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Muscle Cramp (Cramp)

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A sustained and usually painful contraction of muscle fibers. This may occur as an isolated phenomenon or as a manifestation of an underlying disease process (e.g., UREMIA; HYPOTHYROIDISM; MOTOR NEURON DISEASE; etc.). (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1398)

Also Known As:

Cramp; Cramps; Cramp, Muscle; Muscle Cramps; Muscular Cramp; Cramp, Limb; Cramp, Muscular; Cramps, Limb; Cramps, Muscle; Cramps, Muscular; Limb Cramps; Muscular Cramps; Limb Cramp

Networked: 802 relevant articles (80 outcomes, 78 trials/studies) for this Disease, Comments

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Pain (Aches)
2.	Muscle Cramp (Cramp)
3.	Hypotension (Low Blood Pressure)
4.	Headache (Headaches)
5.	Nausea

Experts

1.	Gallo, Richard L: 10 articles (01/2010 - 04/2003)
2.	Elias, Peter M: 4 articles (06/2010 - 01/2008)
3.	Gallo, R L: 4 articles (12/2002 - 07/2001)
4.	Man, Mao-Qiang: 3 articles (06/2010 - 01/2008)
5.	Nizet, Victor: 3 articles (01/2010 - 08/2009)
6.	Finsterer, J: 3 articles (11/2009 - 01/2001)
7.	Calvani, Menotti: 3 articles (01/2009 - 03/2003)
8.	Vissing, John: 3 articles (06/2006 - 01/2005)
9.	Ohtake, T: 3 articles (12/2002 - 07/2001)
10.	Dorschner, R A: 3 articles (12/2002 - 07/2001)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Muscle Cramp:

