Magnesium for the Next Millennium
Magnesium is a trace mineral in several hundred chemical reactions in the body
Magnesium for the Next Millennium
Randall Swain, MD, Barbara Kaplan-Machlis, PharmD,
New Millennium Wellness and Sports Medicine, and the Departments of Family
Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Charleston.
[South Med J South Med J 92(11), 1999. © 1999 Southern Medical Association]
Abstract
Background. Magnesium is a trace mineral in several hundred
chemical reactions in the body. It has therapeutic potential in many medical
conditions. In this review, we attempted to clarify the current information on
the role of magnesium as a therapeutic agent.
Methods. A MEDLINE search from 1966 through March 1999 was
conducted, using PubMed and "Magnesium" and "Therapeutic
Usage" as the two initial key headings. Important articles were also
identified from the bibliographies of the initial articles.
Results. A total of 51 articles were included in this review.
Articles were excluded if they were based on animal study or were in a language
other than English.
Conclusion. Magnesium has long been used as an ingredient in
laxatives and antacids. It seems clear that intravenous magnesium also is
effective for the suppression of ventricular ectopy in the hospital setting and
is a first-line agent for torsades de pointes. It is less clear whether it is
useful in patients with congestive heart failure or acute myocardial infarction
(MI). Although effective for treatment of preeclampsia/eclampsia, its use in the
termination of preterm labor has recently been questioned. In asthma and chronic
lung disease, intravenous magnesium may be useful when conventional treatment
has failed. Finally, magnesium may have a role in the prevention and treatment
of vascular headaches.
Introduction
Magnesium is a trace mineral involved in more than 300 chemical reactions in the
body. Similar to potassium, magnesium is predominantly an intracellular ion.
More than two thirds of the total amount of magnesium is stored in bone, and
about 25% is present in muscle. About one third of the total amount ingested in
the gut can be absorbed, and the remaining two thirds is excreted in the feces.
Magnesium absorption is proportional to the total magnesium status, ie, the
higher the body stores, the lower the amount absorbed. Magnesium is similar to
calcium in that it is dependent on vitamin D for absorption in the small
intestine. Magnesium also acts competitively for calcium channels; therefore, it
simulates a calcium channel blocker's mechanism of action. Magnesium is required
for proper functioning of the Na+-K+ ATPase pump; thus, when potassium levels do
not increase with supplementation, magnesium deficiency should be suspected.
Magnesium Deficiency
Magnesium is predominantly an intracellular and skeletal ion; less than 1% is
located in the extracellular compartment. Therefore, serum magnesium levels
correlate poorly with total body stores.[1]
Magnesium is bound to plasma proteins, complexed to anions, and found as the
ionized, physiologically active form. Additionally, serum levels do not
equilibrate with tissue magnesium. Current assay methods of serum magnesium and
24-hour urine magnesium excretion do not provide information about intracellular
magnesium. Because assay results appear to reflect relatively acute changes in
magnesium status, evaluation of renal function, diuretic usage, and dietary
intake of magnesium is necessary to determine the risk of chronic deficiency.[2,3]
Symptoms of magnesium deficiency generally fall within four categories:
neuromuscular hypertonicity, psychiatric disturbances, potassium or calcium
problems, or cardiac effects.[4] Before
administration of supplemental magnesium, some experts have recommended a
parenteral loading test to determine a deficiency state.[5]
This is done by infusing 60 mEq or 3.6 g (1 mEq = 60 mg) of intravenous
magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) over 12 hours in
conjunction with a 24-hour urine collection for magnesium. Retention of more
than 50% of the magnesium is considered evidence of deficiency, whereas less
than 20% retention is unlikely to be deficiency. However, the test's complexity
obviously makes it impractical. Alternative methods of magnesium determination
include erythrocyte, mononuclear, and ionized magnesium. A method of measuring
ionized magnesium levels, though not yet available, may eventually replace serum
magnesium determinations as a more accurate assessment of true magnesium status.
In high-risk patients with suspected deficiency, supplementation of magnesium
is given empirically regardless of the measured serum level, unless it is
elevated. Specifically, empiric magnesium replacement may be considered in
patients taking diuretics (especially loop), patients who are malnourished or
alcoholic, patients with low potassium levels, or those who are diabetic.
