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Mom (90) has been having leg cramps for past 5 days. Saw cardiologist, had blood work, had ultrasound to rule out blood clots...everything checked out ok. Still having leg cramps. PCP on vacation and substituting doc suggests Tonic water to help with leg cramps. After first glass, mom became agitated and complained about roaring sounds and what is wrong. "I am going crazy"...I assured her she was not crazy (I have ringing in my ears due to neurological damage and have had for 9+ years) and turned on TV and Fan for background noise. Got out the computer and typed in Side effects of Quinine in Tonic water and --- some people have adverse effects and can develop irregular heart beats, head aches and ringing in the ears... Mom tends to have spells of irregular heart beats anyway...now I have to worry about this until we flush this out...Great I have problems sleeping on a good night and now have more to worry about because of a 50 cent bottle of tonic water!

Have you found similar reactions? What other things have you tried for leg cramps...perhaps with less side effects? Experience with other things that doctors have suggested that sound innocent but caused problems with your senior?

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My doctor told me to put a bar of Dove soap in my bedding.The bar doesnt have to touch your legs .There is a chemical in it thats supposed to help.He also told me to rub my legs with icy hot before I got in bed.Good Luck with this.luckylu
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I had leg cramps especially at night when my legs get cold. When I wear pj bottoms and if it is winter wear long fuzzy socks that solves the problem. I also try to either have fresh oj or a banana or take a multi mineral table with potassium.
My brother and I take turns taking care of my 83 year old dad. He was complaining of leg cramps in the morning as soon as he would start to stretch before getting out of bed in the morning and sometimes even in the middle of the night. He was wearing just underwear to bed. I bought him pj bottom; he tried them. Since wearing pj bottoms he has not had a problem.
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My father used to eat a banana every day to keep his potassium levels up. His doctor had recommended it to prevent his nighttime leg cramps, and it worked for him.
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Bananas for leg cramps work beautifully!
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As lucklu mentioned a bar of soap. It worked for my mom who placed a bar under her fitted sheet down near her legs. I don't know that she used Dove though.
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The best solution for leg cramps I have found with numerous friends and family is magnesium. Leg cramps are a key marker of magnesium deficiency.
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I have had foot cramps and some calf cramps before also. Foot dr. told me not to laugh but to put any bars of soap at the end of the bed under the fitted sheets. I thought hey, I will try anything to not have those cramps so I did. I might still get a little cramp now and then but nothing like I was. I still have them and it's been a couple of years. My husband uses the mustard. He swears by it. Just a teaspoon. It's got turmeric in it and that's what does it. I've tried it and I say it tastes so bad that you forget about the cramping :)) I also drink tonic and have for years (not for medicinal purposes though) and my ears just started ringing....loudly! I wonder if that's what made them ring? I have drank/drunk it for years though and this just happened like a month ago. Hmmm.....
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My doctor told me leg cramps are due to dehydration and drinking more water does help me.
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To pargirl.

When I have leg cramps, I use a little pill called Leg Cramp. I wonder where they came up with that name? ha. It is fast and works for me. It is a lot cheaper that tonic water. Also if I get a pain in my foot at night, it works for that too. That soap thing sounds like an Old Wives tale.
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Hylands Leg Cramps (available at WalMart and other places) works for my husband. It also comes in a PM form.
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