1.	Quinine (Quinson)FDA Link 06/01/1995 - "Most patients consider quinine beneficial for their leg cramps, which is difficult to refute by scientific data. " 01/07/1995 - "Treatment with quinine resulted in a significant reduction in the number of cramps for a four week period compared with placebo (8.83 fewer cramps; 95% confidence interval 4.16 to 13.49). " 05/01/1993 - "During the 2 weeks patients used quinine, there was no statistically significant reduction in mean leg cramp number (quinine 3.5 vs placebo 4.2, P = 0.48), mean leg cramp duration (quinine 152 seconds vs placebo 163 seconds, P = 0.89), or patient ratings of severity using a 1 (low) to 10 (high) scale (quinine = 4.2 vs placebo = 4.0, P = 0.83). " 06/01/1995 - "Is quinine effective and safe in leg cramps?" 02/23/2010 - "RESULTS: There are Class I studies showing the efficacy of quinine derivatives for treatment of muscle cramps. " Order ALL the reference details at left...
2.	Carnitine (L-Carnitine)FDA LinkGeneric 04/01/2003 - "Therapeutic administration of carnitine shows promise in treating selected groups of patients who have altered carnitine homeostasis, resulting in improved cardiac function, increased exercise capacity, reduced muscle cramps, and reduced intradialytic complications." 11/01/2008 - "BACKGROUND: L-Carnitine is an endogenous compound thought to be helpful in treating patients with dialysis-related hypotension and muscle cramps; however, sufficient evidence for these indications is lacking. " 11/01/2008 - "Effects of L-carnitine on dialysis-related hypotension and muscle cramps: a meta-analysis." 10/01/1983 - "After L-carnitine treatment the blood and muscle levels of the metabolite increased simultaneously to reduced asthenia and cramps. " 08/01/1977 - "A 16-year-old boy with a two-year history of recurrent attacks of myalgia, muscle cramps without weakness, and myoglobinuria was shown to have a deficiency in muscle carnitine palmityltransferase. " Order ALL the reference details at left...
3.	SodiumIBA 09/01/2001 - "Further advantages of sodium profiling are a reduction in the incidence of muscle cramps, improved sodium removal, and improved vascular stability. " 11/01/2009 - "These changes may place cramp-prone players at greater risks for developing acute sodium deficits during training." 12/01/2005 - "These data indicate that sweat sodium losses were comparatively larger in cramp-prone football players than in NC. " 08/01/2004 - "The immediate post-race serum sodium concentration was significantly lower (p = 0.004) in the cramp group (mean (SD), 139.8 (3.1) mmol/l) than in the control group (142.3 (2.1) mmol/l). " 01/01/1995 - "All patients showed drowsiness or torpor during the low sodium PET and one had cramps. " Order ALL the reference details at left...
4.	MagnesiumIBA 05/01/1983 - "Muscle cramps during pregnancy do not have to be considered a risk factor; they can be significantly improved by the administration of oral magnesium." 02/01/2005 - "CONCLUSIONS: Owing to a higher dietary magnesium intake confirmed by higher urinary magnesium excretion, habitual plant-based diets result in a slightly improved magnesium status during pregnancy and reduce the frequency of calf cramps during the third trimester of pregnancy compared to an average Western diet. " 01/01/1984 - "Leg cramps in one patient improved after the magnesium infusion." 11/01/2008 - "CONCLUSIONS: No significant effect on frequency or intensity of leg cramps in pregnant women of magnesium treatment with 360mg daily could be detected in this trial." 11/01/2008 - "Does oral magnesium substitution relieve pregnancy-induced leg cramps?" Order ALL the reference details at left...
5.	Glucose (Dextrose)FDA LinkGeneric 06/01/1979 - "Hypertonic glucose seems to be safe and effective for the relief of dialysis-induced cramps. " 02/01/1981 - "Hypertonic dextrose (50% dextrose in water [D50W]) has been studied as a therapeutic agent to relieve dialysis-related muscle cramps (DMCs). " 02/01/1981 - "Treatment of dialysis-related muscle cramps with hypertonic dextrose." 06/01/1979 - "Of a total of 44 episodes of cramps, 26 were treated with hypertonic glucose and 18 with normal saline. " 09/01/1982 - "Osmotically similar concentrations of dextrose and NaCl were shown to be equally effective in providing relief of hemodialysis-related muscle cramps; both were superior to 5% dextrose." Order ALL the reference details at left...
6.	Acetaminophen (Paracetamol)FDA LinkGeneric 01/01/1991 - "The efficacy of naproxen and paracetamol in relieving uterine cramps has been compared in a sequential trial. " 01/01/1985 - "The Duncan's Multiple Range Test for pain of cramps showed that the average pain for the placebo group was higher than for either the aspirin or the acetaminophen group, although the means for these two groups were not significantly different. " 01/01/1984 - "Neither analgesic showed a significant reduction in pain due to headache or cramps, although acetaminophen appeared to be slightly more effective than aspirin in reducing menstrual cramps." 01/01/1985 - "Effect of small doses of aspirin and acetaminophen on total menstrual loss and pain of cramps and headache." 01/01/1984 - "Two commonly taken over-the-counter analgesics, aspirin and acetaminophen, were compared for: effect on total menstrual loss, effect on total days of menstruation, and effect in reduction of pain due to headaches and/or menstrual cramps. " Order ALL the reference details at left...
7.	hydroquinidine (dihydroquinidine)IBA 02/22/1997 - "INTERPRETATION: In our study, 300 mg hydroquinine was safe to take in the short-term and significantly more effective than placebo in the prevention of frequent, ordinary muscle cramps. " 04/01/1994 - "In this study a daily dose of 300 mg hydroquinine hydrobromide was effective in preventing frequent ordinary muscle cramp in healthy female volunteers. " 04/01/1994 - "In order to compare the efficacy of a daily dose of 300 mg hydroquinine hydrobromide and placebo in preventing frequent ordinary muscle cramp, we designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of three consecutive 2-week periods viz. " 04/01/1994 - "Efficacy of hydroquinine in preventing frequent ordinary muscle cramp outlasts actual administration." 05/03/1997 - "Randomised controlled trial of hydroquinine in muscle cramps." Order ALL the reference details at left...
8.	VitaminsIBA 12/01/1998 - "After 3 months, 86% of the patients taking vitamin B had prominent remission of leg cramps, whereas those taking placebo had no significant difference from baseline. " 07/01/2001 - "CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with the combination of vitamins E and C is safe and effective in reducing HD cramps; however, its safety for prolonged therapy has yet to be evaluated in HD patients." 07/01/2001 - "At the end of the trial, vitamins E, C, their combination, and placebo produced cramp reductions of 54, 61, 97 and 7%, respectively. " 07/01/2001 - "RESULTS: The frequency and intensity of HD cramps decreased significantly in all three vitamin groups compared with the placebo group at the end of the trial, and compared with the pre-treatment values. " 07/01/2001 - "A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of supplementary vitamins E, C and their combination for treatment of haemodialysis cramps." Order ALL the reference details at left...
9.	Lidocaine (Xylocaine)FDA LinkGeneric 04/01/1978 - "The injection cramp may be relieved by adding to the concentrated product 60% of an equal amount of 2% Xylocaine. " 11/01/1993 - "When an ulnar nerve was blocked with lidocaine at the elbow, no cramp was induced despite the application of high-frequency stimulation at the wrist. " 12/01/1979 - "A double-blind study was performed using the Bettmann-Paulin technique to test the hypothesis that small quantities of Xylocaine mixed with diluted contrast medium would reduce leg cramps in patients during venography. " 12/01/1979 - "The use of xylocaine to diminish leg cramps in venography." 03/01/1991 - "Significant improvement in symptoms of disabling cramps and muscle spasms was obtained in 9 patients with motor neuron diseases, tetany, and myotonic disorders who were treated with tocainide, a lidocaine analog. " Order ALL the reference details at left...
10.	shakuyaku-kanzoh-tohIBA 01/01/2003 - "Taken together, we suggest that administration of Shakuyaku-kanzo-to is a safe, effective treatment for preventing muscle cramps in patients undergoing HD." 01/01/2003 - "To determine whether this medicine is able to prevent frequent and unendurable muscle cramps in patients undergoing HD, Shakuyaku-kanzo-to at 6 g per day was prospectively administered for 4 weeks to five patients on HD who were suffering from frequent muscle cramps. " 01/01/2003 - "Effect of orally administered shao-yao-gan-cao-tang (Shakuyaku-kanzo-to) on muscle cramps in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a preliminary study." 01/01/2006 - "We administered 2.5 g of Shakuyaku-kanzo-to granule to 61 patients who had muscle cramp during hemodialysis (HD) sessions and examined its immediate effects. " 01/01/2006 - "Immediate effect of Shakuyaku-kanzo-to on muscle cramp in hemodialysis patients." Order ALL the reference details at left...