Supplementation is best accomplished in a hospital setting by the parenteral
route. Supplementation with 1 to 4 g of MgSO4
over 1 to 4 hours is usually adequate, depending on the extent of deficiency;
the administration rate should be slower for infusing increasing amounts in
nonemergency situations to avoid hypotension. Outpatient supplementation is
generally accomplished with oral magnesium oxide, beginning with 400 to 800 mg
per day. Dosing may be limited by diarrhea.
Magnesium Excess
Magnesium excess is rare but has been reported subsequent to use of
over-the-counter laxatives and antacids.[6]
Patients often have concomitant renal insufficiency. Clinical presentation
includes pseudocoma, hyporeflexia, muscle weakness, ataxia, confusion, nausea
and vomiting, flushing, bradycardia, hypotension, widened QRS, AV block, and
respiratory arrest. Magnesium is associated with central nervous system toxicity
at serum concentrations more than 6 mEq/L; it is manifested as lethargy and
sedation, nausea and vomiting, depressed deep tendon reflexes, followed by
muscle paralysis, respiratory depression, coma, and death. Cardiotoxicity
(hypotension, bradyarrythmia, first-degree heart block, complete heart block, or
asystole) occurs with severe hypermagnesemia (10 to 15 mEq/L). Unfortunately,
since symptoms of magnesium toxicity are often nonspecific, they may be mistaken
for other, more common clinical causes of decreased mental status (ie, substance
abuse, extreme illness, or trauma). Treatment consists of removal of magnesium
supplementation and if necessary, calcium infusion, which may block some of
magnesium's effects.
Laxatives/Antacids
Antacids containing magnesium may be formulated as hydroxide, oxide, carbonate,
phosphate, trisilicate, or citrate salts. The salt used influences the antacid
onset and duration of action. Magnesium ions react with gastric acid to produce
magnesium chloride. Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia) readily reacts with
gastric acid, producing a potent, short-acting neutralizing effect. Magnesium
carbonate's crystal structure is responsible for its slower onset of action.
Magnesium trisilicate is a relatively weak antacid that is poorly soluble and
produces the slowest onset of action and longest duration of action of all the
magnesium preparations. Only about 5% to 10% of the total amount of ingested
magnesium is absorbed from the small intestine, and it is renally excreted.[7]
Magnesium compounds alter gastrointestinal motility and secretion and can
result in a dose-limiting diarrhea. Alkalization of gastric contents stimulates
gastrin to increase gastric motility. Osmotic diarrhea results from poorly
absorbed, unreacted magnesium salts in the small intestine.[8]
In contrast, aluminum relaxes gastric smooth muscle, delays gastric emptying,
and has a constipating effect. Therefore, magnesium salts are often combined
with aluminum salts in antacids to balance their effects.[7,8]
Aluminum reacts relatively slowly in the stomach, so combination
aluminum/magnesium antacids provide a rapid, sustained acid neutralizing
capacity. Although overall bowel function is not significantly changed, the
laxative effect of aluminum/magnesium combinations most often predominates.
Magnesium laxatives are indicated for acute bowel evacuation before
diagnostic evaluation, for treatment of severe constipation from chronic opioid
or laxative abuse, or for occasional use in healthy adults. Onset of laxative
effect is observed within 30 minutes to 3 hours. Magnesium's mechanism of action
is as an oral saline laxative and cathartic primarily by its osmotic effect in
the colon. Magnesium increases gastric motility by stimulation of
cholecystikinin, thus increasing fluid and electrolyte retention in the
intestinal lumen. Magnesium salts are formulated as the sulfate salt (Epsom
salt), hydroxide salt (milk of magnesia), and citrate salt (Bicitra). Sulfate
salts are the most potent. Usual doses of Epsom salt for laxative use range from
5 to l5 g (at least 40 mEq) of magnesium dissolved in a solution of at least 8
oz of liquid. Fruit juice or a carbonated drink can be mixed with it to hide the
bitter taste. Milk of magnesia is available as a chewable tablet or aqueous
suspension taken at a dose of 15 to 40 mL (40 to 110 mEq) followed by at least
240 mL of water. Bicitra is available as an oral solution. A 240-mL dose is
equivalent to 4 g of magnesium hydroxide. With any of the laxative formulations,
a large volume of water may be lost with passing the stool, so drinking a full
glass of water after each dose is recommended. Magnesium salts are effective
laxatives for acute bowel evacuation resulting in a dose-dependent increase in
bowel movements and stool water.[9,10]
Magnesium and Chronic Respiratory Diseases
The initial modern, controlled study using MgSO4
for asthma was published in 1987 by Okayama et al.[11]
The investigators studied 10 patients with mild asthma and gave 0.5 mmol/min
MgSO4 IV over 20 minutes, or a total of 1.2 g.
