Treatment
Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. If no specific cause can be found, treatment options include the following:
- When cramps occur, pull against them with your leg muscles. Also, grab your foot (feet) and pull up.
- Standing on the affected leg often stops the cramping.
- Massage and hot or cold treatments will help the muscles relax.
Medications
None of these medicines has earned full approval for either safety or efficacy. Quinine , while often effective to prevent cramps, has a significant risk of major allergic reactions. The other prescription medications carry risks as well. So they are not generally recommended. They are most often used in only severe cases.
Over-the-Counter
- Diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl)
- Vitamin E 800 U/day
- Calcium
- Magnesium
Prescription
- Quinine sulfate
- Simple muscle relaxants (eg, meprobamate , Equanil, Robaxin )
- Verapamil hydrochloride (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
- Chloroquine phosphate (Aralen)
- Hydroxychloroquine sulfate (Plaquenil)
- Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
- Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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