Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the anthroposophic drug Hepar Magnesium D10 intravenously administered weekly on fibromyalgia symptoms.
Methods: Forty-two patients attending their general practitioner for FM complaints were included by 18 general practitioners. Patients were asked to complete the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) at baseline, after five and ten weeks of treatment. Forty-one patients completed the FIQ at baseline and after five weeks. Thirty patients completed the FIQ at baseline and after ten weeks. Cohen’s delta effect sizes were calculated for all FIQ items.
Results: After five weeks, nine out of ten FIQ items demonstrated a statistically significant improvement. Cohen’s delta effect size was small in two items, medium in seven items and large in one item. In nine FIQ items the mean improvement was at least 20%. After ten weeks seven FIQ items demonstrated a statistically significant improvement. Cohen’s delta effect size was zero in one item, small in two items, medium in six items, and large in one item. In four FIQ items the mean improvement was at least 20%. Total FIQ score improved by at least 20% in 41.5% and 50% of patients after, five and ten weeks, respectively.
Conclusion: There are clear indications that Hepar Magnesium D10 intravenously administered can have a positive effect on FM symptoms after five and ten weeks of treatment. There are indications that a large subgroup benefits from this treatment. A randomized controlled trial is indicated to study the effects of Hepar Magnesium on FM symptoms.
Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the anthroposophic drug Hepar Magnesium D10 intravenously administered weekly on fibromyalgia symptoms.
Methods: Forty-two patients attending their general practitioner for FM complaints were included by 18 general practitioners. Patients were asked to complete the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) at baseline, after five and ten weeks of treatment. Forty-one patients completed the FIQ at baseline and after five weeks. Thirty patients completed the FIQ at baseline and after ten weeks. Cohen’s delta effect sizes were calculated for all FIQ items.
Results: After five weeks, nine out of ten FIQ items demonstrated a statistically significant improvement. Cohen’s delta effect size was small in two items, medium in seven items and large in one item. In nine FIQ items the mean improvement was at least 20%. After ten weeks seven FIQ items demonstrated a statistically significant improvement. Cohen’s delta effect size was zero in one item, small in two items, medium in six items, and large in one item. In four FIQ items the mean improvement was at least 20%. Total FIQ score improved by at least 20% in 41.5% and 50% of patients after, five and ten weeks, respectively.
Conclusion: There are clear indications that Hepar Magnesium D10 intravenously administered can have a positive effect on FM symptoms after five and ten weeks of treatment. There are indications that a large subgroup benefits from this treatment. A randomized controlled trial is indicated to study the effects of Hepar Magnesium on FM symptoms.

Citation: Baars, E. W., & Ellis, E. L. (2010). The effect of Hepar Magnesium D10 on fibromyalgia syndrome: A pilot study. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, 2(1), 15–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2009.12.002

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Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the anthroposophic drug hepar magnesium D10 intravenously administered on seasonal fatigue symptoms.

Design: Time series with two measurements per week, starting before onset of treatment until three measurements after finishing treatment in a regular way.

Settings: Six anthroposophic general practitioner practices in the Netherlands.

Subjects: Twenty-three (23) patients with seasonal fatigue symptoms.

Interventions: Hepar magnesium D10 intravenously administered every week.

Outcome measures: Mean division of 24 hours in categories: sleep, rest, everyday activities, and activities that require a large effort; fatigue-related single questions: unusual emotional response to events, problems with short-term memory, the degree to which fatigue after effort continues for longer than 2 hours, the degree to which people at the end of the day have a complete lack of energy; and the degree to which people are still fit after the evening meal; Multidimensional Fatigue Index: general fatigue, physical fatigue, reduced activity, reduced motivation, and mental fatigue; subjective experiences with regard to the effect of the treatment.

Results: (1) No changes in division in 24-hour categories were found; (2) pretreatment versus post-treatment analyses (after 1 and 2.5 weeks, at the end of treatment, and 1.5 weeks after the end of treatment) demonstrated overall large statistically significant differences. Eighteen (18) of 22 patients (82%) who completed the final questionnaire judged that treatment overall had been effective for their fatigue symptoms. Nine (9) patients (41%) judged a strong improvement and 9 patients (41%) a light improvement as a result of the treatment. Four (4) patients reported no change. On average, patients received treatment 4.5 times.

Conclusions: There are clear indications that hepar magnesium D10 intravenously administered can have a positive effect on subsyndromal seasonal affective disorder symptoms of fatigue. A more controlled trial is indicated to study the (long-term) effects of hepar magnesium.

Citation: Baars, E. W., Gans, S., & Ellis, E. L. (2008). The Effect of Hepar Magnesium on Seasonal Fatigue Symptoms: A Pilot Study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 14(4), 395–402. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2007.0569