Quinine???

[Napi's Mom]

This is also going to sound like a silly question that perhaps no-one will have answer to. In the US the drug Quinine has been banned by the Fed.drug aministration (Although you can buy tonic water anywhere without a problem which HAS quinine as the "tonic") It is very useful for the treatment of leg cramps, kept mine in control for years. Now it can't be found anyhere. Drs. are very upset as they feel it was a very useful tool to treat several problems. I'd be interested to getting some if it's available. Can only drink so much Tonic!:rolleyes:

[Kiwi Kid]

Here in NZ it's not readily available - definately not without a prescription. My 80 yr old grandmother is prescribed it for cramps, but our Doctor and the Specialist my husband is under for kidney failure won't prescribe.

 

So you will not be able to rock up a Chemist / Pharmacy and get it over the counter - even if you went to the extent of seeing a Doctor, there's no guarantee. :(

 

There are plenty of products full of electrolytes etc if you find these of any benefit and tonic water is readily available.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Jo

[victravellers]

In Australia quinine is available but you do need a doctors pescription.

 

Linda

[jackiedanny]

have you tried calcium/magnesium tablets which most chemist( drugstores) should stock, my mum takes theses regularily or she gets leg crapms as well

jackiedanny :)

[pcur]

have you tried calcium/magnesium tablets which most chemist( drugstores) should stock, my mum takes theses regularily or she gets leg crapms as well

jackiedanny :)

 

I have taken these for about 18 months now, and they work great. They are especially helpful at bedtime, because they relax the muscles and help you sleep.

 

I found out how good a job they were doing when I switched to another form of calcium tablets, and my leg cramps came back!!! So, back to CM I went.

[mochuck]

It is only prescribed for malaria now. It used to be also prescribed for heart arrhythmias but there are so many better drugs available now. Quinidine is quite dangerous - it can cause arrhythmias so the risks outweighed the benefits. It is not in the MIMs anymore, so I'm guessing it is not alowed to be prescribed.

 

The amount in the tonic water is minute.

 

As others have suggested magnesium is much safer and my patients swear by it.

[kenexx]

Works best when taken with lots of Gin :D