Treatment resulted in improvements in FEV1 and
FVC. Subsequently, a double-blind crossover study by Rolla et al[12]
examined the effects of 2 g of IV MgSO4,
administered over 20 minutes, in 10 asthmatic patients. Only a mild
bronchodilating effect, much smaller than that obtained with a beta agonist
inhalation, was observed. McNamara et al[13]
reported the case of a 72-year-old man who received a magnesium infusion in the
emergency room (ER) during a severe asthma attack after not responding to
standard treatment. The authors concluded that impending intubation of the
patient was avoided due to the efficacy of the magnesium. They subsequently
conducted a study of acute asthma in 38 ER patients who were randomized to
receive either placebo saline infusion or 1.2 g of intravenous MgSO4.
Magnesium therapy resulted in an increased peak flow from 225 to 297 L/min and a
significantly better discharge rate.[14] All
patients entered into the study were unresponsive to conventional treatment with
aerosolized beta agonists, methylprednisolone sodium succinate (Solu-Medrol),
and aminophylline infusions. In a European trial, Tiffany et al[15]
studied 48 asthmatic patients who did not respond to two albuterol nebulizer
treatments. No positive effects of magnesium were observed, but all of the
severe asthmatics were excluded. In another ER study, 135 patients were entered
and distributed randomly to placebo and magnesium treatment groups.[16]
The study group received 2 g of IV MgSO4 in
addition to standard therapy with beta agonists, and intravenous steroids.
Although not statistically significant, hospital admission rates were slightly
lower for the treatment versus the placebo groups, 25% vs 35%, respectively (P =
.21). When results were stratified by severity, the severe asthmatics (FEV1
<25% of baseline) receiving magnesium showed statistically significant
improvement. Hospitalization rate was 78.6% for the placebo group and 33% in the
treatment group (P = .009). The FEV1 was also
increased more in magnesium-treated patients versus the placebo group both at 2
hours (P = .014) and 4 hours (P = .026) after magnesium infusion. Noppen et al[17]
also studied 6 patients admitted to the hospital with severe asthma. MgSO4
at 0.615 mmol/min IV over 20 minutes or 1.5 total grams was added to
conventional treatments, and a significant improvement in FEV1
from 0.94 ± 0.39 L to 1.3 ± 0.44 L (P = .05) was observed. Clinical symptoms
also improved in all patients; however, greater improvements were noted with
nebulized beta agonists. A larger trial on 120 patients seen in the ER showed no
significant differences between treatment (2 g of IV MgSO4)
and control (standard therapy).[18] None of
the asthmatics entered into the trial had complete improvement with only one
nebulized beta agonist treatment.
Another European trial, using magnesium for the treatment of asthma, studied[17]
adult asthmatics who were instructed to consume a low magnesium diet for 3
weeks.[19] Subsequently, patients received
either placebo or an oral dose of 400 mg per day of magnesium oxide, and FEV1
was measured. Asthma symptom scores were lower in the treatment group, but no
other significant changes occurred in FEV1,
peak flow, or use of rescue inhalers. However, the low magnesium diet used in
the study may have been a confounding variable, since it may have produced a
temporary deficiency state.
The pediatric asthmatic population has received less attention in the
literature on magnesium. One small trial involved 22 asthmatic children and
showed that nebulized MgSO4 was an
ineffective bronchodilator.[20] One recent
study on both adults and adolescents compared nebulized salbutamol and nebulized
magnesium sulfate.[21] In this randomized
double-blind controlled trial, 33 asthmatic patients ranging from 12 to 60 years
were studied. All patients were given 100 mg of hydrocortisone IV. Patients were
randomized to receive nebulizers of either 3 mL of a 3.2% solution or 95 mg of
MgSO4 solution or 3 mL (2.5 mg) salbutamol
solution. Both the magnesium sulfate and salbutamol groups had significant
increases in peak flow rates (35% and 42%, respectively). No significant
difference occurred in peak flow between groups. In India, Rama Devi et al[22]
studied 47 asthmatic children who responded poorly to inhaled beta agonists.
