Quinine Safe for Cramp

By Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today Published: April 15, 2011 Reviewed by Dori F. Zaleznik, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner HONOLULU -- Quinine as a treatment for muscle cramp appears safe, according to a Cochrane systematic review of published studies. In 23 randomized controlled trials, there was only one major adverse event attributable to the drug, according to Sherif El-Tawil, MBBS, of the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. Compared with placebo, quinine was also effective, El-Tawil reported here at the American Academy of Neurology meeting.