I have been getting this too and it keeps waking me up at night, not every night but maybe 3 times a week or so. It hurts like heck! I have to very gently stretch my leg until it loosens up. I also have been on prednisone for the last 3 weeks. I have gotten these here and there in the past but not this often and not in a long time. I have heard it can be from not drinking enough water or a lack of calcium. But I definitely am thinking that it is the prednisone.

If you're on drugs to reduce inflamation you probably urinate alot. When you lose water your potassium level drops. That's what is causing leg cramps. Have your doc give you a script for potassium. (Have your pot. levels checked)
Eat bananas & tomatoes it also helps.

I take two potassium (prescription) a day and that seems to work well for leg cramps. I was given that because I take HCTZ for bp.

But I am seeing an integrative doctor now that has given me several supplements. I still take the potassium and bp medication; however, when I try the magnesium at night my muscles relax and I have no leg cramps in the morning even with prednisone.

I have noticed that when I try to cut back on prednisone just a little I have leg cramps for a day or so in the morning. The magnesium taking at bedtime seem to relax my muscles all over, even in my back and neck. However, it can cause loose bm (how else was I suppose to say it, lol) in the morning.

Always a side effect with whatever you take. I get the magnesium glycinate (suppose to be easier on stomach) and sometimes I cut a pill in half and only take 100mg. Be sure and take at night if you try this.

Wendy,
Thanks! I'm getting those supplements tomorrow! I've been up since about 4:00 this morning. I hope there are no cramps tonight!

I'm sorry to hear you have such horrible leg cramps. I get them too and they hurt. My toes turn up and my ankle bends. Everything seems to contort in opposite directions. Its difficult to stretch and oh so painful. I'm not currently taking prednisone and don't think there is a connection for me. One tip I use is to have ice packs that I can wrap around my contracting muscles. The cold temp helps to calm my spasm. I hope you have a restful night.

Make sure you are getting enough magnesium and potassium. Yes any glucocorticoid can trigger them, but that isn't the only reason.

I like Vitacost's Mag-Ultra(it is a well balanced Mag Supplement that has 30mg of bioavailable Mag). My GP recommended an 8oz glass of Orange Juice an hour or two before bed. it has more Potassium than a Banana. Also, apricots are high in potassium.

I found that the main cause of my leg cramps was my tendons and ligaments were inflammed. Spasms are our bodies way of preventing muscle damage, but only in this sense (stretching to or just beyond the fiber's limit). This was confirmed by my PT.

I've also found that Epsom Salt lotion (I get it at CVS) is a good way to get magnesium to the area quickly when my hubby gets one in the middle of the night.

Same problem here...was told by doc to drink tonic water as it has quinine in it...and to stretch before bed and if I am up during the night to stretch again...just do not overdo with the stretching... Tonic water seems to be helping..also just gave me a muscle relaxer.. I have only taken one of those...think I will cut them in half.

My leg cramps are somewhat better. They gave me Skelaxin (muscle relaxer). I take 1/2 and I don't get up with cramps until about 5:00 am. Think I'll try a whole one tonight. I've tried everything, potassium, magnesium, bananas, gatorade...to no avail! Anyway will see tonight how it goes! Thanks friends!

Dill pickle juice helps muscle cramps. I get cramps all over my body, legs and feet and they are excrutiating. I used to get them because my body was low in sodium due to HCTZ for Blood Pressure. My doctors took me off of it and the cramps went away. Lately, they have come back and muscle relaxants don't do the trick for me. My son told me he heard dill pickle juice worked. I tried it and it does work.

Well, NC..I have not tried pickle juice. The thought of that, well, I don't know. How much do you have to take? The Skelaxtin is helping for most of the night so I may try that. At this point I will try almost anything. Also, I will ask my doc about a script for potassium and try the tonic water...can't hurt! Thanks guys and gals!!

Lifeis2short, I probably drink about 1/4 cup or so of the dill pickle juice.
I've heard that a tsp bull of yellow mustard works, too, but I can't do that. I tried it once. Trust me, the dill pickle juice tastes better then the mustard. Lol. Quinine sulfate was the best. I took it by prescription for years but they took it off the market.

Good luck. When you're up walking the floor and trying to work the cramps out, remember there are a lot of us doing the same thing.
God bless//Frances

did the stretching last night and was up 3 times with excruciating pain in the legs... going to give up the stretching and stay with the tonic water and muscle relaxant... ( 1/2 pill)

did the stretching last night and was up 3 times with excruciating pain in the legs... going to give up the stretching and stay with the tonic water and muscle relaxant... ( 1/2 pill)

did the stretching last night and was up 3 times with excruciating pain in the legs... going to give up the stretching and stay with the tonic water and muscle relaxant... ( 1/2 pill)

did the stretching last night and was up 3 times with excruciating pain in the legs... going to give up the stretching and stay with the tonic water and muscle relaxant... ( 1/2 pill)