Thursday, January 13, 2011

How effective is Quinine for my muscle cramps?

Quinine is a very old medication but it is quite good at relieving muscle cramps. Muscle cramps can occur at any time and can be a real pain in the rear. Most physicians really do not know what medication to give for cramps and usually end up recommending fluids and mineral replacement. Sometimes valium and or flexeril are given. However, probably the best drug for muscle cramps is quinine. Some studies have shown that a combination of theophylline with quinine is more effective than vitamin E and xylocaine injections. The recommended does of quinine for muscle cramps is about 200-500 mg/day and can be used as needed. So next time you develop cramps, ask your doctor for a quinine script. Mind you Quinine does have a few side effects like diarrhea and ringing in the ears.

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