BNF:

10.2.2

Status:

Grey

Decision Date:

November 2008

Comments

Quinine is generally not recommended for treating idiopathic leg cramps due to poor benefit-to-risk ratio. (Decision date - August 2023)

Consider a trial of quinine if:

• treatable causes excluded and self-care measures fail, and 
• leg cramps are very painful and frequent, and affect the person's quality of life, and
• the person has no medical conditions or drug interactions that increase the risk of quinine use, and adverse effects are discussed before prescribing and are carefully monitored.

Up to 4 weeks before fully effective, stop if no improvement thereafter. Reassess every 3 months to determine further need by interrupting treatment.

Quinine bisulfate is significantly more expensive and is not recommended.

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