Treatment with 50% MgSO4 at a dose of 0.2 mmol/kg
over 35 minutes produced significant early improvements in both asthma score and
peak flow measurements as compared with placebo. A retrospective chart review
reported the effects of 40 to 50 mg/kg of IV MgSO4,
administered over 20 minutes, in 4 children who failed to respond to
conventional therapy.[23] The subjects showed
clinical improvements in asthma scores, respiratory rates, CO2 retention, and
peak flow rates. Finally, Ciarallo et al[24]
studied 31 patients from the ER who failed to have peak flow rates >60% of
predicted values after three albuterol nebulizer treatments. Magnesium infusions
were then given at a rate of 25 mg/kg over 20 minutes up to a 2-g maximum.
Children receiving the magnesium bolus had significantly greater increases in
peak flow (59% vs 20% at both 30 and 90 min, P = .05) as well as FEV1
(34% vs -1% at 30 min, P = .05; 75% vs 5% at 90 min, P = .01).
Another population that has been minimally studied is the intubated
asthmatic. One case report has related magnesium's use in this situation. The
patient failed standard therapy for asthma but showed clinical improvement and
was weaned from the ventilator after intravenous magnesium administration.[25]
More recently, a population with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
was studied to determine the usefulness of magnesium.[26]
The trial involved 72 patients who received either standard therapy alone or
standard therapy in addition to IV MgSO4 for
COPD exacerbation. Patients in the study group were given 1.2 g of magnesium
sulfate after receiving albuterol by nebulizer and had significantly greater
improvements in peak flow than the control group (22% vs 6%, P = .01). The
investigators also observed a trend toward decreased hospitalization in the
treatment group versus the control group (28% vs 42%, respectively), though this
difference was not statistically significant (P = .25).
The majority of data indicate that MgSO4
infusions of 1 to 2 g over 20 to 30 minutes are the most effective in moderate
to severe asthmatics not responding to standard therapy. In addition, though
there is a paucity of data, magnesium infusions may be effective for patients
having COPD exacerbations. However, there is minimal data involving COPD
patients. Intravenous MgSO4 has been useful in
the pediatric population in small studies, but the exact dosing is uncertain.
The efficacy of nebulized magnesium is uncertain at this point, since absorption
may be a problem and studies have shown conflicting results. Therefore, this
treatment should be considered experimental.
Magnesium and Cardiac Disease
Magnesium has become an important treatment option in the management of certain
arrhythmias, but its use in ischemic heart disease has been limited in the
United States. Several European trials have recommended the use of magnesium for
patients with MI despite the lack of convincing data to show a statistically
significant difference in outcomes. Even meta-analysis has failed to resolve the
question. Therefore, a second Leicester Intravenous Magnesium Intervention Trial
(LIMIT-2) was conducted to resolve this issue.[27]
The LIMIT-2 recruited 2,316 patients with suspected MI and randomized them to
receive either magnesium bolus and subsequent 24-hour infusion or saline
placebo. Mortality at 28 days was 7.8% in the magnesium group and 10.3% in the
placebo group (P = .04), a relative reduction of 24% in the magnesium group. The
incidence of ventricular failure was also reduced by 25% (P = .009). Side
effects were minimal, but these included flushing related to the speed of the
infusion and an increased incidence of sinus bradycardia (P = .02). However, the
overall difference, though statistically significant, appears small (7% to 10%).
The mechanism of magnesium's effect on patients having MI is thought to be due
to a cellular protective effect on the myocardium. Magnesium may help to reform
ATP lost during ischemia, thereby helping the myocardium recover.[28]
Magnesium has been used in cardioplegic solutions during bypass surgery for some
time for the same purpose.[29]
Conversely, two other large trials provide some negative data regarding the
use of magnesium in ischemic heart disease. The ISIS-4 trial reported the
beneficial effects after 24 hours of intravenous magnesium administered to more
than 2,000 patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. Hypotension was
a concerning side effect acutely. There was no favorable effect on mortality
rates.[30] One trial using oral magnesium
supplements (15 mmol of magnesium oxide per day or 375 mg) in 200 subjects
surviving MI looked at major cardiac events over a 1-year period.[31]
The authors found no decrease in cardiac events. Therefore, we cannot recommend
routine use of either oral or intravenous magnesium for patients with MI.
