I have seen a previous thread on cramp, but no solution has been suggested. Like others I tend to get cramp at night, mostly in my legs. During the day, I suffer with cramp in my hands - the texting hand in particular!
It seems clear that the cramps are caused by the Imatinib, but as yet I cannot find any remedy. Although a hot water bottle is very soothing.
Has anyone any suggestions, answers?
Thanks.
David
Second the magnesium suggestion ...make sure its glyphate or taurate or you may have digestive issues. As a side benefit, Mg is great for sleep quality and heart health. Up to 300mg daily can certainly be used.
Movement/weight training will help with cramps too, though you will need to watch out for cramps when you first start weight training.
An electric blanket helped to a degree, but in the event the cramps stopped completely on the very day that I stopped taking imatinib. There was no slow recovery: it was instant.
I take Imatinib 400mg and suffered from really extensive leg cramps particularly during the night, often it seemed as thought it was all the muscles in both legs at once which was very painful and I had constant cramp in my hands. I started to take 500gm of magnesium per day and to drink a tonic water in the evening. The effect was immediate although I still get some cramps the severity and frequency is much reduced.
I suffered a lot with cramp on 400mg imatinib - rubbing in magnesium "oil" helped a lot. I lost most of the cramp when I reduced to 200mg following the Destiny protocol - the change from 400 to 200mg was much more pronounced then when I stopped a year later to try TFR. 17 months after that I lost MMR and had to go back on 400mg but fortunately the cramp has not returned to anything like the same extent.
You may find benefit from supplementing with magnesium and/or potassium - electrocyte concentrate. The are many brands available - here are a couple of suggestions:
viridian-potassium-and-magnesium-powder-150g
electrolyte-concentrate-8oz-237ml-trace-minerals
Sandy
