Leg Cramps!

Thankfully leg cramps only last a short while and then we can get back to bed. We wonder what causes them, but never look into the obvious possiblilites:
1. Standing on concrete for long periods
2. Too much physical activity too close to bedtime
3. Not drinking enough fluids daily
4. Sitting too long, or
5. Side effects from medicines.

The most common drugs implicated in leg cramps are diuretics that may deplete your body's stores of serum potassium. This is usually evident in annual laboratory tests performed by your physician. It is most likely to happen after starting a new diuretic. The possibility of potassium loss is greater when you also experience loss of fluids through perspiration, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Potassium in your diet is helpful and can be found in prunes, bananas, noni juice and pomegranate juice, as well as other food sources. All potassium pills are not made the same strength, so check with your pharmacist about over the counter products. You may be wasting your money.

The use of various over the counter medicines may also cause leg cramps, so discuss them with your pharmacist if you are using them regularly. Even some circulatory problems and cholesterol lowering medicines and contribute to muscle pains.

November 2006
Eldon Armstrong, RPh
Certified Geriatric Pharmacist