RLS Miracle cure. Tonic Water. Plain and Simple.

[GuitarMick]

A couple of years ago my ankles and calf muscles started getting jittery every night while sat at my PC. It crept up on me over some weeks before I realised that I had a very nasty problem.

It was as though I had run a marathon the day before and I constantly needed to bend and twist my ankles and run on the spot to the extreme to overcome it. Alas, nothing worked and in desperation I saw my GP. Quinine might be the answer was his reply. However, Quinine is quite a reactive chemical, so I suggested bog standard Tonic Water, the same stuff that makes up gin and tonic! It contains Quinine, but at a much lower dosage!

The first time I tried it, during an eruption of RLS, I was symptom free within TEN MINUTES!! I ran around the house like a little kid! Well, not really, I am 67 and riddled with painful osteoarthritis in EVERY joint and my spine has bulging discs in every direction. I take Oramorph, high strength Cocodamol, Naproxen, Vitamin D, and obligatory laxatives. I do NOT NEED RLS, thank you very much!

I keep a healthy stock of TW and all I usually need is a small mouthful each morning.

This may not work for all, I am not asking you to use drugs, but hey, what have you got to lose?

If this helps a few of you out there then I am a happy man. More importantly, pass the message on!!

[Hidden]

Interesting phenomenon. It's great that it works for you.

My dad used to use quinine for night cramps, (he had malaria too). I read a tablet has about 500mg of quinine in it and tonic water has about 83mg per litre. So as you say, a much lower dose. 1 tablet = (about) 6 litres.

Perhaps it's a homeopathic effect or a placebo effect.

As you also say, it will do no harm.

[martino]

I am glad it works for you.

[Joolsg]

Glad it works for you but I suspect the oramorph and co codamol are the real help - opioids are very effective at controlling RLS.

[Barbee44]

I used it years ago for leg and toe cramps but the doctor's won't prescribe it anymore. I do like tonic water and drink it often, but have never noticed it change the RLS for me. I believe the cause of RLS to be nerve-related and mine is 10x worse since my spinal surgery to replace 3 discs... now I still have 2 bulging.. but I refuse more surgery.