Mortality rates among patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) and
magnesium deficiency is a controversial issue. One study showed a decreased
mortality among CHF patients with normal serum magnesium levels of the time of
admission (71% survival rate) as compared with patients who had low magnesium
levels (45% survival). However, patients with higher than normal serum magnesium
levels had an even lower survival rate (37%) in this same study.[32]
The PROMISE study was conducted in 1,088 patients with CHF and low serum
magnesium levels; no increase in mortality was observed.[33]
We do currently check and correct low magnesium levels in CHF patients, even
though doing so may not decrease mortality rates. We believe the potential
benefits far outweigh any risk of in-hospital infusions.
Magnesium infusion has many acute effects on the conduction system of the
heart. A prolonged PR interval, increased sinoatrial node conduction time, or
increased AV nodal refractory period could occur. No adverse effects on atrial
or ventricular conduction have been observed.[34]
Digitalis-associated arrhythmias respond well to magnesium infusion, even for
patients with normal serum magnesium levels.[35]
MgSO4 has also been shown to be effective for
ventricular arrhythmias refractory to lidocaine in patients with normal serum
magnesium levels.[36]
Along with potassium replacement, magnesium administration is often
first-line therapy to treat ventricular ectopy, especially in patients taking
loop diuretics. Magnesium is a second-line or third-line agent for ventricular
arrhythmias and a first-line agent for torsades de pointes ventricular
arrhythmias.[37] Magnesium's role in
supraventricular and sustained ventricular arrhythmias is not well established
but may be considered if standard therapies are ineffective. In summary,
intravenous magnesium is a first-line agent in torsades and to extinguish
ventricular ectopy when necessary. Its use in ischemic events and CHF is still
under debate.
Preeclampsia/Tocolysis
Parenteral magnesium sulfate is administered in pregnancy for seizure prevention
and control in severe preeclampsia/eclampsia and as a tocolytic for preterm
labor. Magnesium's anticonvulsive effect may result from its depression of
neuromuscular transmission, as a direct depressant effect on smooth muscle, or
as a central nervous depressant.[38] The IV
and IM routes are equally effective in achieving optimal serum concentrations
for seizure prophylaxis, but IV infusion minimizes the pain associated with a
large volume of solution and allows immediate discontinuance with signs of
toxicity. Recommended dose for seizure prophylaxis is a loading dose of 4 to 6 g
administered over 3 to 5 minutes, followed by an infusion of 1 to 3 g per hour
to achieve a serum concentration of 4 to 7 mEq/mL.
Magnesium's tocolytic effect is attributed to antagonism of calcium-mediated
myometrial contractions. Tocolytic therapy can be initiated with a 4 g IV bolus
administered over 20 to 30 minutes, followed by an infusion of 2 to 4 g per hour
until contractions cease. Intravenous infusion of magnesium is then continued
for 12 hours after the last contraction. The goal serum magnesium level is 5 to
8 mg/L. Reflexes and serial magnesium levels should be monitored, since
decreased or absent reflexes may signal impending respiratory failure. In
general, severe toxicity does not appear until levels are over 8 mg/mL. Although
IV magnesium can be followed by oral administration as an oral oxide or
gluconate salt, clinical limitations include erratic absorption and diarrhea.
Magnesium toxicity is dose dependent. Urine output of at least 100 mL in 4
hours, indicating sufficient renal function, is necessary to avoid toxicity.
Toxicity is readily monitored by assessing deep tendon reflexes, blood pressure,
respirations, serum magnesium concentrations, and electrocardiograms.
