Muscle Twitch: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, And Prevention

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Medical News TodaySubscribeCauses of muscle twitches and how to relieve them

Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD — Written by Lana Burgess — Updated on August 27, 2024

Common causes
Underlying conditions
Twitch vs. spasm
Treatment and prevention
Contacting a doctor
Summary

Muscle twitches can occur for many reasons, such as a lack of sleep, caffeine use, nutrient deficiencies, overexertion, and stress. Depending on the cause, treatments and remedies may help relieve twitching muscles.

Muscle twitching is common and usually not serious. They are an involuntary contraction of the fibers that make up a muscle.

Nerves control muscle fibers. When something stimulates or damages a nerve, it causes the muscle fibers to contract, resulting in a twitch.

In this article, we explore the causes of muscle twitches. We also discuss how to treat and prevent muscle twitches.

Common causes of muscle twitching

A woman pulling weights with a rope across a gym floor. — Westend61/Getty Images

Muscle twitching, also known as fasciculation, has many causes. These include:

Overexertion

When a person exercises vigorously or for a long period, they may experience muscle twitching or shaking afterward.

This occurs because of muscle fatigue. Exercise forces muscles to work hard until they become tired, which can make it harder for them to keep working when a person does further activities.

Sweating during exercise could also affect the balance of electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes are minerals that play a role in muscle contractions. When a person does not have the right balance, they may experience cramps or twitching.

Water intake

Water and electrolytes work together in the body. When a person does not drink enough water, they may develop dehydration, which some anecdotally report causes muscle twitching.

However, drinking too much water can also dilute electrolytes in the body. A 2019 study demonstrated that drinking water after becoming dehydrated during exercise increases the risk of muscle cramps due to the sudden change in electrolyte levels.

Staying hydrated is important, particularly during exercise. People who work out may benefit from consuming electrolyte drinks to maintain balance.

Lack of sleep

Some people experience muscle twitching when they are tired or have not had enough sleep.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology also lists sleep deprivation as a cause of eyelid twitching, which is a common but usually benign symptom.

Getting more sleep may help stop this type of muscle twitching.

Caffeine

Drinking too much coffee, tea, or energy drinks that contain caffeine may cause muscle twitching.

Caffeine is a stimulant. When a person has too much of it, caffeine may stimulate muscle twitching anywhere in the body.

Stress and anxiety

Psychological stress or high anxiety levels may lead to muscle tension, which may result in muscle twitching.

Nutrient deficiency

Several nutritional deficiencies could result in muscle twitching, directly or indirectly. For example:

Calcium: The body needs calcium to support proper muscle function. Having a calcium deficiency may cause muscle twitching or spasms.
Magnesium: Magnesium plays a role in keeping the nerves and muscles healthy. Magnesium also helps to transport calcium across cell membranes. Having a deficiency could cause twitching.
Vitamin D: The body needs adequate vitamin D to absorb calcium from food.
Vitamin B12: B vitamins also support neurological health. A B12 deficiency can lead to cramps or spasms, tingling hands and feet, dizziness, and fatigue.

People could have one of these deficiencies due to having a limited diet, difficulty absorbing nutrients from foods, or, in the case of vitamin D, a lack of sunlight exposure.

Less commonly, other conditions, such as those that affect the kidneys, and certain medications could result in nutrient deficiencies. The kidneys play a role in electrolyte balance, and medications can affect nutrient absorption.

Medications and supplements

Some medications and dietary supplements may lead to involuntary muscle twitching. This reaction may be a side effect of the product itself, a result of taking too much, or due to an interaction with other drugs.

For example, taking high amounts of vitamin B6 may result in toxicity, which can cause widespread muscle twitching, muscle weakness, and numbness.

People can check the label to see if twitching is a possible side effect of the medication they take. However, it is important not to stop or alter the dosage without talking with a doctor first.

For supplements, speak with a doctor about whether the product could be causing problems. They may want to test levels of nutrients in the blood to see if they are within a healthy range. They can then give advice according to those results.

Underlying conditions

Sometimes, muscle twitching occurs for less common reasons, some of which may be serious or require medical treatment. These include:

Pinched spinal nerve

A pinched spinal nerve, known as radiculopathy, may cause muscle twitching and spasms. Other symptoms include a tingling or numb feeling in the foot or leg.

A herniated disk can cause a pinched nerve, often the result of trauma. When a disk in the spine is damaged, it may squeeze the root of the corresponding nerve.

