Cramps

[Jake25]

Hi do any of you suffer from hand or foot cramps caused by your inhalers? Apparently this is a common side effect. When I mentioned this to the Copd nurse she laughed. I am prescribed Trimbow which I believe is a beta 2 agonist bronchodilator. These cramps are very painful especially in the foot. It just shows how these GP nurses call themselves COPD nurses but don't seem to have a clue regarding the medications and side effects... She's just the designated nurse not properly trained.

[Jaybird19]

both legs and feet or just one ?

[Jake25 in reply to Jaybird19]

Hi jaybird19I get them in hands and feet. My finger joints lock. It's very painful.

[Jaybird19 in reply to Jake25]

i get cramp which i have put down to damaged blood vessels in one leg but always looking out for other reasons . only happened since hospital stay but i get potassium in BP tablets and I can use magnesium spray to see if that helps . good luck with your problem . i do find that information is very reluctantly given sometimes or maybe theyjust dont know ! why laugh unless embarrassed that cannot answer the question. the nurses knowledge is very often limited too.when we all get filed under COPD or asthma. when it is something completely different .

[jillygirl in reply to Jake25]

Iget the same Jake , never had a reason why , I am also on Trimbow

[CDPO16]

I used to get a lot of leg and foot cramp but for some unexplained reason it is a rare event now. My inhalers are Fostair and Braltus and nothing has changed by way of treatment. I always blamed the fostair.

[andy121]

yes I get cramp since using Fostair. Legs, feet and hands, Like you nurse and doctors laugh and do nothing. Having researched myself and seeking advice from others I believe it’s due to low potassium so need to up your levels through diet, bananas are good. I think magnesium too. I know inhalers such as Fostair etc can reduce your levels. Hope that helps.

[primrose71]

I get foot cramps Jake am on Trimbow and get bad thrush with it too my nurse not very good either take care xx

[gardenalan in reply to primrose71]

I get cramps never realised it might be inhaler I kept complaining about sore mouth I happened to be in a pharmacy in Portugal and mentioned it pharmacist and she suggested trying a spacer with mask and using mouth wash it has really worked for me I got mine in Portugal but I see them on Amazon hope this helps x

[Jaybird19 in reply to gardenalan]

i was once told to clean teeth after using inhaler with srteroid but it was pointed out that that could drive any particles under gum and cause problem there . It did !

so clean teeth first then gargle after inhaler . ( not easy if on open ward i have found. gargling attracts attention ) this clea r s your mouth and stops you swallowing steroid and and prevents your problem of sore mouth.

[gardenalan in reply to Jaybird19]

thank you I’ll be mindful in future x

[peege]

I used to get terrible cramping in my feet, my toes would go into claw like spasm. Painful. My asthma nurse also laughed when I asked if it could be rerelated To the Seretide I was ta,ing at the time. She also told me that no way was there sufficient steroid in it to cause thinning of my skin.

low & behold, 4 years ago the seretide was changed to Fostair, my skin became almost normal over a few months and the foot cramps ceased completely. I would never see that ignorant 'respiratory' nurse again.

PS during yoga and Pilates class i used to drink FeverTree tonic water, it really helped a lot with the cramp

[Threecats]

I’m sorry you had that experience Jake25 but it’s interesting from my perspective. I was started on Clenil inhaler just on a month ago and have become increasingly bothered by cramp in my feet at night, something that was an incredibly rare occurrence for me before now. It never occurred to me that it could be the inhaler causing it - duh! It doesn’t seem to be doing much for my asthma either, so time for a chat with the asthma nurse, - when I can find her!

[Piper21]

I have just ( 7 days ago ) changed from Trimbow to Trelegy inhaler for that very reason. Cramping and freezing in my hands,feet and large leg muscles became extremely painful. The copd nurse was doubtful that it could be the Trimbow causing it but agreed I could try something else. Although it’s early days on Trelegy I have not had one incident of cramp for 6 days now. I’m also sleeping better. It’s a real shame because my breathing was kept to a good level on Trimbow and I’m hoping the Trelegy inhaler will work as well

[Linsforbes]

I suffered from terrible foot cramps at night for years, on Seretide then Fostair and Spiriva, eventually discovered it was Lisinipril I took for blood pressure!

