Sleep-Related Leg Cramps: A Review and Suggestions for Future Research.

Terry M Brown

Journal: Sleep medicine clinics 2016;10(3):385-92, xvi

PMID: 26329449

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

Various medications and behavioral treatments for sleep-related leg cramps have been tried, but the quality of the evidence is low. Quinine seems to be effective, but dangerous. β-Agonists may be one of the more common causes of secondary leg cramps. Statins may not be implicated in leg cramps as much as has been believed. Potassium-sparing diuretics may have a higher incidence of sleep-related leg cramps than potassium-depleting diuretics. Plantar flexion of the feet may elicit most sleep-related leg cramps. More research into behavioral treatments is needed. A standardized sleep-related leg cramp questionnaire would be useful to expand research.

Address: Sleep Medicine Associates, LLC, Sleep Disorders Center, St. Joseph Memorial Hospital, 2 South Hospital Drive, Murphysboro, IL 62966, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2015.05.002

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/sleepdisorders.html

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Diagnosis, Differential, Humans, Leg, Muscle Cramp, Sleep Wake Disorders