Multiple sclerosis

In some cases, muscle twitching is a sign of multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a degenerative condition that affects the central nervous symptom.

In MS, muscle twitching is known as spasticity. This term describes when muscles become stiff and contract, which may cause difficulty moving parts of the body.

Other symptoms of MS include:

fatigue
numbness or tingling
weakness
dizziness
reduced sexual function
chronic pain
changes in cognition
walking difficulty
vision problems

However, people with MS do not necessarily have all of these symptoms, and they may come and go.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Rarely, muscle twitching can be a sign of a degenerative neurological condition known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). An older name for the condition is Lou Gehrig’s disease.

ALS causes a person’s nerve cell function to decline gradually. Nerve cells, or neurons, control a person’s voluntary muscle movements. When a person’s neurons stop functioning, their muscles are not able to work properly. This causes:

muscle weakness
muscle twitching
muscle atrophy

Over time, a person with ALS may lose the ability to control their movements.

Isaac syndrome

Isaac syndrome is a rare neuromuscular condition that may cause muscle twitches.

A person with Issac syndrome has overactive peripheral nerve axons. This means that their nerves continuously trigger their muscle fibers. This causes muscle contractions even when someone is resting.

Other symptoms of Isaac syndrome include:

muscle stiffness
cramping
sweating
trouble relaxing muscles

What is the difference between a twitch and a spasm?

A muscle twitch and a muscle spasm are both involuntary contractions of a muscle, although they are not quite the same.

A muscle twitch is a short contraction that may happen repeatedly. It can cause discomfort but is not painful.

A muscle spasm is a prolonged contraction that may cause pain. Muscle spasms are also known as muscle cramps. They often happen after exercise.

Treatment and prevention for muscle twitching

In most cases, muscle twitching is temporary and goes away on its own. As a result, it may not require any treatment.

However, people may find it helpful to try:

setting some time aside for relaxation
getting enough sleep each night
reducing caffeine intake
drinking enough water
eating a nutritious, balanced diet

In general, people should not take dietary supplements, such as vitamins, unless they know they have a gap in their diet. Taking supplements unnecessarily can result in taking too much.

The above measures may help ease or prevent muscle twitches. However, if an underlying health condition is the cause, a doctor will work with the individual on a treatment plan to treat or manage the symptoms.

When to contact a doctor

If someone experiences muscle twitching that does not go away for more than 2 weeks or that occurs in multiple places, they should speak with a doctor.

If a person has a sudden onset of muscle twitching along with other symptoms, such as numbness or weakness, seek prompt medical advice.

Summary

Muscle twitching has many everyday causes, most of which are not serious. Usually, the twitching will stop on its own. Some people may want to make lifestyle changes, if relevant, to reduce how often they experience muscle twitches.

Some causes of muscle twitching are more serious, but these conditions are mostly rare. If the twitching continues for more than a few weeks, despite changes such as getting enough sleep or avoiding caffeine, it is important to contact a doctor.

If a person receives a diagnosis of MS or ALS, their doctor will support them to manage their symptoms.

Read the article in Spanish.

Dermatology
Anxiety / Stress
Neurology / Neuroscience

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (2023). https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/
Boyd K, et al. (2023). Eye twitching causes and treatment. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/how-to-stop-eye-twitching
Freedman M. (2023). Muscle cramps. https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/professional/neurologic-disorders/symptoms-of-neurologic-disorders/muscle-cramps
Hemminger A, et al. (2023). Vitamin B6 toxicity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554500/
Isaacs' syndrome information page. (n.d.). https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Isaacs-syndrome-Information-Page
Lau WY, et al. (2019). Water intake after dehydration makes muscles more susceptible to cramp but electrolytes reverse that effect. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6407543/
Lewis JL III. (2023). Hypocalcemia. https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/electrolyte-disorders/hypocalcemia
Lewis JL III. (2023). Hypomagnesemia. https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/professional/endocrine-and-metabolic-disorders/electrolyte-disorders/hypocalcemia
Lumbar radiculopathy. (n.d.). http://www.aanem.org/Patients/Disorders/Lumbar-Radiculopathy
MS symptoms. (n.d.). https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms
Spasticity. (n.d.). https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms/Spasticity
Twitching eyes and muscles. (2023). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/twitching-eyes-and-muscles/
Wolffenbuttel BHR, et al. (2019). The many faces of cobalamin (vitamin B12) deficiency.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6543499/

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Medically reviewed by Mia Armstrong, MD — Written by Lana Burgess — Updated on August 27, 2024

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