No one seems to know what causes leg cramps and I have used every vitamin, mineral etc. and have had some relief until lately. Now that I'm on the melatonin I seem to be experiencing them frequently (nightly).
Melatonin - Any side effect with this product like severe leg cramps (charlie horse)?
Question posted by Mary Boles on 22 Sep 2017
Last updated on 4 February 2023
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
19 Answers Page 2
Osborne76
10 Jan 2019
I've been searching for an answer for why I'm getting severe leg cramps. I can't even walk some days and the only thing I haven't stopped taking is melatonin. I'm going to try this. I hope it works.
Osborne76
12 Jan 2019
Melatonin was definitely the cause of the cramps. I don't know if it was a combination of it and something else, but when I stopped taking it they stopped and now are completely gone. I would like to add that the cramps were severe. It wasn't just an occasional "Charlie Horse". I couldn't walk any further than a short distance. I was beginning to think I was developing a serious condition. I think it's wrong that the manufacturers don't list this as a side effect. I'm grateful that I found this page and I thank everyone who posted their concerns.
robinstl
21 July 2018
After having some really severe leg cramps I was looking around on the internet and came across these responses. Only other med I take is lisinopril blood pressure pills and occasionally heart burn pills but not days or weeks on end.
About two days after I stopped taking the melatonin they all but went away - a week and running and not even getting the foot cramps I was before. I had been taking them pretty regularly 5mg for about a year and a half and had been having some of the leg cramps. Still not entirely sure it's all related but it sure is weird everything stopped within 48 hours of stopping.
michaelsherrard
7 April 2018
I take 3mg (time release) of melatonin every night and sleep great, but wake up with severe leg cramps every morning. Severe meaning I can't walk for an hour and need to stretch, hot tub and down 2 advils before I can start my day. The cramps get less during the day, but don't stop. This has been going on for 3 months and I have tried many solutions. No joy. After seeing your post, I am going to try taking no melatonin, and taking a magnesium instead. I'll try this for a few nights and see if there is any change. Will report back if there is an improvement.
Osborne76
10 Jan 2019
So what did you find out?
michaelsherrard
10 Jan 2019
Michael here, reporting back. It is now Jan 2019. My personal finding is that melatonin is unrelated to the leg cramps. I have tried different dosages of melatonin and no melatonin at all, and the melatonin does not affect the leg cramps. I did find that I am quite sensitive to melatonin, and that too much makes me a little drowsy in the morning, too little and I wake up in the middle of the night. I am now using about 1.5mg/night of time release. (I cut the pills in half.) I also found that magnesium did not help either. What did work for me was to not aggravate my back with vibration, severe twisting or heavy lifting and to do gentle stretching.
terra30
23 Sep 2017
Hi my me is Terra and my 2 teens take melatonin 10mg to sleep during the school days and they've never experienced cramps. They've been taking them for over a or. It sounds like your potassium may be low, you should get your levels checked because it's not the melatonins.
Michelem1956
23 Feb 2019
I've had my levels checked and everything is good. I eat very healthy fruits and veggies and exercise. I stopped taking melatonin and have not had any severe leg cramps like I experienced. Just some minor ones here and there.
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vitamins, melatonin, side effect, cramp, leg cramp
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