Spiro and cramps

[Angel.Marie76]

Hello!

So, I've been on Spiro now for nearly two weeks, and am noticing some of the general side effects. Peeing.. edges of dehydration, etc.. and so I've increased my water intake accordingly. Also, I've been taking a Multi-V and extra D on the doc's orders...

I am, however, now starting to experience the cramps that people talk about.. and I'm trying to figure out, I suppose from a dietitian's point of view, what I can do to reduce them. They're coming from all angles and random times, and I just want to manage them best as possible.

I am going to the doc's in about 4 days anyway, but I figure if I go in with good information then they'll continue to point me in the right direction.

Thanks..

[CharleneT]

I'm on a low dose, so my experiences may not apply ... but what I found was that they became less frequent as time went on. By about month 3 I was not having them very often. Now just a couple of times a week.

[luvSophia]

I also only had problems with cramps for the first few months of HRT. I usually found drinking something helped pretty quickly.

The multi-V you're taking doesn't have potassium in it, does it? You probably do not want a potassium supplement while on spiro.

[Suzy Harrison]

At one stage I was on a really high dosage. I didn't get cramps but I did suffer from opthelmic migrane (zig-zag effect across my vision) - almost daily for 20 minutes at a time - it was so bad I could hardly see at times.

After seeing my doctor she said my blood pressure was so low that the flow to may brain was being reduced ! - and the first effect is always on the vision - but I never experienced cramps at any time.

[Karen564]

I don't remember experiencing any cramps, but sure do remember the zillion trips to the bathroom, and for the 1st 8 or 10 months was feeling a severe lack of energy until my body got used to the meds..
But one thing you can count on for sure is the bathroom getting lots of use..:D

[Nicole Erin]

spiro, having to pee a lot, hmm, THAT will be something to look forward to. :thumbsdn:

[pamela_a]

I've been on Spiro for about 9 months and I have not had any problem with cramps. I've got to agree with Karen though about all the extra trips to the ladies room.

[lizlizzie]

My spouse has been on this since January. He has severe leg cramps. Earlier this week they were so bad woke him up and when he tried to get up, he ended up on the floor writhing in pain.

[PortiaHoney]

Thank goodness someone asked this question. I have been on Spiro for 5 weeks now and I had awful cramps the first couple of weeks. AND in the weirdest places. My shoulder repeatedly locked up and my little finger in my left hand, the arch of my foot and the thigh muscles too. I was going to wait until I see the doc again in 3 weeks time to ask as cramps were not one of the side effects that he mentioned.

A friend of mine suggested it may have been the Vitamin D dosage as it was twice the recommended level. I cut it back to one tablet a day and the cramps subsided. However, I get a pretty regular headache now at about 3 or 4pm. I think this may be due to inadequate fluid intake. I tend to not drink while I am at work and this is a habit I need to break.

If the doc gives me any clue as to how to combat this, I will keep you posted. In the meantime, keep up the fluid levels and make sure your electrolytes are up as well. Cramps are usually associated with low levels of important chemicals in the bloodstream so a Powerade or Gatorade a day can't hurt. Like anything though, it pays not to go overboard.

Good luck on your journey.

Portia

[Faith_G]

I woke up with a terrible cramp in my left leg last Sunday night. I had spent the whole day in 3" heels as well as driving nearly 300 miles and a lot of that on local roads with a manual transmission. I haven't had any other cramping problems after about a month and a half on spiro. So the cramp probably had more to do with the clutch than the spiro. Like others posted, my doctor has me on vitamin D and calcium supplements. I have not made any special effort to hydrate myself, and I don't find that I'm peeing more. The "pinch test" shows I'm not dehydrated so I'm not going to worry about it.

[Melissa A.]

I get cramps from time to time, and the ones in my fingers can be very painful and make it almost impossible to hold onto anything. I haven't had an episode in a while, now, thank goodness. I try to drink alot of water and stay hydrated, which cruelly, puts my in the ladies room alot!

Hugs,

Melissa:)

[RockerTerri]

I have had some odd mild cramps in my arms and legs a few times, suppose it is a result of spiro...but never real severe or for very long.

[CharleneT]

Mine were definitely severe ... and I agree, in "odd" places !! Often my feet ( and I wear "sensible" shoes almost every day).

