leg cramps

Are leg cramps because of the meds? Last night I kept getting cramps in my toes and the front of my right shin. Not because of dehydration for sure. Drinking plenty of water. Is 5-6  16.9oz bottles enough throughout the day, or should I be drinking more. I ate 3 large bananas yesterday also & still cramps. Started feeling a little quezzy now and then yesterday. Has any one else had the leg cramps. And has any one tried Restful Legs from Walmart? I'm buying some today for later on today. I keep getting small cramps this morning. Hope these pills are ok cause I want to get some sleep tonight. Tired and  cranky. Thanx, Liz

[foofighter]

Feel for you, Such a painful thing to deal with when you need some sleep!

It seems many here suffer leg cramps on and off treatment and there have been a number of threads with tips that include tonic water, increasing potassium, etc. Might want to search "leg cramps HCV," and I am sure people will pop in with their two cents. I don't know about the Restful Legs, but as we always say, check with your doc first.

If you are cirrhotic it may be that zinc will help (also suggested by other members in previous threads). If you google "cramps cirrhosis," you will find a bunch of info. I watched a woman's hands curl into claws at a recent educational support group (tears streaming down her face) who reported the next week relief with zinc after trying everything else. Again check with doc.

A quick cut and paste from google search:

Muscle cramps are frequent - 52 % - in patients with cirrhosis as compared to patients with chronic hepatitis (7.5 %) or congestive heart failure (20 %) on similar dose of diuretics (1).

Associated with liver function, being more frequent in patients with low albumin (1, 2); diuretic use did not predict muscle cramps in one study (1). Best predictors were the presence of ascites and plasma renin activity (2). Associated with low plasma taurine levels in one study (9).

Treatment: Quinidine sulfate is normally said to be contraindicated in patients with liver disease (8); however, in a placebo-controlled trial, the number of cramps decreased from 14 to 4 (vs. 12 to 12 in the placebo group) in patients treated with quinidine sulfate 400 mg/d; relief from cramps was associated with serum quinidine levels (7). Main side effect was diarrhea in ~ 35 % which subsided spontaneously or was treated symptomatically. Albumin substitution was found to decrease muscle cramps (2). In an uncontrolled study, zinc sulfate 220 mg/d improved cramps in 10/12 patients; in 7 they disappeared completely (6). Vitamin E has been used (5) as well as antispasmodics (4). Although used frequently, magnesium was not useful in a double-blind crossover trial in patients with nocturnal leg cramps not related to liver disease (3).

Good luck and hang in there.

[sunshines76]

It could also be a result of anemia. What do your CBC labs show?

[pcds]

I had leg cramps especially if I flexed my foot or stretched while in bed.  I tried to be careful not to do any flexing when in bed.  Just one more side effect.  You should ask your MD at your next appt.

[IMstacie]

I got leg cramps, still do.  In addition to the comments above, try substituting some of your water with gatorade to keep a balance of the electrolytes in your body (it tastes good also). A decreased concentration of sodium occurs whenever the amount of body water increases relative to sodium. And, of course, this also happens with liver diseases.  My doctor told he to do this.  I would actually split my water with half Gatorade.

[liz276]

Thanx for the info. I did start drinking Powerade  Zero.  Zero calorie sports drink Advanced Electrolyte System.. I have to watch the sugar. Seems to be working. I think I only get the cramps a day or two after my shot. I'll have to pay attention to it this week-end. So far so good. Although I am feeling a tightness in my chest, but I may have strained myself yesterday cleaning out my bird bath and picking it up off the ground. Kind of heavy. Going to Chiropractor tomorrow and will have him do an adjustment in that area. If it continues then I will mention it to Gastro Doc. in case it is from meds.  Again Thanx  Liz