Severe Leg Cramps and Prednisone...

[NatashaDisneyCM]

I am on the tail end of predisone....again! and I noticed the last two days I get these heart wrenching legs cramps everywhere to the point I cannot walk!!!! I just had them again! I have walked on cold floors outside barefoot, I have taken soma's muscle relaxers, a piece of xanax, I stand here doubled over in pain! Well just a little while ago, I pulled out the newer "VITA COCO" which is the "NEw" Gatorade that is much better for you and double the amount or potassium. well, so far, the cramps have subsided!!

Hot/ or cold baths did not work...stretching, nothing!! what all have you used for these god awful cramps??

 

[JessicaR]

Sometimes leg cramps appear at the end of a prednisone taper. Sometimes the taper is too quick and that is a side effect. The leg cramps should resolve in a few days. If they don't your doctor may want to slow your taper or change it to an every other day decrease.

It's also possible that the leg cramps have nothing to do with the prednisone. Eating more calcium rich foods or taking a supplement can help.

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

a sip of red-wine or red-apple cider vinegar blech!

 

[RadioNate]

Common side effect of the prednisone taper. I always have them coming off. Nothing helps. Sorry.

How many more days do you have left. Mine always went away after I stopped taking the prednisone.

I'm sorry I'm not more helpful, I remember how painful they were.

 

[jazzielady]

I get those every time I take prednisone. I also got them when I had steroid shots. My doctor thought I was crazy when I brought it up.

It's to the point I refuse to take prednisone. Good luck, I feel for you.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

Common side effect of the prednisone taper. I always have them coming off. Nothing helps. Sorry.

How many more days do you have left. Mine always went away after I stopped taking the prednisone.

I'm sorry I'm not more helpful, I remember how painful they were.

I did the typical 60 mg for 3 days, 50 for 3 etc. I am on the 10 mg, I took my last one today. I am finding that. that vita coco water I mentioned has totally helped! it must have replaced potassium I was lacking~~

I HATE Prednisone!! I have been on it the same taper type off and of since sept. And I FINALLY am starting to feel better! now maybe I can actually do some school work!! my tests have been awful due to total lack of concentration in school!

A & P 2 I now will have a chance!!

 

[disfan07]

I am on the last 5 days of my 4th 4 week dose of prednisone since september.
I do the same taper of 60mg for 1 week, 50mg for 3 days, 40 mg for 3 days, 30mg for 3, 20mg for 3, 10mg for 3, and 5mg for 5 day every single time I am on prednisone (so 27 days of prednisone).

I used to get really back leg cramps on teh prednisone when I would stop my taper at 10mg but since they started making me go down to 5mg for 5 days, my leg cramps are very very mild compared to what they used to be. My doctors just told me that for some people, even a taper ending at 10mg is still too high of a dose adn their body doesnt react well to that kind of taper.

If it is that bad, i would mention it to your doctor because you might still be coming off of the prednisone too quickly even at 10mg. They might need to change your taper dose.