[lizlizzie]

My spouse's seem to be legs and feet. And she does spend a whole lot more time in the ladies room. The doctor doesn't have her on any supplements. The doctor had also made the comment that with taking hormones (estrogen and spiro is what she was prescribing) that it tends to weed out those who are not serious because of the pain. She has had the cramping and extremely sore breasts. She sees the doc every month, so the doc knows. But if anyone knows of something I can feed her that will help, let me know please. It's not pleasant to watch and I do miss sleeping on her shoulder with my arm across her chest.

[TerryTerri]

I occasionally get lower leg cramps in the night.
BTW, Spiro is a potassium saving dieuretic. Which means, while taking it, your body will retain potassium much more than normal and will lose sodium much more than normal. So, I have adjusted my diet. I avoid food and drink high in potassium and I don't hesitate to put on more salt! I think this helps.

So, look at your labels!! And be wary of "Heart Healthy" foods. Almost all "low Sodium" supposedly 'good for you' foods have high potassium content. Food manufacturers will replace potassium chloride for sodium chloride to enhance flavor. So, I have to avoid the "Heart Healthy" foods and I am concerned about the political push to lower sodium content in food in general. The potassium levels will increase!!! That's how they do it.
I alos find I have to avoid many fruit juices. Except, for V8 Splash. For some reason, that juice is low in potassium. But, most other V* juices are very high in potasium.

Do Your Own Research! Google Spiro and go read about it on places like MebMD. Learn about the medicine you are taking and how it effects you and what to watch out for. It's the responsible thing to do for ourselves!

[Kimberly Marie Kelly]

and have experienced many cramps, usually when lying down straight. I'll get cramps in the top of my foot, the toes, the front of my leg, had them in my fingers and arms occassionally. They got so bad I could hardly sleep at night, so I started to take Potassium for it and it did help to alleviate the cramps. Gave me relief. I know that taking potassium is risky but my bloodwork shows I'm in the normal range so far. Someone was telling me that the cramps are caused by the t level being to low, till your body adjusts to the new levels cramping will occur. My testosterone level is very low almost zero.

A good friend of mine suggested that instead of taking potassium which when your on spiro is not good, as spiro spares the potassium in the body. Too much Potassium can have cardiac effects such as a heart attack etc.. So my friend suggested taking Magnesium which should help with the cramping. The cramping is due to the electrical nerve impulses and magnesium and potassium help with the proper firing of the nerves. Check with your doctor on this. But by taking the magnesium now my cramping is reduced by a large amount. Keeping hydrated also helps. Hope this helps a little. Kimberly Marie Kelly :battingeyelashes:

[Kaitlyn Michele]

i intake lots of salt...I LOVE SALT...i know its not real good for me but i have low blood pressure, a low heart rate...and i also drink liquids constantly..
so far ihave not had any cramps...i think a stretching regimen might help too.

[Angel.Marie76]

Thank you, everyone, for your input! :-)

The day that I wrote that intro letter, I had just returned from a most unplesant motorcycle ride. This, after waking up that morning with a cramp in my calf that had me leaping out of bed to stretch it out. For whatever particular reason, that day, was the first time the cramps sprung on me with such fierceness that it left me a bit worried. It seemed like everything I did that morning and noon caused instant spasms in whatever muscles were being used at that moment. Just pulling my helmet over my head caused both, what, biceps? (upper arm) to cramp simultaneously!

I was quite alarmed, though, after a rather short ride with my SO, that when we left the restaurant that we were eating at.... I couldn't seem to sit my my bike proper! Both of my hips decided to lock simultaneously! For the life of me I couldn't seem to manipulate either thigh around so I could bring my knees against the tank. I had to ride with both legs straight out on the highway pegs for several minutes, and go nearly sidesaddle just to shift. After about 2-3 minutes in that position, the muscles relaxed and I brought both legs into position, and continued the ride accordingly.

When I managed to get home, I was sore, exhausted, and random cramping hadn't really subsided. It seemed like any strained / exherted force resulted in something like an 'over-firing' of parts of the muscle group (I would hazard to say the near center of each mucle-mass being utilized at the time). Suffice to say it worried me, and I fired up the computer while I rested and did some research.

