The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Magnesium
Posted by Janette (Santa Monica, California, Usa) on 10/17/2010
★★★★★
Hi Richard. I have this issue from time to time and it indicates to me that I am deficient in magnesium. I usually take dissolvable magnesium in water and it stops the twitching within a few hours. I am just starting to try magnesium oil too and will let you know how that works out.
Magnesium, Melatonin
Posted by Jpar (Placentia, Ca) on 04/14/2012
★★★★★
I too have these terrible twitches. I do believe the magnesium helps and melatonin at night. One thing that sets off my muscle twitches is anything with aspartame in it. So I have been off of diet soda for 3 years, but any diet food or sugar substitute with this in it will make it worse. And drinking lots of water helps.
Magnesium + Potassium
Posted by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 10/17/2010
★★★★★
Hi there, I have suffered muscle twitching for decades. Never diagnosed with anything. About 10 or so years ago tried magnesium and it worked. Back then the only cheap way to take it was by epsom salts. 1/4 - 1/2 tsp in a glass of water first thing in the morning. When not taking regularly I just put some crystals under my tongue when the twitching occurs. Some people take 1 tsp every morning. If using epsom salts start on the lower dose and build up to your level. I have an uncle who swears by the 1 tsp a day for arthritis and keeps him regular. I have also seen elsewhere 500mg magnesium oxide twice a day for this condition but sorry I cannot remember where. Since starting the alkalizing with the added potassium I have had hardly any muscle twitching, then I added the magnesium to it and have not had any since. For me I know the magnesium works and I now believe the potassium is also helpful.
Calcium Lactate
Posted by Detroit Metro Moms Network (Novi, Michigan) on 04/04/2012
★★★★★
I wrote in but think I replied to wrong thread. I replied to "remedies needed". Well I was reading this post and thought I would mention that my friends son had similar issues and symptoms and he was 6. She had been to doctors and just so happened to mention this issue to her chiropractor when she was in for her appointment. Dr. Tent is a legend around this area and he suggested calcium lactate at 10 a day. Said that he was growing so fast but wasn't absorbing his calcium from foods and that calcium lactate was ionized and the best for bioavailablity. (Standard Process brand). They are small so don't worry but it also comes in powder for some children who can't swallow tablets yet. This will help relax the muscles from freezing up and help with sleeping and muscle and bone growth. She likely had a growth spurt and the minerals are not in her foods. -in good health
Calcium Lactate
Posted by Detroit Metro Holistic Mom (Novi, Michigan) on 04/04/2012
★★★★★
Calcium Lactate for BFS in Children
Children often grow very fast and can't get enough calcium in their foods for their needs. Calcium will take care of her issues, not magnesium. Try calcium lactate by standard process because it's highly bioavailable. You'll need to giver her about 10 a day for a while. They are small. I know this will work because I have a friend who's son had the same issue and the local chiropractor... Dr. Tent, suggested this. It was amazing to see the results.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Ann (Florida ) on 12/24/2022
★★★★★
I have been living with bfs for many years! I have discovered that if I eat sugary foods including chocolate, cakes, sugar cane, seasonings containing msg and even very small amounts of chocolate tend to give me terrible episodes that sometimes lasts for days!
Not getting enough sleep also triggers episodes! I use a magnesium oil to massage the area a couple of times per day, and this has sometimes alleviated the symptoms. I'm going start taking the supplement to see if it helps!
Zinc
Posted by Adam (Philadelphia) on 06/14/2020
★★★★★
Zinc for BFS:
Zinc Sulfate helps tremendously but please consult you're doctor before supplementing with anything as Zinc can reduce good HDL-C cholesterol levels, also if supplementing with zinc look to add in Copper as well.
Alkalizing Drink, Magnesium
Posted by Juan (Costa Rica ) on 03/22/2017
★★★★★
Benign Fasciculation Syndrome
This recipe has reduced twitches to 5%, please follow the recipe carefully.
