Indian tonic water for cramps

Q: I have suffered from nighttime leg cramps for years. These agonizing muscle cramps have affected my sleeping habits.

Federal government websites often end in. The site is secure. In a linked research article, Garrison and colleagues 1 report on the seasonal variability of nocturnal leg cramps. Instead, I will focus on the role of quinine in the management of this common condition. Quinine sulfate at a dose of — 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.

Indian tonic water for cramps

Patients often tell Dr. Kiran V. Patel they've been sipping on quinine water to help ease leg cramps. Well-meaning relatives and even some doctors recommend it, said Patel, who's the director of neurosurgical pain at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York. Last year, the U. Food and Drug Administration warned against using quinine as an antidote for night-time leg muscle cramps or " restless legs ," said Patel. 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. 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. Laurence Fardet and colleagues from the Universite Paris Est Creteil looked at long-term outcomes in more than , adults with muscle cramps, using information from a large U.

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Q: I have suffered from nighttime leg cramps for years. These agonizing muscle cramps have affected my sleeping habits. Recently, I read that quinine contained in tonic water is effective in treating leg cramps. Have you had experience with this treatment? A: Doctors used to prescribe quinine to treat leg cramps.

Indian tonic water for cramps

Tonic water is a soft drink containing quinine, which gives it a bitter taste. Quinine is a common treatment for malaria. Some people believe that it can also help with leg cramps and restless legs syndrome. Quinine comes from the bark of the cinchona tree.

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Many unapproved products containing quinine do not state these risks in their safety information. You never know when some food you eat could contain a protein that might trigger a severe allergic reaction. Medically reviewed by Joseph Vinetz, MD. J Physiother ; 58 — However, the levels of electrolytes in tonic water are usually quite low, so it may not be the most effective solution for those with significant deficiencies. Benefits and uses of quinine. Quinine consumed in commercial beverages has been reported to cause potentially fatal immunologically mediated hypersensitivity reactions. As a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature. Flowers, chocolates, organ donation — are you in? The dose was substantial— to mg. We assumed someone would have to swallow a fairly big dose to mg to achieve an effect. Read this next. The FDA banned quinine because it does occasionally cause serious adverse reactions in susceptible people. Benefits and uses Side effects and risks When to avoid Versatile beverage Takeaway Quinine is a bitter compound that comes from the bark of the cinchona tree.

People took quinine pills for decades to prevent leg cramps. Quinine comes from the bark of the cinchona tree in South America. The dose was substantial— to mg.

Quinine is a common treatment for malaria. As mentioned, that would require at least 10 glasses of tonic water and take a long time to go to work. Don't mix gin with that tonic! A liter of tonic contains around 83 mg of quinine. Stimulation of these TRP channels can help nerves overcome muscle cramps. Today, it is primarily used as a flavoring agent in tonic water, giving it a distinctive bitter taste. Does drinking water before meals really help you lose weight? Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Recent Blog Articles. However, the evidence supporting the use of tonic water for leg cramps is limited and mixed. Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!