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I have severe cramping in my hands after taking Mestinon 60 mg tablets. Could the dose be too high or not drinking enough water?

A MGteam Member asked a question 💭
Stillwater, OK
February 13
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A MGteam Member

i take two 60 mg 4 times a day my problem is the pain in my neck. w/o meds my neck becomes so stiff i can’t turn my head to the left or right. I wear a neck brace to help my pain.

February 13
A MGteam Member

I had serious hand cramping to the point that both my hands folded up At one point, I could not use my hands for over an hour. I stopped taking Mestinon three weeks ago because of several issues, mostly lower GI. I have not had any muscle cramping in my legs or hands since

February 13
MGteam

Could severe hand cramping after taking Mestinon 60 mg be from too high a dose or not drinking enough water?

Both factors could be contributing to your hand cramping. Muscle cramps are actually a known side effect of pyridostigmine (Mestinon), with studies showing that 30-40% of people taking this medication experience Show Full Answer

Could severe hand cramping after taking Mestinon 60 mg be from too high a dose or not drinking enough water?

Both factors could be contributing to your hand cramping. Muscle cramps are actually a known side effect of pyridostigmine (Mestinon), with studies showing that 30-40% of people taking this medication experience them. This happens because the medication works by increasing acetylcholine, which helps muscles contract but can sometimes lead to cramping.

Dehydration can definitely make muscle cramps worse. When you don't drink enough water, several things happen that increase cramping:

* Electrolyte imbalances (abnormal sodium, potassium, and calcium levels)
* Faster muscle fatigue
* Reduced blood flow to muscles

The conventional wisdom is to drink at least eight glasses of water daily, though your specific needs may vary based on your age, weight, and activity level. It's important to talk with your doctor about these severe cramps. They can help determine if your Mestinon dose needs adjustment or if increasing your water intake might help. Don't adjust your medication on your own - your healthcare provider needs to evaluate whether the cramping is medication-related or if there might be another cause that needs attention.

In the meantime, staying well-hydrated is a good practice that may help reduce the severity of cramping.

February 13
A MGteam Member

My doc took me off the statins and rxd ezitimibe. Amlodipine. And my coughs, hand cramps and headaches subsided. Took a year to get that right.

February 24
A MGteam Member

I have realized thru experimenting how I eliminated bad hand cramps. Take Mestinon at least an hour or more before I take my statin drug Rosuvastatin 40mg. Both drugs work in the blood stream and I believe if taken at the same time may react with each other. Second during the day time I take Mestinon one hour or more after I take CoQ10 100 mg. CoQ10 replaces in the blood stream some of the good chemicals the statin has removed. Of course Mestinon works in the blood stream too between muscles and nerves. If both drugs taken at the same at may interfere with each other causing not only cramping in the hands but also may cause severe pain in the hands. Not a doctor recommendation, just experience I have observed trying it out. Especially the last time I had bad hand cramps and bad pain at the same time.

February 23

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