Cause of Muscle Cramps | Drug Side Effects | Night Leg Cramps | Fibromyalgia

Causes of Muscle Cramps and Spasms

Muscle cramps and muscle spasms are involuntary, sustained tightening (contraction) of one or more of the muscles in your body. It can result in intense pain and an inability to use the affected muscles. Night leg cramps are contractions of the leg muscles, usually in the back of the lower leg (calf). They often occur just as you’re falling asleep or just as you’re waking up.

The exact cause of night leg cramps isn’t known. Some experts believe they may be due to abnormal processing of electrolytes — the essential elements and chemical substances your body needs for basic functions — by muscles. Almost everyone has occasional leg cramps and muscle cramps, but they occur most often in older adults. Common causes of night leg cramps and muscle cramps include:

Physical activities that cause muscle cramps:

Muscle overexertion
Prolonged sitting

Conditions that can cause muscle cramps:

Dehydration
Pregnancy
Decreased potassium levels
Alcohol use
Drug Withdrawal from benzodiazepines e.g. Valium, Ativan, Xanax and opiates etc.
Vitamin deficiencies- e.g. Thiamine (B1), Pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6)
Aging

Disease states that can cause muscle cramps:

Muscle Cramps can be a Drug Side Effect :

Statin cholesterol drugs-e.g. Zocor, Lipitor, Crestor, Pravacol, etc
PPIs- proton pump inhibitors- Drugs that block the acid produced in the stomach- e.g. Nexium, Prilosec, Aciphex, Omeprazole, etc
Certain Cancer Drugs- e.g. Gleevec, Cisplatin, Vinca Alkaloids, etc.
Alzheimer drug, Aricept
Certain hormone drugs-e.g. Evista
Calcium Channel Blockers- e.g. Nifedipine, Norvasc, etc.
Asthma Drugs- e.g. Albuterol, Terbutaline and antipsychotic medications
Niacin
Diuretics- e.g- furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorthiazide

Muscle cramps can be a debilitating medical issue affecting people across the broad spectrum of levels of activity, age, competitive sports and the military. Muscle cramps and spasms can produce significant pain, cause a worker to lose time, have elderly persons become inactive due to fear of pain, cause sleep depravation due to through-the-night pain, render a military soldier incapacitated, and an athlete unable to return to competition. To varying degrees, humans all suffer the symptoms of muscle cramping or spasms from birth to death. For much of the time, these are an annoyance and happen rather infrequently so as not to be considered chronic. For the moment they are certainly painful, but typically subside somewhat quickly and the person resumes their normal activity. People that suffer from muscle cramps and spasms can have a chronic situation that impedes their ability to perform their jobs, compete or complete their activities of daily living.

Mature Adults That Suffer from Chronic Muscle Cramps:

The following is 2010 census data (USA) of aged population that suffer for night leg cramps. Total census data also suggests that the average life span in the US continues to increase. There are over 20 million people¹ in the United States over the age of 60 that chronically suffer with leg cramps.

¹Source: © EMIS and Patient Information Publications 1997-2007 (Patient UK)

Many of these people in addition to having night cramps have limited mobility during the day due to muscle cramping. Cramp911™ improves the quality of their lives.

Populations in these age groups will continue to grow with the increase of the baby boomers.

Athletes That Are Physically Active Suffer from Chronic Muscle Cramps :

A conservative estimate of 30 million people in the U.S. participate in some form of athletic activity, and will suffer a muscle cramp during a given year.

Military:

The military operates in many environments some of which are extreme hot and cold conditions with physical exertion. There are approximately 1.4 million military personal on active duty. Military personnel are considered “casualties” if they are not able to perform their function as part of their unit including leg or muscle cramps.

Other Related Ailments That Suffer from Chronic Muscle Cramps:

There is also a segment of the population that suffers from neck, back or other types of spasms. Low back pain in general affects four out of five Americans at some time². For example, people with fibromyalgia are usually challenged with muscle spasms in various parts of their bodies. There are approximately 3.7 million people with fibromyalgia according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Multiple Sclerosis patients suffer from muscle cramps and spasms that interfere with daily activities and their quality of life is affected. They are also plagued with the inability to enjoy a full night’s sleep due to muscle cramps and spasms.

² WebMD

by Keith DelPrete, R.Ph.

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