Can pred cause muscle spasms?

[nallufl24]

On high doses of pred I had spasms at the bottom of my feet. They went away when the dose came down. I’m back up to 40 mg and the spasms are even worse this time. It goes all the way up my leg and I can hardly walk. Now tonight I noticed that my toes are numb. Did anyone else experience this?

[HeronNS]

It's listed as a possible side effect. Now I wonder whether my muscle cramps are also a result of steroid treatment. Have been taking magnesium, hoping it will help, but so far - and it's been a long time - not really. But they are not as bad as what you describe, so maybe the magnesium has prevented the worst. ☺

[Kayaksal in reply to HeronNS]

I also get the cramping in my calf and feet. Because my body doesn't like a magnesium supplement, I use a madnesium lotion that I can rub into the' area that is cramping. It's worked for me for several years.

[nallufl24 in reply to Kayaksal]

I’ll have to try that. Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to nallufl24]

Epsom salts foot baths also work well

[SheffieldJane]

I have heard of it related to Prednisalone use which can cause depletion of Potassium. It is a significant side effect so I would definitely seek medical advice. Bananas are potassium rich I believe. Let us know what is said.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

More usually magnesium - but bananas have lots of magnesium too

[SheffieldJane in reply to PMRpro]

Unzip a banana also!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

But a LOT of carbs too ...

[Nextoneplease]

Hi nallufl24

Not sure whether this is the same thing exactly, but I’ve long had a tendency to leg and foot cramps, and these became severe and really disabling when I started prednisolone. As you say, I could barely walk and was woken throughout the night (or afternoon, if I was trying to nap).

This seems to have improved as I’ve lowered my dose (currently on 12.5mg). I also make sure I drink at least 2.5 litres of water a day, and I take a good magnesium and potassium supplement morning and evening. The water and the supplement really seem to help.

Not sure about the numb toes…..

All the best

Nextoneplease x

[HeronNS in reply to Nextoneplease]

I read somewhere, somehow, that one should not take a potassium supplement without doctor's instruction. Is your's prescribed?

[SheffieldJane]

Statins are another potential culprit apparently.

[SnazzyD]

At high doses I had to take magnesium daily or I’d would get cramps. I didn’t supplement the other important electrolyte, potassium but ate lots of foods with high levels. Both of these are depleted by Pred. Supplementing Potassium can cause problems particularly if you have heart and kidney issues. webmd.com/diet/supplement-g...

[Nextoneplease in reply to SnazzyD]

Good point about potassium Snazzy. I only take a very low dose supplement of potassium and always keep an eye on my blood levels too. Most people should be able to meet their needs through diet x

[HeronNS in reply to Nextoneplease]

Oh, okay. I should have read whole thread before commenting above. ☺

[Nextoneplease in reply to HeronNS]

That’s okay, I certainly wouldn’t recommend anyone to take potassium without regular blood tests x

Interesting link from the web

health.harvard.edu/staying-...

[Broseley]

Oh, that's interesting. Since being on 40mg then 30 I have been getting cramps in my feet and toes, basically whenever I flex them. I've never had this before. I take Mg every day. I did wonder if it was related to PMR or pred. I didn't get it before starting pred though, and I've been on statins for a few years too.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Broseley]

Like Meggsy I had cramps of the same sort with PMR and no pred - my middle toes would pull downwards, often in the middle of the night! And it affected my thumbs too.

[Broseley in reply to PMRpro]

My toes pull upwards! I have to physically bend them back down with my hand!

[Hidden]

Three of my toes on my left foot went numb after approx 6 months of taking Pred. I put it down to wearing slippers so much, with being indoors, due to Covid. But now I'm thinking it could be the pred.

[Meggsy]

My cramps began during the five months of symptoms before diagnosis and pred, so I am sure that in my case it was due to PMR. Like yours mine were extremely painful and involved the foot and leg, especially the sides. I used to jump out of bed or the car and try to walk around until they went. I still get the odd foot cramp but the leg ones appear to have gone.

[Seacat30]

I agree with the people who found their cramps worse before diagnosis... so with no pred. Restless legs seemed to be part of the same scenario. It happens occasionally now but nothing like as frequently or badly.

[Noosat in reply to Seacat30]

Similar to you PMR for me began with horrific pain in my quad muscle. I am down to 4mg and still sometimes have muscle pain in legs, but nothing like in the beginning.