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Leg cramps

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
22,270
6,448
136
Any of you get them? I'm cursed with getting them every few days, always in the evening or night. I wake up and dance around my bedroom like a lunatic. I've tried increasing potassium in my diet, and drinking more water (wife claims I still don't drink enough), but so far it hasn't helped.

Help an old guy out.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
22,366
4,982
136
Any of you get them? I'm cursed with getting them every few days, always in the evening or night. I wake up and dance around my bedroom like a lunatic. I've tried increasing potassium in my diet, and drinking more water (wife claims I still don't drink enough), but so far it hasn't helped.

Help an old guy out.


My wife has the same issue with her legs every week. When she feels like it's coming on she takes 1 or 2 Cramp Pills containing 70 mg Magnesium. Label says "Cramp Relief". She swears by them. I've taken them once or twice and they worked fast and relaxed my cramping legs.

 
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balloonshark

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2008
7,148
3,622
136
Some meds can cause leg cramps. About 20 years ago I was taking one or more that gave me crazy leg cramps.

Here's a good article for you.

 

Steltek

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2001
3,347
1,088
136
My mother swears by Schweppes tonic water, the quinine it contains apparently helps people with muscle cramps that nothing else works for.

However, I've read it can also have side effects for some
people as well, so YMMV. It is also absolutely loaded with tons of calories (they have a diet version, but it tastes so awful it isn't funny).

I have them really badly too, and have never figured out the cause. I suspect it is a combination of medications and worsening blood circulation in my legs as I get older. I can't use the Schweppes stuff my mother takes due to having diabetes.
 
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Torn Mind

Lifer
Nov 25, 2012
12,078
2,772
136
Could be electrolytes. Magnesium could be addressed by dark chocolate.

You could try the following in the list.

Magnesium supplements vary in what is bonded to the magnesium.