[Fircone]

I get terrible foot cramps in both feet, usually when I’m in bed. I increased my seretide inhaler and I think it’s from that. I hadn’t experienced anything like it before.

[Injecter1]

Hj there…I don’t know if your inhaler is steroid based or you are taking steroids but steroids deplete the body’s potassium which causes the cramps. Increase potassium in your diet, ie bananas, nuts etc and it will help. Good luck x

[ghousrider]

good day try trying aldi / lidil cheap tonic water small glass before you go to bed / try also light execises on toes /ghoust rider

[Jaybird19 in reply to ghousrider]

i do that but add elderflower cordial to lighten the tonic . Forget the gin !

[ghousrider in reply to Jaybird19]

that good then i put a drop of brandy in mine as i dont use lemonade all the best ghoust rider

[Bingo88]

That's why I contact directly my Respiratory nurse or clinic if you have one. Because they are dealing with patients with copd every day of the week. Hope you get some relief. I have to say I don't get any problems like that from my morning inhaler. Brian

[Gladys27]

Was pleased to see this post re cramps, I get them in my right foot and spent twice last night walking around the house to try and get rid of it. Also my fingers lock sometimes and I get cramp in my right chest. i am not sure if it is inhaler or statin , or both. I know just how painful this is and if anyone finds and answer then please tell us.

[Maximonkey]

Hi Jake. it may not be your inhalers. I have been on inhalers for 50 yrs and cramp has not been a side effect, however, not drinking enough is the cause of cramps. There are also other things you can use to prevent cramps such as bananas, drink tonic water with quinine included (cheap tonic water works as well as expensive, just check for the quinine content). These will all help. I was put on quinine tablets when my cramps were at their worst, they did not suit me so I now rely on the above to keep me cramp free. Good luck and take care, Maximonkey

[soulboy118]

Bloody awful cramps in my hands and feet , takes a lot to control the pain and it just never seems to end sometimes, the only thing to do is stretch it out as my old p e teacher used to say

[katieoxo60]

Thank you Jake 25, glad to hear I am not the only one with COPD who feels nurses are not knowledgable in respect of lung drugs and side effects. Unfortunately they are not alone no one could possibly know all there is to know about varied drug effects thats why they should listen to what a patient tells them. I get cramp too but it has become worse with different BP tablets. plus the human factor that says we are all different. Tonic water is advised for cramp as a safe option , but you do need to know its to do with inhalers as there are other things that can cause cramp. Take care

[Jake25 in reply to katieoxo60]

Thanks for your reply Katie.. I do not take any other medications other than inhalers. As stated in my original post beta 2 agonist bronchodilator inhalers can cause cramps which effect my toes and fingers. Just wanted to make others aware. 😊

[Lynneypin]

lower leg cramps at night. Dreadful. I’m on Symbicort. Thanks for highlighting this.

[Currygirl]

Hi well I'm not on inhalers but I get a lot of dead feelings in hands and feet !,x

[Oscarpebbles2021]

Hi yes, in the summer when my asthma, really bad I use my ventolin alot. Every year when doing this, I get very bad cramps in legs a d feet. It's a, side effect of the medication in the inhaler. As soon as, I improve and lessen use they settle down.

[Timepiece]

Hi I am on Trimbow cramps are a real problem I read the side affects leaflet and cramps was one of them. only had them since I was changed to Trimbow ⏱️

[Jake25 in reply to Timepiece]

Hi TimepieceYeah I'm afraid this is one of the side effects of Trimbow, I have cramps in my fingers and toes, it's like they lock for a few seconds. But apparently Trimbow is the premium medication for Copd. It's weighing up the pros and cons.

[Hidden]

thank you for this comment ive been suffering cramp in my feet for years i didnt know what is was but i do now thanks for your article