Is it safe to take quinine for leg cramps?

Is it safe to take quinine for leg cramps?

Quinine is FDA-approved only for treating malaria and is sold with a warning against using it to treat leg cramps or muscle pain, because it increases the risk of bleeding and heart rhythm disturbances.

How much quinine should I take for leg cramps?

Quinine sulfate at a dose of 200–300 mg at night has been used for many years to treat nocturnal leg cramps. Usually idiopathic, these muscle cramps are common, particularly in older patients. Quinine may help by decreasing the excitability of the motor end-plate and increasing the muscle refractory period.

Are quinine tablets dangerous?

Quinine has a number of potentially significant drug interactions, including with digoxin and warfarin. It also has significant toxicity in overdose, which can result in death or permanent visual loss.

Why is quinine banned?

In early 2007, FDA banned all prescription quinine products other than Qualaquin. FDA acted in this manner because of a perception that quinine is not effective for this condition and that its risk potential far exceeds its efficacy potential.

What are the side effects of quinine for leg cramps?

The FDA reported “adverse events with serious outcomes … including 93 deaths” in people who used the remedy. And it wasn’t the first time health officials have expressed concerns about quinine. The substance is linked to bleeding and an irregular heart rate. Quinine is only FDA-approved for use as a malaria treatment.

Are there any side effects to taking quinine tablets?

Safety summary. Quinine tablets are generally well tolerated at the doses used for treatment of leg cramps. However, adverse events may include: tinnitus. impaired hearing. headache *nausea. disturbed vision.

Is there a link between quinine and death?

The substance is linked to bleeding and an irregular heart rate. Quinine is only FDA-approved for use as a malaria treatment. Now, a new study by French researchers has found that in patients who took quinine pills for muscle cramps, there was an increased risk of death.

Is it safe to drink tonic water with leg cramps?

Quinine for Leg Cramps. In addition to pills and tablets, quinine water for leg cramps is available as over-the-counter tonic water. It contains very low dose of quinine (83 parts per million), which is considered safe for patients. Bitter in taste, other ingredients used in the beverage are citric acid, carbonated water and sodium benzoate,…

The FDA reported “adverse events with serious outcomes … including 93 deaths” in people who used the remedy. And it wasn’t the first time health officials have expressed concerns about quinine. The substance is linked to bleeding and an irregular heart rate. Quinine is only FDA-approved for use as a malaria treatment.

Why was quinine banned over the counter in 1994?

But quinine was popular as a treatment for nighttime leg cramps. For years, people bought this drug in over-the-counter products such as Legatrin, Q-vel and Quinamm to relieve muscle cramps. In 1994 the FDA banned quinine from over-the-counter sale. The agency decided that quinine was too dangerous for people to take without medical supervision.

Are there any unapproved drugs that contain quinine?

The FDA issued the advice today and ordered all unapproved drugs containing quinine off the market within 60 days. Qualaquin, the only FDA-approved quinine drug, can be used to treat certain types of malaria; the new order doesn’t change that. But quinine is also often prescribed to treat leg cramps.

What kind of drug can you take for leg cramps?

Qualaquin, the only FDA-approved quinine drug, can be used to treat certain types of malaria; the new order doesn’t change that. But quinine is also often prescribed to treat leg cramps.

Can too much quinine be harmful?

Even three glasses daily should be OK as long as you are not sensitive to quinine. Some susceptible people develop a dangerous blood disorder after even small doses of quinine. Symptoms of quinine toxicity include digestive upset, headache, ringing in the ears, visual disturbances, skin rash and arrhythmias.