Steroids will deplete the body of potassium and one symptom of low potassium is muscle cramps. When I am taking steroids, I make sure that I eat LOTS and LOTS of foods high in potassium. Some of my favorites include bananas, orange juice, raisins, spinach, apricots, cantalope.
Medication use: Some medications can cause muscle spasms as a side effect, including statin drugs and corticosteroids like prednisone.
In addition, corticosteroids frequently cause cramps, particularly in the early stages of treatment. This side effect is not especially known to physicians but is commonplace among patients. The cramps commonly occur during the night and affect the hands and feet.
Apply heat or cold.
Use a warm towel or heating pad on tense or tight muscles. Taking a warm bath or directing the stream of a hot shower onto the cramped muscle also can help. Alternatively, massaging the cramped muscle with ice may relieve pain.
Drink plenty of fluids. Sports drinks, such as Gatorade, will often help leg cramps.
Too little potassium, calcium or magnesium in your diet can contribute to leg cramps. Diuretics — medications often prescribed for high blood pressure — also can deplete these minerals.
You probably know that bananas are a good source of potassium. But they'll also give you magnesium and calcium. That's three out of four nutrients you need to ease muscle cramps tucked under that yellow peel. No wonder bananas are a popular, quick choice for cramp relief.
Taking a warm bath or shower may also help. Drink pickle juice. Some evidence suggests that drinking a small amount of pickle juice may help relieve muscle cramps. Take an over-the-counter painkiller if your leg is sore after.
Acetic acid is postulated to mitigate cramping by decreasing alpha motor neuron activity through oropharyngeal stimulation and inhibitory neurotransmitter production, while aiding in the role acetylcholine plays in muscle contraction and relaxation.
Loss of contact with reality. Muscle twitching or tightening. Numbness, burning, or tingling in the face, arms, legs, feet or hands. Rash.
When to seek medical advice. If you only get leg cramps occasionally, it is not a cause for concern and a medical diagnosis is not required. A visit to your GP will only be necessary if you get leg cramps frequently, or if they are so painful they disrupt your sleep and you are unable to function normally the next day.
People can also experience osteonecrosis, which is death of bone tissue because of reduced blood flow to the joints. This often manifests as hip and knee pain, but it can become severe and may require surgery. Most people lose bone mass within the first six to 12 months of prednisone therapy.
In June 2014, the FDA announced that prescription testosterone products must include a warning about DVT. Prednisone and other steroids can raise your clotting risk as well, especially at high doses.
It takes approximately 16.5 to 22 hours for Prednisone to be out of your system. The elimination half life of prednisone is around 3 to 4 hours. This is the time it takes for your body to reduce the plasma levels by half. It usually takes around 5.5 x half-life for a drug to be completely eliminated from your system.
What you can do: Practice healthy lifestyle habits, including getting enough sleep and eating healthfully. “Treat yourself well,” Dr. Ford says. “Anything you can do to stay healthy is going to benefit you and reduce some of the problems associated with prednisone.”
Additionally, certain vitamins and minerals impact muscle function, particularly potassium and magnesium. A significant body of research has found that increasing your magnesium intake can help with the frequency of night time leg cramps, especially for pregnant women.
Although further research is needed on magnesium and muscle cramps, taking 300 mg of magnesium daily may help decrease symptoms.
Since magnesium plays a role in neuromuscular transmission and muscle contraction, it has been hypothesised that magnesium deficiency may predispose to muscle cramps. Thus magnesium supplements are often recommended to prevent cramps.
How do I stop a leg cramp? Try forcefully stretching the affected muscle (for example, stretch your calf muscle by flexing your foot upward). Jiggle your leg, massage it, or force yourself to walk. It might also help to apply ice or heat – use a heating pad or take a warm bath.
Magnesium citrate may be the most effective type if you want to try a supplement. If you're magnesium deficient, there may be other benefits from increasing your intake of this nutrient. And other remedies are available for leg cramping that may help.
Because many muscle cramps are related to electrolyte imbalance, foods that are high in electrolytes, like potassium, can be helpful in stopping them before the start. Though bananas are the most popular high-potassium food, other foods, including avocados, potatoes and leafy greens, also pack a potassium punch.