Is quinine banned by the FDA?
Data synthesis: Quinine, an alkaloid originally isolated from the cinchona tree, has been used for many years to treat/prevent leg cramps. In the mid-1990s, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned over-the-counter availability of quinine and marketing of prescription quinine products for leg cramps.
Does quinine help muscle 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.
Why did quinine get banned?
Beginning in 2006, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a series of warnings not to prescribe the malaria drug quinine (Qualaquin™) for nocturnal leg cramps — an off-label use — because it may result in serious and life-threatening hematologic adverse effects.
Is quinine legal in the US?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of all non-approved brands of quinine. Do not purchase quinine on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Quinine is used to treat uncomplicated malaria, a disease caused by parasites.
How much quinine is safe?
Tonic water contains no more than 83 mg of quinine per liter—a much lower concentration than the 500 to 1,000 mg in the therapeutic dose of quinine tablets. Drinking a few ounces of tonic water shouldn’t be harmful, but it isn’t likely to prevent your leg cramps.
Does lemon water help with muscle cramps?
Because potassium is considered an electrolyte, drinking lemon water daily is an excellent way to avoid muscle cramps and beneficial for supporting healthy skeletal muscle function.
Does quinine have side effects?
Mild headache, flushing, unusual sweating, nausea, ringing in the ears, decreased hearing, dizziness, blurred vision, and temporary changes in color vision may occur.
Why do they put quinine in tonic water?
Quinine comes from the bark of the cinchona tree. This tree is native to central and South America, as well as some islands in the Caribbean and western parts of Africa. People have consumed quinine in tonic water to help treat cases of malaria for centuries.
How much quinine can I take daily?
Adults and children 16 years of age and older—648 milligrams (mg) (2 capsules) every 8 hours for 7 days. Children younger than 16 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
Is quinine a blood thinner?
A. Coumadin (warfarin) and quinine are a no-no! When these compounds are combined, the anticoagulant effect may be magnified. There are cases of hemorrhage associated with this interaction.
How often can you take quinine for muscle cramps?
Quinine for muscle cramps There is moderate quality evidence that quinine significantly reduces cramp frequency, intensity and cramp days in dosages between 200 and 500 mg/day. There is moderate quality evidence that with use up to 60 days, the incidence of serious adverse events is not significantly greater than for placebo …
When did the FDA ban quinine for leg cramps?
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.
Are there any side effects from taking quinine?
Between April 2005 and Oct. 1, 2008, the FDA received reports on 38 US cases of serious side effects associated with the use of quinine, the active drug in Qualaquin. Of those, 24 patients took quinine to prevent or treat leg cramps or restless leg syndrome, the FDA said.
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.
