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?
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.
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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