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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Leg Cramps While On Hydrochlorothiazide?

My cardiologist has prescribed a diuretic for me because of weight gain, though there is no edema in my feet or ankles. I am on 500 Mg. tikosyn am and pm and tend to run low on potassium - I take a potassium citrate supplement a couple of times a week or my legs start cramping in the early morning. The diuretic is something like hydro...thiazine. I am afraid to take it based on this info.
Tue, 8 Aug 2017
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello
Thanks for putting your query over here.

The cramps you experience is because of hypokalemia caused due to diuretics.

Firstly ,I want to know do you have any medical conditions for which you have been prescribed diuretics by cardiologist?If you have visited cardiologist you must be definitely having some other symptoms.
Diuretics help only temorarily in weight loss by causing water loss from body.It can be harmful at times.
Permanent and healthy weight loss is through healthy diet and regular exercising only except in morbid obesity or when other medical conditions are present.
If the use of diuretics is mandatory,potassium sparing diuretic like spironolactone can be used as an alternative.

You may talk with your treating physician regarding all this.

Hope I answered your query.
Feel free to ask any more doubts.


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What Causes Leg Cramps While On Hydrochlorothiazide?

Hello Thanks for putting your query over here. The cramps you experience is because of hypokalemia caused due to diuretics. Firstly ,I want to know do you have any medical conditions for which you have been prescribed diuretics by cardiologist?If you have visited cardiologist you must be definitely having some other symptoms. Diuretics help only temorarily in weight loss by causing water loss from body.It can be harmful at times. Permanent and healthy weight loss is through healthy diet and regular exercising only except in morbid obesity or when other medical conditions are present. If the use of diuretics is mandatory,potassium sparing diuretic like spironolactone can be used as an alternative. You may talk with your treating physician regarding all this. Hope I answered your query. Feel free to ask any more doubts.