Does Quinine Work for Treating Leg Cramps?

The steely pain grips your calf in the middle of the night and jars you out of a blissful slumber. Painful leg cramps are no laughing matter. Although most are short lasting, the pain is often memorable. One treatment that's often prescribed for reducing the frequency of night time muscle cramps is quinine - a remedy that's been used for many years with varying degrees of success. Is it a good idea to take quinine for nighttime muscle cramps?

What is Quinine?

Quinine sulfate is a medication that was once used to treat malaria - until better medications came along. It comes from the bark of the cinchona tree in the form of a white alkaloid powder with a very bitter taste. After studies showed that it helped to relax cramped muscles, it became a popular medication for treating night time leg cramps that's still used today.

Does Quinine for Treating Muscle Cramps Work?

The results of recent research on the effectiveness of quinine for treating leg cramps have been mixed. Some studies show it reduces the symptoms by up to half, while others suggest it's not much better than a placebo. Taking all of the research into account, it seems likely that quinine has some benefits for treating muscle cramps, but it's probably modest.

Why It's Not Wise to Take Quinine for Muscle Cramps

The biggest argument against taking quinine for treating leg cramps are the side effects. Taking high doses of quinine by injection can lead to a condition called cinchonism - although this condition isn't usually seen when it's taken by mouth. Even oral doses of quinine can cause problems such as a low platelet count and abnormal heart rhythms. Quinine can also interact with lots of commonly prescribed medications. Most people have difficulty tolerating the bitter taste - even in pill form.

For most people, the side effects aren't worth the modest benefits that might be gained from a small reduction in the frequency of leg cramps. Keep in mind that quinine is no longer approved by the FDA as a treatment for muscle cramps because of concerns over safety issues - although it continues to be used off-label by some doctors.

Quinine for Treating Muscle Cramps: The Bottom Line?

Muscle cramps - even ones that occur only at night - should be evaluated by a doctor if they occur frequently. Sometimes they can be an indication of a potassium or calcium imbalance - or a sign of an underlying medical problem. If a doctor offers you a prescription for quinine, get a second opinion.

References:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180073.php