Dr. Gott: Electrolytes may ease leg cramps

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have been reading your column for years and have been helped numerous times by your advice and the advice of your readers. I have some input into the nightly leg cramps experienced by lots of people. I have been suffering from these for at least 56 years. It may have started during my pregnancy, but I distinctly remember having them while on the delivery table when my daughter was born 56 years ago.

I used quinine for many years, but it was taken off the market. I tried drinking tonic water because of the quinine content, but couldn’t stand the taste of it. A few years ago, I had colon surgery, and while in the hospital, my legs were in an apparatus that came on every few minutes. It felt like a giant blood-pressure cuff, and I was told it would aid my circulation and prevent clots, since I wasn’t able to get up and move around. It also had the added benefit of keeping away the cramps.

When I came home, the cramps returned, so one of my other daughters bought me some Pedialyte. It worked immediately. I buy the individual-serving-size bottles (it comes in a four-pack) so that it doesn’t get wasted since I don’t get cramps every night. They usually occur in the middle of the night, so I keep it in my bedroom closet so it is handy.

I have noticed that I get cramps only when I have lost a lot of fluid, such as from sweating or using diuretics because of occasional edema.

DEAR READER: Pedialyte is an electrolyte solution used to replace minerals and fluids in children who have lost them due to vomiting or diarrhea. There are also store brands available that are cheaper and achieve the same results.

I believe this product may work for you because your cramps are triggered by fluid loss, which means you are also losing electrolytes. This is common in those who exercise strenuously or do hard labor. The drink simply replaces what has been lost, thus stopping the cramps.

Other solutions to nightly leg cramps include pickle juice and sports drinks, such as Gatorade or Powerade. My soap-under-the-bed-sheets trick may be beneficial as a preventive measure. For those who have more frequent leg cramps at night or when resting, I recommend examination by a physician to check for the possibility of Restless Legs Syndrome. This condition may not respond to typical leg-cramp treatments and may require the use of prescription medication.

To provide related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports “Compelling Home Remedies” and “More Compelling Home Remedies.” Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a check or money order for $2 per report to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).