AAN Releases New Guidelines About Medication for Muscle Pain

Individuals experiencing muscle cramps should check with their doctors before experimenting with medicationIndividuals who are experiencing muscle pain may want to consider turning to nutritional supplements such as vitamin B12 and calcium, as a new study suggests that some pain medication may cause serious side effects.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) recently released a recommendation that individuals suffering from muscle pain should avoid drugs that feature quinine, which is still on the market despite there being a list of potential side effects.

“Quinine should be considered only when cramps are very disabling, when no other drugs relieve the symptoms, and when side effects are carefully monitored,” said the guideline author, Hans Katzberg, M.D. “It should also be used only after the affected person is informed about the potentially serious side effects.”

The guidelines also specify that individuals experiencing muscle cramps or discomfort should seek a physician’s opinion first before trying different medications. Although the researchers suggest taking vitamin B complex, they write that there is still more research needed to determine the overall effectiveness of the supplement.ADNFCR-1960-ID-19632984-ADNFCR