- First thing in the morning with empty stomach take 3 lemon juices with half of glass of water and one tablespoon of Baking Soda. This transport the Magnesium to the mitochondria
- buy Magnesium Chloride edible Salts and in one liter of filtered non chloride water dump 30 or 50 grams or this Mag Chloride Salts, and drink 25 shots of liquid magnesium Chloride throughout the day, you can mix it with orange juice, use a tequila shot for measure.
- Drink tons of tons of every kind of veggies blend them and take them as shake
- 45 minutes of physical activity a day.
- Drink lots of filtered non chloride water.
- Take some kind of supplement for the anxiety.
Hope this helps.
Reduce Vitamin B6
Posted by Waltz (India) on 04/29/2016
Your excess B6 needs to be offset by taking Magnesium. Twitching and tremors is a classic symptom of Magnesium deficiency. B6 and Magnesium (and also other Vitamin Bs to some extent) work together so taking Vitamin Bs must have depleted your Magnesium levels. If you take enough Magnesium supplements, you can restart taking Vitamins as well without these symptoms.
Reduce Vitamin B6
Posted by Twitchytremorgirl (Northern, California) on 04/28/2016
★★★★★
I have been suffering from resting tremors and twitches for about 2 years. A year ago a neurologist diagnosed me with "all over the body" restless leg syndrome. He put me on Ropinirole which helped a bit, but not entirely. A year later, he finally decided to test my blood more thoroughly. It turns out I had too much vitamin B6 in my blood. So after I stopped taking Vitamins with B6 my twitching and tremors lessened over time. While they are not completely gone, they are better, and at least I am not awakened at night by twitches.
Chronic BFS
Posted by Carolyn (Woodstock) on 03/26/2016
I have had this 14 years and 8 doctors (including a neurologist) could never give it a name. Fibro, mental, restless leg, etc. Pills for all but none truly help. Lidocaine 5% patches will relieve symptoms but about 4 to 5 hours but they cost $8 a patch. I have to cut them up to afford them. Salonpas help but not as long or as well. Lidocaine 5% cream helps but messy. Like a thick Vaseline salve. I have them in my neck, shoulders, sides, legs, and feet but the VERY WORST is in my groin. Can't stand up to even walk. I have discovered that when I have even minor surgery that requires me to be put to sleep, I have a few days sabbatical. Have tried all the herbal's, vitamins, and RLS drugs. Gabapentin is out. Doesn't work. Have even tried the Lidocaine 5% prophylactic but the cramps just pop up somewhere else. I just need 5 to 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. The lack of sleep increases the stress which increases the BFS. Oh...have tried flexeril, Zanaflex, Meraplex, Requip and TENS unit. All with no relief. Haven't tried the Salonpas spray but am going to try this week. Anyone have any other suggestions?
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sam (Il ) on 06/18/2015
I noticed fasciculations in my calves just 10 days ago. Now it is all over even my tongue!! I am very scared and guess what? I am a Neurologist myself.
Chronic BFS
Posted by Mary (Arcadia, Ca) on 04/08/2014 51 posts
Can you help me? My older brother's hand shakes so much. He doesn't know what to do, does the vitamin/medication you take that works for seizures help him? Can I find it organic too?
Chronic BFS
Posted by Bfsbitch (Salt Lake City, UT) on 04/06/2014
★★★★★
Hello fellow BFS sufferers. This disease is annoying. I will testify to that. I mean you're talking to a friend and your leg is going whabam and sometimes it's in my eyelid or even my stomach this worm skin feeling nerve twitch. Well concentrating on it won't help. I've found Carbamazepine, actually the newer, safer Oxcarbamazepine which don't require blood tests and is a anti-seizure drug had some effectiveness in eliminating my eyelid twitch. It did nothing for my stomach and leg twitch. Occasionally even my whole face will seize. What helps: being a scientist yourself figuring what works: sleep, magnesium, epsom salts, no wheat.
