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Leg cramps at night

Posted by sparklegram @sparklegram, Aug 19, 2022

Hello everyone. I only have 4 more months on Tamoxifen and my 5 years will be up. I'm having bad leg cramps at night. Has anyone else had this side effect from Tamoxifen?

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kkberge22 | @kkberge22 | Sep 23 8:25am
In reply to @letsdothis "I started Tamoxifen about 3 months ago and I also am having leg cramps that wake..." + (show)
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I started Tamoxifen about 3 months ago and I also am having leg cramps that wake me up at night and sometimes happen in the daytime. My oncology team recommended I tried taking 1/2 of the pill in the AM and 1/2 in PM as well as taking magnesium glycerinate daily. I have been doing that for 2 months now with only occasional relief. I hydrate all day and before bed, but the cramps persist and now I wake up with pain in my right calf every day. It's like a hot soreness. No swelling or bruising though. I am supposed to take Tamoxifen for total of 5 years and really don't want to change to AI's (which is an option for me) because I already have some joint pain before BC and assume it would worsen the joint pain. I am a bit worried that it could be a blood clot/dvt but dreading going in for an ultrasound to find out. Also, I can feel strange sensations in my calfs of sort of a sputtering feeling along with the soreness.
any suggestions?

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@letsdothis I started Tamoxifen 6 weeks ago and have also noticed leg cramps at night. I’ve been using magnesium lotion and it seems to help. I also take magnesium glycinate. Please go to your doctor, the hot soreness sensation you feel is very concerning for DVT.

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letsdothis | @letsdothis | Sep 23 8:53am
In reply to @kkberge22 "@letsdothis I started Tamoxifen 6 weeks ago and have also noticed leg cramps at night. I’ve..." + (show)
Profile picture for kkberge22 @kkberge22

@letsdothis I started Tamoxifen 6 weeks ago and have also noticed leg cramps at night. I’ve been using magnesium lotion and it seems to help. I also take magnesium glycinate. Please go to your doctor, the hot soreness sensation you feel is very concerning for DVT.

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@kkberge22
Thank you. I know you’re right. I need to go get it checked out.

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raebaby | @raebaby | Sep 23 12:34pm

I take liquid quinine drops that I buy on Amazon and I dont have cramps. I'm 85.

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cmocmo | @cmocmo | Sep 23 10:50pm
In reply to @letsdothis "I started Tamoxifen about 3 months ago and I also am having leg cramps that wake..." + (show)
Profile picture for letsdothis @letsdothis

I started Tamoxifen about 3 months ago and I also am having leg cramps that wake me up at night and sometimes happen in the daytime. My oncology team recommended I tried taking 1/2 of the pill in the AM and 1/2 in PM as well as taking magnesium glycerinate daily. I have been doing that for 2 months now with only occasional relief. I hydrate all day and before bed, but the cramps persist and now I wake up with pain in my right calf every day. It's like a hot soreness. No swelling or bruising though. I am supposed to take Tamoxifen for total of 5 years and really don't want to change to AI's (which is an option for me) because I already have some joint pain before BC and assume it would worsen the joint pain. I am a bit worried that it could be a blood clot/dvt but dreading going in for an ultrasound to find out. Also, I can feel strange sensations in my calfs of sort of a sputtering feeling along with the soreness.
any suggestions?

Jump to this post

@letsdothis I experienced leg cramps and muscle spasms in my calves and feet while on Tamoxifen. The only thing that helped was walking until it felt better. It was very painful. I switched to Letrozole a year ago, and don't get the cramps or spasms anymore.

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user_ch3dd7ccf | @user_ch3dd7ccf | Sep 23 11:21pm

I'm in my last year of Exemestane (couldn't tolerate others) and have just started getting leg cramps at night. I thought it was age. This is helpful. Especially the comment on magnesium glycinate, because I think I don't take them when I eat my gummies. Or do I just sleep through it because mag gly helps you sleep.

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beyourownadvocate | @beyourownadvocate | Sep 24 7:39am
In reply to @raebaby "I take liquid quinine drops that I buy on Amazon and I dont have cramps. I'm..." + (show)
Profile picture for raebaby @raebaby

I take liquid quinine drops that I buy on Amazon and I dont have cramps. I'm 85.

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@raebaby
For leg cramps, I started to take magnesium glutamine and also tonic water - a glass before bed.
My father and mother in law, who never had cancer, swore by tonic water because it has quinine. Quinine is what soldiers in WW II took in the Pacific theatre for their ailments.

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mistymar | @mistymar | Sep 24 6:02pm

I had really bad cramps when I was on Anastrazole BUT I was also on a statin so unsure which caused it. He recommended electrolytes and if needed tonic water. The electrolytes and stopping the statin worked (unsure which one). No problems on exemestane but now on letrozole, I have started again. Mostly at night and biggest problem is it’s sometimes high on the thigh area which I can’t walk out. So I’ll keep the tonic water and the liquid quinine in mind if it persists. Jaave seen the Theraworx (?) foam but not sure about that. Since it worked for someone here, will also consider it. Thanks to all who come on here with information!

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raebaby | @raebaby | Sep 24 9:35pm
In reply to @beyourownadvocate "@raebaby For leg cramps, I started to take magnesium glutamine and also tonic water - a..." + (show)
Profile picture for beyourownadvocate @beyourownadvocate

@raebaby
For leg cramps, I started to take magnesium glutamine and also tonic water - a glass before bed.
My father and mother in law, who never had cancer, swore by tonic water because it has quinine. Quinine is what soldiers in WW II took in the Pacific theatre for their ailments.

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@beyourownadvocate My mother used to take quinine tablets for leg cramps. I found these drops work quite well for me. I don't think you can buy capsules any longer. I know tonic water is supposed to work too. I'm sure I would want to add some vodka.

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dulu | @dulu | Sep 25 3:35am

After I was on statins for some months, I started getting leg cramps at nights. I started taking 100 mg of Coq10 every day, No more leg cramps!

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beyourownadvocate | @beyourownadvocate | Sep 28 7:51am
In reply to @mistymar "I had really bad cramps when I was on Anastrazole BUT I was also on a..." + (show)
Profile picture for mistymar @mistymar

I had really bad cramps when I was on Anastrazole BUT I was also on a statin so unsure which caused it. He recommended electrolytes and if needed tonic water. The electrolytes and stopping the statin worked (unsure which one). No problems on exemestane but now on letrozole, I have started again. Mostly at night and biggest problem is it’s sometimes high on the thigh area which I can’t walk out. So I’ll keep the tonic water and the liquid quinine in mind if it persists. Jaave seen the Theraworx (?) foam but not sure about that. Since it worked for someone here, will also consider it. Thanks to all who come on here with information!

Jump to this post

@mistymar
Do sprinters stretches for those upper thigh cramps. (Face a wall or counter and extend one leg behind you. Stretch forward bending the other leg. Reverse leg until you get relief.

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