For some, medications can cause leg cramps. Diuretics (‘water pills’) and blood pressure medications called beta blockers can affect the levels of electrolytes in the body and cause leg cramps. People with imbalances in electrolytes like magnesium, potassium and calcium can experience leg cramps. This is because proper electrolyte balance is critical to the proper functioning of muscle.

There are remedies available to treat leg cramps. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve pain from cramps but it will not prevent them. There is weak evidence to show that a medication called diltiazem may help leg cramps. Vitamin B complex, calcium and magnesium may also help.

Quinine may help. The trick is to find a product with enough quinine in it to help. Tonic water contains very little quinine and thus may not be effective. Because of the side effects associated with quinine, it should only be used when nothing else works. Side effects of quinine may be life threatening and include low platelet counts, heart arrhythmias, headache, nausea, visual impairment. About 3% of people taking quinine will experience serious side effects.

Most studies show that remedies such as vitamin E, gabapentin, anticonvulsants, baclofen, clonazepan or ropinirole probably do NOT help leg cramps. Non-medication remedies for preventing and treating leg cramps include stretching, hot or cold packs and maintaining proper hydration. Gatorade or similar products may be helpful in restoring minor electrolyte imbalances.

If you suffer from severe night time leg cramps and have tried non-medication remedies, you may want to talk to your doctor about trying vitamin B complex or low dose diltiazem. These are the two remedies that appear to be the most effective according to studies.  Continuing to utilize non-medication remedies, even when medications are started, may help provide additional relief.