Magnesium sulfate is also used to terminate preterm labor, but recent studies
bring its effectiveness into question. This initially was reported in 1984 when
a randomized study showed no differences between placebo, magnesium, and
terbutaline in arresting preterm labor between 26 and 34 weeks' gestation.[39]
This has also been supported by trials in which magnesium sulfate given for
preeclampsia or eclampsia in patients near term had no significant impact on
labor progress.[40] Higby et al,[41]
after reviewing the literature available, recommended abandoning magnesium as a
tocolytic. However, it still remains in widespread use. Complications are rare
but can include hypocalcemia, hypothermia, hypotension, somnolence, and though
rare, pulmonary edema. Tachyphylaxis, or the decreased effect of medication with
continued use, is a problem with use of beta2
agonists for this condition, but tachyphylaxis does not occur with magnesium.
Prolonged use is therefore possible. Short-term fetal effects can include
decreased fetal tone and movement. Prolonged infusions (>1 week) have an
association with some fetal skeletal changes.[42]
Some recent epidemiologic data indicate that magnesium infusions may benefit
newborns weighing less than 4,500 g, since they had less incidence of cerebral
palsy than non-exposed infants of low birth weight.[43]
However, this initial hypothesis was proved inaccurate when a randomized,
controlled, double-blind trial was discontinued because of increased neonatal
mortality in the magnesium group.[44]
In summary, magnesium appears to be an effective treatment in preeclampsia
and eclampsia but does not appear to be useful in tocolysis. Its use may need to
be tempered in the future because of its possible negative effect on neonates.
Headaches
Magnesium is also gaining some attention for the treatment of vascular
headaches. Changes in the ionized magnesium blood levels and an increase in the
ionized calcium to ionized magnesium ratio have been postulated to be markers
for certain patients with vascular headache.[45]
Forty-two percent of migraine sufferers had low serum ionized magnesium and high
ionized calcium to ionized magnesium ratios, whereas only 23% of patients with
continuous daily headache had these findings. This observation was also
confirmed by Mauskop et al,[46] who divided
patients who had chronic daily headache into those with daily migraine headaches
(DMH) and those with daily tension headaches (DTH) and found that 31% of DMH
patients had low serum ionized magnesium levels and 62% had higher ionized
calcium to ionized magnesium ratios. In the DTH group, only 4% had low serum
ionized magnesium levels, and 37% had high ionized calcium to magnesium ratios.
Abnormal visual evoked potentials, thought to be a marker for vascular
headaches, have become normalized after oral magnesium supplementation.[47]
Oral magnesium has been used in two small trials for migraine prophylaxis.
Both trials had small sample sizes and resulted in different conclusions. In the
first trial, 135 patients received a small dose of 10 mmol of magnesium per day
or 250 mg, resulting in no beneficial effects.[48]
In the second trial, 43 patients received 600 mg/day, resulting in a 41.6%
reduction in frequency (15.8% placebo response), and significant reductions in
days with headache and less medicine use.[49]
There was a nonsignificant trend in severity reduction. Both of these trials
used smaller magnesium doses; routine supplementation or deficiencies often
involve at least 800 mg per day (400 mg of magnesium oxide orally twice daily).
Two trials have investigated acute use of 1 g of IV magnesium sulfate in the ER
and have found benefits in small numbers of patients with vascular headaches or
cluster headaches. Patients with low serum ionized magnesium levels responded
best.[50,51]
The study of magnesium therapy for migraine is in the early stages, and we do
not yet know whether it works and when to use it. Therefore, its use in this
condition should probably be considered experimental for now since other, more
specific effective agents are available. However, it is safe and without
significant side effects and may be tried for prophylaxis if desired. The oral
dosage would be 400 mg of magnesium oxide twice daily. The most common side
effect is loose stool.
Summary
Magnesium is an interesting trace mineral that appears to be useful as a
therapeutic agent in a number of conditions. We do not believe there is enough
evidence to recommend it in the routine care of cardiac patients with acute MI
or CHF. Its mainstream indications have included suppression of ventricular
ectopy in a hospital setting, treatment of torsades de pointes, prevention of
eclampsia, and arrest of premature labor, as well as its use as a laxative and
antacid. The use of MgSO4 infusions in the
hospital for treatment of asthma and COPD refractory to standard treatment is
promising. The use of oral and intravenous magnesium in treating vascular
headaches is experimental, but it may be tried in refractory cases since
relatively few side effects appear to occur.
Reprint requests to Randall Swain, MD, Healthscope, 500
Donnally St, Suite 203, Charleston, WV 25301.
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double-blind random-ized study. Cephalalgia 1996; 16:257-263
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