Sea Salt, Magnesium, Zinc
Posted by Dan (Long Island, Ny) on 08/20/2013
★★★★★
Benign Fasciculation Syndrome: 2 things I have found helped me... Drink sea salt Iodized mixed in water and 3 or 4 magnesium pills, and also rub your muscles with foot powder composed of magnezium and zinc.... This does help.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Pitan (Mesa, Arizona) on 04/05/2013
★★★★★
About a few weeks ago I decided to begin eating really healthy. I had a blood allergy test many years ago, and found out I was allergic/sensitive to many foods, the most common: gluten, wheat, dairy, eggs, and more. I decided to try out for 2 weeks to be a sugar-free, gluten-free, vegan. A very restrictive diet. I only lasted 12 days, but have continued to eat better than before, very little sugar, little meat, possible traces of gluten, very little dairy no glasses of milk or ice cream. So far, for the past week and a half I have had significantly reduced twitching. I'm not sure if my change of my eating habits is the cause, but if not, then it is highly coincidental. If you are experiencing BFS, I suggest trying this for awhile, it's worth a try.
Below is my journey to this healthier way of eating...
I also, have been diagosed with benign fasciculation syndrome. It started a in March 2012. I was in grad school, so I did alot of sitting (studying, writing reports, sitting in class), and a lot of unhelathy eating. The only thing I did stay away from was caffeine (except in chocolate). I relied on sugar as an energy source. The only other thing that I know I did around the beginning of my twitching was, I planted grass and ended up getting the fertilized soil all over (chemicals, possible pesticides). Anyway, I'm not sure what was the catalyst for the continuous twitiching, I just know I had it. Mentally, it took a toll on me. Here I was in a motor speech disorders class and had learned all about neuromuscular degenerative disorders. In addition, I had just learned that my gradmother on my father's side died from ALS. Clearly, I was worried. I went to the doctor and my doctor said, "I don't know what it is", had me do a couple of squats, made me resist against her pushing my arm down, and then said come back if I have true weakness and slurred speech. Well, of course at that point I would, but why should I wait and not find out what was going on. I asked for a referral to a neurologist, which she obliged, but since she hadn't done any CT's, or MRI's, or really anything but a CBC, I had a long wait. Mentally, I couldn't wait I needed to put my mind to ease, or begin soem type of treatment. I ended up at a neurologist who didn't have the best reviews, the office wasn't the most cleanest office I've been in, and his bedside manners weren't any better. He did an EMG which came out clean (not ALS thankfully) and did not feel it necessary to do an MRI (maybe to check for MS). He said I had BFS. Of course, I had already looked this information up before so I knew what that meant. I've had twitching ever since in every muscle imagineable (tongue, bottom of feet, etc...).
B Complex
Posted by Ejules (Woodbridge, Va, Us) on 03/28/2013
★★★★★
Disclaimer: I don't know anything about the syndrome you describe. However, whenever a symptom involving nerves appears I immediately increase my intake of vitamin B complex. Every night for over 15 years I've taken 3 tabs of B-100 (that's 100 of whatever the usual standard unit is) in addition to the other multivitamins, oils, etc. to manage stress. This works best for eye twitches and I get 'em if I miss a day or two or if my stress level goes up during the day. Other indicators that I need more B are flare ups of cold sores on my lip and/or reappearance of a small patch of impetigo on my cheek from when I was 7. The clincher, tho, was my brother who had Bell's Palsey in his 20s. The dr wanted to permanently severe a nerve in his cheek to stop the twitching. That really didn't sound like a good first solution so instead, my mom fed my bro megadoses of vit B complex over several days. The Palsey disappeared and never came back.
B Complex
Posted by Brandi (Griffin, Ga) on 03/25/2013
Benign Fasciculation Syndrome: I'm not sure exactly how long this irritating twitch has been going on other than I know it has gone on ever since I gave birth to my 7 month old. I have other medical problems that keep me at a doctor once a month. I have a total of 6 bulging and herniated discs from the base of my skull all the way to the very last 2 discs at the very bottom of my back. Two weeks ago I had the first set of steroid injections in the bottom of my back on the left side. A week from now I will be getting a steroid type injection in the same place. These at the bottom of my back make sitting extremely painful, not to mention riding in the car. Or try carrying a 18 lb baby up and down stairs, like that are in my apartment with numbness coming and going from your hands and feet because of nerve damage. Sorry I started rambling...... I can't remember if I was twitching this way while I was pregnant or not because I worked 40 hours a, 7 days a week, sometimes more, if I wasn't at work I was trying to sneak in a nap before I had to go back to work my 2nd shift for the day. I was a waitress, and thought I was superman and just kept pushing myself to work and save money because I'm a single mom. I went back to work 4 weeks after I had him. And then 2 weeks after going back to work I was scheduled for my first of 2 surgeries. First my right wrist was operated on (I hadn't been able to feel my fingers in my hands since May 2012 and I did not have him until August 2012).
