Treatments for Nocturnal Leg Cramps
Overview
Nocturnal leg cramps, also known as night cramps or night leg cramps, are sudden and painful contractions in the muscles of the calf or thigh that occur at night. The affected muscle may twitch under the skin or feel hard.
Drug Treatments
The following medications are commonly used to treat nocturnal leg cramps:
Vitamin E: This vitamin is available in various forms and brands, including Alpha E, E-400 Clear, Aqua Gem-E, Aquasol E, E-600, and E Pherol. It is classified as a vitamin and is available over-the-counter. It has a rating of 9.0 out of 10 based on 1 review and is classified as Pregnancy Category C.
Soma (carisoprodol): This medication is an off-label skeletal muscle relaxant that is available by prescription only. It has a rating of 9.2 out of 10 based on 12 reviews and is classified as Pregnancy Category C.
Verapamil: This medication is an off-label calcium channel blocker and group IV antiarrhythmic that is available by prescription only. It has a rating of 9.0 out of 10 based on 2 reviews and is classified as Pregnancy Category C.
Alternative Treatments
The following natural remedies and alternative treatments may also be effective in treating nocturnal leg cramps:
Acupuncture
Magnesium supplements
Stretching exercises
Hydration
Heat or cold therapy
Learn More
For more information on nocturnal leg cramps, including symptoms and treatments, consult the following resources:
Care guides
Symptoms and treatments
Medicine.com guides (external)
Legend
The following legend applies to the medication table:
Rating: Users were asked to rate the effectiveness of the medication on a scale of 1 to 10.
Activity: Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx: Prescription only.
OTC: Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC: Prescription or over-the-counter.
Off-label: This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA: An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access: Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category: A classification system used to indicate the safety of a medication during pregnancy. Categories range from A (safe) to X (unsafe).
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule: A classification system used to indicate the potential for abuse and dependence of a medication. Schedules range from 1 (highest potential for abuse) to 5 (lowest potential for abuse).
Alcohol: Indicates whether the medication interacts with alcohol.
Browse Treatment Options
Always consult with your healthcare provider to determine the best treatment options for your individual needs.
