Leg Spasms, Vitamin D-3, L-Tryptophan.

[monkeybus]

As I've posted before, I've been taking Benzodiazepines for nigh on 4 years now. At night, to stop my leg spasms. Usually Etizolam, Valium if needs be.

Lately I've been taking a lot of Gabapentin and Lyrica. They stop spasms, but paradoxically in high doses they give me spasms. Lyrica, music sounds out of this world on that stuff

I used to booze before I discovered Benzo's. Lovely, I did enjoy a drink but had to stop. Falling over too much. Another avenue of pleasure closed.

A while back I commented upon a post by StevenSims (hello Steve), about how he was taking ZMA+Vitamin D-3 for his spasms.

I ordered some D-3, powdercity.com/products/vit... cheapest I could find. I like Powder City.

Anyway, it sat for a month in the box. I didn't touch it. Take so many meds, I get tired of throwing stuff down my neck.

But, last night, I took 5000 IU of Vitamin D-3 along with 500mg of L-Tryptophan.

Magic, pure magic. Zero spasms. And there is little room for placebo effect here. The spasms always come, even on Benzo's. They are weaker, but they are always there.

Very, very good. I'll see how this one goes, but I know my body, this is good. Also, no minor spasms waking me up like usual, so the effect lasted all night and as I type this I feel refreshed. Excellent sleep architecture.

All good, nothing bad.

I'll just point out as well that the L-Tryptophan sent me off to sleep after nigh on half a decade of Benzo use, falling asleep was impossible without them, and, as usual, it was the tail end of a day of high Modafinil use.

In other news, I am having fantastic gains in my heel/toe walking ability with 4-AP-3-MeOP, fast walking, great balance, never fall over. mod4all.com As I mentioned in another (blindness) thread, it sharpens my vision. Worryingly, this concerns me that I may have a degree of demyelination in my optic nerve, or wherever.

Numbness in my fingertips as well, bordering on low-level pain. If I should tell my neurologist, it would be "More Valium, Mr Monkeybus?"

This whole ZMA/D-3/Tryptophan thing confirms one thing that I've thought up to now. That being that there is plenty more to learn. Plenty more benignly helpful substances for us out there. I'm about to commence a period of intense anti-oxidant use, just to see what happens to my general condition/mood. A hell of a lot of pills/powders. Nothing ventured.

Christmas soon. If I don't talk to any of you before then, I hope you all have a very merry one.

[StevenSims]

Hi Monkeybus,

I've been saying for years that Vitamin D is magic!

There's been a study recently that has found that it repairs myelin?

cam.ac.uk/research/news/vit...

All the best

Steve

[monkeybus in reply to StevenSims]

It's all down to you, Steve.

Two days and counting now.

I am free from Benzo's.

[julie_]

Hi Monkeybus,

Thank you for posting!

Is the 4-AP-3-Me-OP the generic of Ampyra? I recently saw Dr Eichler and his nurse recommended the generic. I then mentioned it to my physical therapist and he also said he would be delighted to look into it for me! Is it the same medicine? If it is, the pricing is better than in the US!

[monkeybus in reply to julie_]

Hello Julie. The generic of Ampyra is 4-AP.

4-AP-3-Me-OP is much better than Ampyra or 4-AP.

Very little side effects, and My balance is excellent. More expensive, though.

[julie_ in reply to monkeybus]

Very interesting! Are there not even the usual possible side effects, such as GI or headaches? Would you know if it's available in the US? I'll have to ask my PT about this!

[wilburlois15]

Informative and encyclopaedic as usual. Thank you. Merry Christmas!

[cdp71]

Recently, I too have have started getting night legs spasms. They cause my leg to jerk up and become very rigid. They also result in my waking up. While awake, I try to straighten my leg again because if I don't my legs are non-operational in the morning and feel like I have pulled something. I really need to be more consistent with stretching because I think that might fix things. If not, I will try out ZMA+Vitamin D-3 as recommended by Steve.

I am intrigued but also skeptical of 4-AP-3-Me-OP. My skepticism derives from the fact that 4-Am is a toxin used to kill birds.

[monkeybus in reply to cdp71]

4-AP certainly feels like a poison if you take too much.

[fightald]

Potassium at bedtime is also good for leg spasms.

[monkeybus in reply to fightald]

Potassium/Magnesium never helped me. Not knocking it, though. If it works, it works.

[cdp71]

Monkey and Steve,

Is the ZMA+Vitamin D-3 still working for night leg spasms? My legs spasms only seem to be getting worse and are causing me great problems. I do not sleep very good at night and occasionally when I get up in the morning my legs are extremely weak (i.e. can't support any weight) from having been rigid all night long. Please let me know because I need to find a solution to this problems. By the way, happy New Year.

Thanks.

Chris Phillips

[monkeybus in reply to cdp71]

Chris, it's relatively early days for me on the D-3 but it's good.

To be honest, the spasms are the least of my worries. They are annoying more than anything else.

Spasticity and fatigue in alternating order have been the bane of my last two decades.

Even the fatigue, this I have in check with that overpriced Modafinil.

But my spasms, like the spasticity and and fatigue comes and goes. Last night was pretty bad. For me, it's a matter of passing out quick before the spasms kick in.

I'm not sure if it's the L-tryptophan that sends me off, or the D-3 that quells the spasms.

I know this, the worst thing is a hangover or constipation

[cdp71]

Thanks for the response. I have also had constipation problems for years. I had some concerns (bleeding, which turned to be hemorrhoids) and recently had a colonoscopy. While the preparation for the procedure was not pleasant, it is nice to now be cleaned out. My program now is to use a fiber supplement (i.e. Metamucil) and give myself a liquid glycerin suppository every morning. That seems to be the best way to keep everything moving nicely and prevent getting backed up. You might look into it. Good luck and happy new year.

[StevenSims]

Hi Chris,

I think it works well until the body's stores get full? I take it every day and it does make a difference! Well worth taking through the winter months, my pain and spasms are worse from November to April!

All the best and a happy new year!

Steve

[monkeybus in reply to StevenSims]

Kellogg's All Bran for me. The state my bowels are in.

I used to snack on raw carrots at work. Must do that more.

Drink plenty of water as well. I really should take my toiletry habits more seriously. That is at least one source of my spasms/spasticity that I can control.

It's a hard knock life. Happy new year folks. MRI in February, I've stopped worrying now.

[StevenSims]

Another thing that's supposed to be good for muscle cramps and spasms is Tonic water as it contains Quinnin, I've tried it but it didn't work for me?

Happy new year

Steve

[monkeybus in reply to StevenSims]

Quinine, apparently modern tonic water doesn't contain enough. I do like a G+T.

Online, you can buy "authentic" tonic water with maximum quinine. Quinine very bad for your health in the long term as well.

[Barbara-Halverson74]

I have been taking 800 mg per day of Co Q-10. No spasms unless I try to take less.