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Muscle Cramps (cont.)

Can medications cause muscle cramps?

Numerous medicines can cause cramps. Potent diuretic medications, such as furosemide (Lasix), or the vigorous removal of body fluids even with less potent diuretics can induce cramps by depleting body fluid and sodium. Simultaneously, diuretics often cause the loss of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which can also cause cramps.

Medications such as donepezil (Aricept is used for Alzheimer's disease) and neostigmine (Prostigmine and others are used for myasthenia gravis) as well as raloxifene (Evista is used to prevent osteoporosis in postmenopausal women) have caused cramps. Tolcapone (Tasmar is used for Parkinson's disease) reportedly causes muscle cramps in at least 10% of patients. "True" cramps are reported with nifedipine (Procardia and others are used for angina, high blood pressure and other conditions) and the asthma drugs terbutaline (Brethine) and albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin, and others). Some medicines used to lower cholesterol, including clofibrate (Atromid-S) and lovastatin (Mevacor), can also lead to cramps.

Cramps are sometimes noted in addicted individuals during withdrawal from medications and substances that have sedative effects, including alcohol, barbiturates and other sedatives, anti-anxiety agents such as benzodiazepines (for example, Valium and Xanax), narcotics, and other drugs.



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