For the record, I had done a fair bit of research before I put anything in my body, I knew the whole potassium-related parts, so I knew to stay away from bushels of bananas, etc... but I was surprised when I found a reference in here of the 'golden ratio' of potassium to salt and links to food types that balance such. It was true, in the perfect world, that corn flakes (aka cardboard) seemed the safest food on the planet. Going round and round on the thought, I was wondering if something I had done over the past day or two, or eaten (or NOT eaten as it were) might have caused this crampage.

I certainly have been keeping up on my water intake, however, I have noticed that I've felt perpetually parched, and it's been bugging me. So, after reading all this again this morning, I sat down, vegged out in front of the TV, and inhaled a pile of salty corn chips and salsa (though, while doing the research even later, finding that tomatoes are a significant source of potassium. Whoops.. )

Either way, salty snacks, and a few hours of sleep off and on, and by the end of the day, I was right as rain again, and so far, the problem hasn't repeated. I will still be meeting with my Endo on Tuesday, so I will bring it up with her regardless. Unless there's something REALLY wrong with my body, I'm sure once I find the 'golden ratio' for my body, things will likely level out for the long run.

Thanks again!

[Angel.Marie76]

I know, I know, double-post, but this is an informational thread, so for the spreading of good information:

I met with the endo today to be instructed on my Estrodial shot (which BTW, I did give myself today, by myself, with no help - my FIRST DOSE!) and spoke with her about the cramps I had experienced.

Her response was: 'If it was a one-time, or rare occurrence event, then I would suggest taking in some extra calcium around that time. If the cramps continue for more than 1 day, come in and we'll do a blood workup. Keep on the supplements previously prescribed, and, of course, eat well balanced meals. It's possible you could have a calcium or potassium imbalance, but there's no need to worry at this point.'

So, with that, I'll just go back to monitoring my food and water intake, and try to keep in mind 'previous meals' to see if either an addition of, or subtraction of, causes repeat performances.

Thanks for your help, all. :)

[Traci Elizabeth]

I am glad your Doc gave you the all's OK.

I have never experienced cramps while on Spiro.

But my nipples have finally gotten to the point that they are so damn sore I can't stand to touch them. It was like I went to bed feeling no pain with my breasts and when I woke up, I felt the full force of what everyone talks about with sore boobs.

But I don't think that is from the Spiro...it's those dog gone patches! :D

[Angel.Marie76]

I just wanted to post an update to this thread, as time as moved on, and I have some things scheduled.

-I am still going to the endo regularly. I have a checkup with her scheduled next week, and am likely to pick up bloodwork paperwork for post-analysis of starting hormones.

-The injections have continued, and have gone off without hitches. -Spiro also at regular intervals, no changes in dosage.

-Cramps have generally subsided with one caveat:
-- Along with my daily Spiro intake, I was prescribed vitamin supplements and low-dose aspirin (which by formula has a high Calcium supplement base) as a preemptive measure for later analysis.

Here's the thing.. circumstances occurred where I was unable to access vitamins and my other supplements, and I was only taking the Spiro as prescribed for a few days. BIG MISTAKE! In hindsight I see that the full body cramps followed a lax in supplement intake at the time, and then, merely this past weekend, again circumstances occurred where I didn't have my whole batch of meds (Spiro and otherwise) for one day. Whoops! My feet were cramping by the end of that day. I'm no doctor, and your experience my vary, however this coincidence is being documented for reporting to my medical professional.

So, there you go.. Hope it's helpful to someone - in the respect that, minimally, you should talk to your doctors and document everything to death if you start to experience significant cramping like this.

[Traci Elizabeth]

When you say cramps, what exactly are you talking about (stomach, intestinal, leg, feet, etc)? Can you describe the cramps (i.e. throbbing, achy feeling, muscle spasms)?

Since I started off with high blood pressure, my MD has increased my Spiro EVERY month to get my BP down to Normal and to slowly get my body accustomed to each increased levels.

With this last increase, I have noticed a "dull ache" in my legs but I have also been wearing 2.5 to 3.5" high heels daily all day (as opposed to flats or 1" heels that I was wearing) and don't know which of the two might be causing the achy feelings.

My MD has not put me on any vitamin supplements.