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Renal Dialysis (Hemodialysis) 09/01/1982 - "A double blind controlled trial of acute therapy for hemodialysis-related muscle cramps was undertaken. " 01/01/2009 - "The episodes of hemodialysis-related muscle cramps were recorded over a 28-day period. " 01/01/2009 - "BACKGROUND/AIMS: The mechanism of muscle cramp in hemodialysis patients is not well understood. " 09/01/2007 - "We review the causes and consequences of hemodialysis-associated cramps, and discuss possible preventive measures and treatments." 09/01/2007 - "Hemodialysis patients are susceptible to muscle cramps, both during dialysis sessions as well as in the interdialytic interval. " Order ALL the reference details at left...
2.	Oral Administration 01/01/1997 - "Muscle cramps disappeared in 4 weeks on the average after oral administration of TJ-107 in all 12 patients. " 06/01/2000 - "OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the pharmacokinetic properties of hydroquinine after oral administration in adult patients with muscle cramps. " 01/01/2003 - "Skeletal muscle cramps completely disappeared in two of the treated patients after the start of oral administration of Shakuyaku-kanzo-to. " 06/01/2000 - "Hydroquinine pharmacokinetics after oral administration in adult patients with muscle cramps." 02/01/1994 - "Oral administration of 75 to 150 mg of dantrolene sodium decreased the frequency, intensity, and duration of cramps in all cases. " Order ALL the reference details at left...
3.	Aftercare (After-Treatment) 09/01/1993 - "Number of evaluations, cramps and consistency of stools, have been evaluated before and after treatment. " 07/01/2006 - "RESULTS: The menstrual cramps were significantly lowered in the aromatherapy group than in the other two groups at both post-test time points (first and second day of menstruation after treatment). " 05/30/2004 - "Symptoms as pain, heaviness of the leg, muscle cramps, improved significantly (p < 0.001) after treatment. " 02/01/2005 - "RESULTS: After treatment, there was a reduction in pain/muscle cramps, associated with decreased strength-duration time constants (P=0.01), increased rheobasic currents (P=0.06), and lower refractoriness (P=0.02), all of which were consistent with reduced nodal Na+ currents. " 06/01/1998 - "After treatment, edema volume (both extracellular and intracellular) was decreased, the tissue (except for the upper arm) progressively softened or approached a normal texture, and the patients reported improvement in aches/pains, tightness, heaviness, cramps, pins/needles, and mobility of the arm. " Order ALL the reference details at left...
4.	Intravenous Infusions 02/01/1996 - "In the second protocol study, the effects of a sustained expansion of the effective circulating volume induced by intravenous infusion of human albumin were compared with those of a placebo in 12 cirrhotic patients with more than three cramp crises a week. " 01/01/1989 - "In a subacute open trial with repeated intravenous infusions of RX77368 (median 2 weeks), improvement in bulbar function in 8 of 12 responders, cramps (5 of 9), and spasticity (5 of 8) were maintained for medians of 18, 14, and 7 days, respectively. " 04/01/1990 - "We studied a patient with typical tetanic cramps that responded to intravenous infusion of calcium despite normal serum concentrations of total and ionized calcium. " 01/01/2006 - "This is an epoch-making therapy, for it was impossible to cope with muscle cramp except in hospitals because the therapy of muscle cramp was limited to intravenous infusion of hypertonic solutions of dextrose, mannitol, and saline during HD sessions." Order ALL the reference details at left...
5.	Episiotomy 01/01/1984 - "Results were the same for both uterine cramp and episiotomy pain. " 10/01/1980 - "In the magnitude of the response some experimenters have found differences between uterine cramp and episiotomy pain, but these have not been consistently reproduced by others." 07/01/1985 - "In addition to analyzing the data from all patients, the subsets with episiotomy/cesarean section pain and uterine cramp pain were examined separately. " 03/01/1988 - " Physical concerns included breast soreness, nipple pain and blisters, uterine bleeding and cramps, episiotomy pain, muscle pain, and hemorrhoids. " 05/01/1981 - "In their ability to distinguish codeine from placebo, patients with uterine cramp, episiotomy, or surgical pain did not appear to differ." Order ALL the reference details at left...

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