So after 6 months basically of pain shooting from my neck down my arms and out through my fingers, which kept me from being able to sleep anymore than an hour or two at the time as well, I get the first of my 2 surgeries the first week of October, I went back to work waiting tables 2 days later, doctor didn't want me to but I didn't have a choice, single mom = bills to pay. Two weeks after my right wrist was done I got the 12 stitches out of that wrist, and the next morning I was back on the operating table for my left wrist, and 2 days after the surgery I was back at work. It wasn't until December, seems like right before Christmas I was doing something and just all of a sudden noticed the feeling was finally starting to come back in my fingers. Before the surgery I was told that there was no guarantee the feeling would ever come back and that it usually took 6 months if you were gonna see signs of improvement. It had been 2 months and I could tell the feeling was starting to come back in the tips of my fingers, I just kept hoping that over more time I would regain all the feeling back in my fingers, and now 6 months later I can feel my fingers. Still muscle weakness in my left arm and wrist. Seems to keep getting worse. I'm actually wondering if I don't have some muscle atrophy going on.
However, I know I got wayyyyy off topic about Benign Fasciculation Syndrome. But the first time I recall the twitching was one a friend brought it up and asked me why I started jerking and twitching every night right before I went to sleep. That was around the end of November. And now every night when I lay down that's how I can tell I am about to drift off to sleep, my legs and arms start twitching and jerking. It was probably in January when I first looked up my symptoms because at the very least I knew it wasn't normal. And I came across this syndrome. I finally remembered to bring it up today when I saw the doctor about my next injections. She said I would have to get my PCP to order blood work and luckily I have an appointment already scheduled for in the morning for my regular monthly visit. So I will request full labs as well as nerve conduction studies and muscle biopsies if I can get them to do it. So maybe there will be an update to this post in the future as to the results of the tests.
Magnesium
Posted by Paul (Toronto, Canada) on 12/09/2012
★★★★★
Hello all, for two years I have faced annoying muscle twitches brought about by BFS [Benign Fasciculation Syndrome], it provides me some level of comfort that many others face the same struggles and my twitching is not something more serious. I have been diagnosed with having BFS for a little over a year and I can say that 500mg of magnesium at night does help along with no caffeine.
I wish everyone the best in finding ways to reduce the severity and frequency of the twitching.
Chronic BFS
Posted by Day (Long Beach, California) on 06/13/2012
★★★★★
I feel for everyone that has posted on this site concerning this annoying, yet non-life threatening, syndrome, disease, occurance or whatever you want to call it. I am 43 years old and have had BFS since I was 9. I remember they day it happened and where. The muscle behind my right ear twitched violently for 2 days. I told my parents and they told me it was nothing to worry about. It kept me up both nights. I'd put my finger there but it did nothing to make it stop.
Yes, it is totally annoying. You never get used to it. My muscles are twitching as I am typing this. I've been to every doctor imaginable and I've tried every pill to include magnesium, potassium, and any other pill that people claim will MAKE IT STOP! But I still got it.
I definitely think it's a neuro thing because when I wake up or when my brain wakes up I immediately have a muscle jump somewhere.
Just last night I had a dream; it was funny so I smiled. Still dreaming, when I stopped smiling the muscles around my mouth started twitching so much that (while looking at myself in the dream) it looked like I was in a wind tunnel and I could not fix my mouth to speak. I woke up and from what I swore I could here my lips moving from my gums. It was wierd. I went back to sleep but I wish it could have been caught on tape.
My muscles have been twitching everyday, somewhere on my body for 33 years. Sometime for a second, sometimes for days. There is no cure but it won't kill you; it will only irritate the hell out of you.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.....
