved. Scores related to bodily pain, vitality, social function, role emotional and mental health scores did not differ significantly, while patients reported decreased cramp severity, fatigue and joint and muscle pain at the end of the study. Overall QOL was improved in both the per-protocol and intent-to-treat analyses at week 2, but no significant difference was seen in the per-protocol group at week 4. – by Shirley Pulawski
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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