how to stop getting muscle cramps

[emmie]

does anyone know how to stop muscle cramps, they wake me up several times in the night and as a bad sleeper this is making things worse. The left calf muscle goes into a spasm and its flipping painful, knotted and i have to walk around for a bit before feels remotely better, not good at 3am

[carlton23]

Ask you GP for some `Quinine` tablets. I haven`t had cramp for years whilst taking them.

[cockneygirl]

I'd like to know the answer to that as well

[emmie]

I wish i knew what caused it, some days it's so bad, especially when the toes on my left foot do the same, cramp up and it's a devil to get them working again. My do that ask doctor, but anyother advice meanwhile would be much appreciated. Three early mornings of this and i'm feeling zonked

[Sqad]

I think that you have asked that question before em, forgive me if I am mistaken.
I also seem to remember that your blood tests for thyroid activity were normal.

Drink tonic water in the evening and also carlton's advice is good.

[bigglez]

keep your socks on

[emmie]

Sqad, thyroid was borderline, but i wish there was a conclusive link, because it could well explain a lot of odd things, the vertigo, dizzyness, that has been a real bugbear, and these muscle cramps which cause me to hop round like a loon. Will speak with doctor about this, and try tonic water, to see if it eases. No fun waking at 3am and throughout the night, and not being able to get back to sleep.
Thank you all for the help, it's always appreciated.

[emmie]

one thing, do you drink the tonic at any time, or in the evening?

[carlton23]

Evening.

[emmie]

thank you, is a small glass sufficient.

[NoMercy]

I get the same thing. Invariably in my right calf.

[sandyRoe]

I started getting cramps in my legs soon after beginning taking a statin and medication for high BP. I don't know if the cramps were a side effect of the medication.
Thankfully, I haven't had any for a while now.

[boxtops]

Muscle pain and cramp certainly can be a side-effect of statins - I'm only just coming out the other side now, thanks to physio. I'd endorse the tonic water prescription!

[Donquixote]

It sounds as though low zinc levels could be a contributing factor. Could well be worth picking up some zinc sulphate tablets from your local health store.

[Old_Geezer]

Quinine, zinc, I must remember that. I have to beware in the morning when I wake up. If I forget myself and 'stretch' my legs my calves alway threaten to play up. Sometimes they actually cramp. But they have been in a strange state for quite some time now; I've no idea why.

[RATTER15]

According to the Tonic Water manufacturers their isn't enough quinine in Tonic Water to have any medicinal affect whatsoever.

I know at work we have had a few ladies on quinine tablets and Carakeel also takes Quinine tablets with very limited affects.

Its always worth a try, i'm sure it works very well for some people.

[emmie]

Not taking statins, but will try the quinine in tonic, a small glass at night, and see if it has any effect. Can't be worse, feels like the calf muscle scrunches up and is so painful
thank you all

[naomi24]

Crampex tablets - buy them over the counter at any pharmacy. The chemist will ask you what medication you're taking to make sure they're suitable for you, but they work very quickly. I've used them for years.

[emmie]

Naomi thank you.

[didoatwork]

My Mum just takes tonic water (with the quinine already in it). She swears by it after suffering for years.

[emmie]

its been a problem for a time, but three night in a row woke in the early hours, try not to wake anyone but blimey it's painful.