[Angel.Marie76]

When you say cramps, what exactly are you talking about (stomach, intestinal, leg, feet, etc)? Can you describe the cramps (i.e. throbbing, achy feeling, muscle spasms)?

Since I started off with high blood pressure, my MD has increased my Spiro EVERY month to get my BP down to Normal and to slowly get my body accustomed to each increased levels.

With this last increase, I have noticed a "dull ache" in my legs but I have also been wearing 2.5 to 3.5" high heels daily all day (as opposed to flats or 1" heels that I was wearing) and don't know which of the two might be causing the achy feelings.

My MD has not put me on any vitamin supplements.

It's easy to define.. I guess people call them shin splints.. charlie horses, uncontrolled muscle tightening / flexing.. When you lie in bed, and you get that cramp in the back of your calf that feels like a knot of muscle being twisted tight... shooting pain in one or both lower legs.. you have to get up and stand on the foot, and put pressure on the ball of your foot to stretch out the cramped muscles.

Separately, I had the hip lockups.. like the sockets / joints of my hips all of a sudden just had limiters spontaneously installed against movement in very particular set of directions.. so I couldn't bring my legs up to raise my knees to meet the gas tank on my bike.

I found, the 'bad day' that I had, that /any/ stressing movement cause whatever muscles were used to almost over-fire and act like they were going into over-cramp states. I went to lift something with both arms that day, and the muscles in my fore and upper- arms all reached their maximum stress rating before I even began to really push myself. As I continued to re-test this motion I found that even peeing and the associated muscle structure that controls the 'flow' and keeps you from peeing, cramped on my once.. that was a searing pain that brought me to my knees. The only thing I can do is try to massage the muscle to get it to stop over-reacting.

This past weekend, the feet, right in / near the arch of the foot, cramped enough to make it painful to walk. Thankfully the pain was only temporary... but like I said, these things drove me to take my vetavitavegamins on a much more regular basis.

[Traci Elizabeth]

Wow! None of that sounds like fun but thank you for sharing and explaining. I have had nothing like that. Just slightly achy muscles in my legs. It must be my getting use to wearing those high heels for such long periods of time.

I am sorry you are going through that. Hopefully, that pain will permanently disappear.

I know it was extremely painful whenever I have had a spasmed muscle.

[CharleneT]

Strange this thread should rise up just now. This morning I had a horrible Spiro cramp in my left calf. One of those where you are limping all day from it ! Preceded during the night by a series of toe cramps ( no kidding, I've never had those till this med). Was wearing flats etc last few days ... so not the shoes ;-)

I don't think I've had too much of potassium rich foods lately, but I must have !! Or it is just the way it goes with Spironolactone. Useful stuff, but can be nasty.

GOOD news, tonight is shave the legs night, so maybe the hot bath will help :) :) :)

[Angel.Marie76]

Well, I meet with my Endo today for a checkup, I'll let folks know what she tells me about this. I've been told I'll have a bloodwork scheduled following this appt., so within a week or so after this, I'll have even more details.

[Traci Elizabeth]

Strange this thread should rise up just now. This morning I had a horrible Spiro cramp in my left calf. One of those where you are limping all day from it ! Preceded during the night by a series of toe cramps ( no kidding, I've never had those till this med). Was wearing flats etc last few days ... so not the shoes ;-)



It's called the "Power of Suggestion!" :D:D

It would have NEVER happened had you not read this thread!

[Angel.Marie76]

Well then.. My meeting went very well, and I mentioned to her about everything that was on my mind.. spiro.. estro.. cramps.. hairloss prevention.. etc. and so on and on.. and her answer was, generally, that she's heard the statements about cramps and Spiro before, and frankly wasn't surprised. When I told her that I had been taking the suplements as prescribed, and everything subsided, she seemed happier, but not completely convinced.

SO.. I have a BIG-ol sheet of fasting bloodwork to take into the lab tomorrow morning! (*yay*) Like getting poked in the morning wasn't bad enough, tomorrow afternoon is also my bi-weekly self-poking for my estro! (further, *yay*) Heck, the poking in the leg for the estro hurts a who lot less than the blood being drawn, that's for DANG sure.

I'll let everyone know how the bloodwork comes out. My last test noted I was a little anemic and had low GOOD cholesterol..