Does anyone know about quinine to help rls ? Someone mentioned to me that it could help. I know it helps leg cramps , anyone used it ?

[Babas]

[TheDancer]

When I was first diagnosed, which is over 40 years ago, I was put on Quinine tablets. Consequently I have used Indian Tonic Water for most of my life as it does give some moderate relief, but only if you are a mild sufferer.

[SusieL]

As TheDancer said, it can give mild relief and I do drink tonic water but it doesn't always help when I am really bad. Everyone is different though so perhaps it will give you more relief, I hope so.

[Ruthenium]

I agree. Only moderate/slight relief is found with quinine. I have started using a magnesium oil spray on my calves every day and that is actually helping a lot, although some nights nothing is effective.

[BobM]

Hi Babas

I tried to get my r to let me have but as its not listed she wouldn't do so. I got some off the web and it made no difference. But as has been pointed out, each person reacts in a different way so I would try it.

Regards

Bob M

[Darcy]

I wouldn't have thought quinine was any help, unless you had Malaria as well

Seriously though, if you get some relief, then by all means carry on, even though it sounds a bit physcosematic, but hey, I'm not knocking it !

[nightdancer]

Quinine is not recommended for use in RLS. For one thing it is is for leg CRAMPS, not RLS. RLS is not leg cramps, and a lot of people get these mixed up, even doctors.

Quininie is only approved by the FDA in the US for Malaria. Magnesium can help with cramps, if that is your bigger problem, but no to Quinine for RLS (including new warnings by the FDA) check out their web site. It is treasue trove of information.

[Hammyton]

I tried quinine by drinking tonic water and it didn't help except to leave me addicted to tonic water (only joking). I did get quinine (sulphate?) medication from my doc but it didn't help me. Please go ahead and try it as there isn't one solution for all.

[beardedtwitch]

Thanks for the advise everyone but having looked at the side effects of quinine I will keep on with tonic water. It is just amazing that something will work for a while ie lots of bananas and then has no real effect and certainly not the medication my Doctor gave me at the start. Is there a clue in this fact of short term help which then fades away ARE WE MISSING SOME VITAL FACT?

[nightdancer]

We are definitely missing a major clue. We know it is neurological and can be genetic in over half of all cases., and that pregnant women are tortured in their 3rd trimester, and on and on, but there is a big piece of the puzzle missing here. Sooner than later I hpe we find out......:o)

[wicksgang in reply to nightdancer]

It has to be something to do with iron levels. I suffered really badly with my pregnancys, and I am always bouncing around the anaemic line! My rls is always worse when I am due on/menstruating.

[nightdancer in reply to wicksgang]

For SOME people it is iron levels, or more to the point Ferritin levels. Others of us get our iron levels adjusted, and it makes no difference. It is a puzzle.

[nightdancer in reply to wicksgang]

When one is pregnant, the stress hormone cortisol is realeased all over the pace, and that is thought to be behind soe of the RLS during pregnancy, but no one knows anyting for sure. We know a lot of stuff that does not work, that's for sure. Quinine will not do much if anything, plus it should not betaken lightly. The FDA has put stronger warnings on it, and it includes some severe heart damage, so everything has risks, and Quinine's risks are getting higher and higher. Remember that even things that SEEM perfectly harmless to one person can actually kill the next, rarely, but it still happens. This is why we always say- do not go out and run to the nearest pharmacy to buy things that are suggested, even without a prescription. ALWAYS talk to your doctor. If you run into a doctor that does say to use Quinine for RLS,. then that doctor, for sure, does not know much, if anything, abut RLS. I would stake my disability check on THAT. :o)

[Hidden]

Yes, it is definately a puzzle, sometimes things work for a while and we think we have found the answer, someone else tries the exact same and nothing. Then what we think we have found, stops working. That includes medication.

Something is sure missing that hasnt been discovered yet.

Research is a must must to help find this missing piece, or even pieces..

Sigh.....some day, some day.

[GrandmaChris]

My doctor suggested quinine and tongue in cheek recommended a gin and tonic. I don't think the quinine did much good but the gin helped sleep!

[Babas]

I find alcohol makes my rls worse, I suppose it's each to their own

[nightdancer]

Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it will come back and kick you in the arse later for most people wth RLS (pun intended) :o) Alcohol is not recommended to help RLS.

[beardedtwitch in reply to nightdancer]

For me alcohol makes things a lot worse and although I drink tonic water a couple of times a day I do not think that it helps RLS. At the moment my iron levels are low and may have been for a few weeks so this may explain why sleep is more disturbed - My doctor called me in a week ago to tell me and suggested eating extra red meat with a blood test in 4 weeks and am now taking one iron tablet daily - also I now have Pernicious Anemia (auto-immune condition as is my type 1 diabeties) and am having to have 3 monthly injections to enable my body to use vit B12. A hot water bottle under my calfs in bed is still the most help.

[margaret123]

before I was dianosed with rls, I was given quinine tablets, my legs were fifty times worse the pain was unbearable, my husband spent the night rubbing my legs with volteral. I am now on ropinirole 3mg at night, I do sleep for about four to five hours, but the symptoms return during the day, I have just been referred

to a neurologist as I am unable to increase my dose any further. Even my gp admits its a very tricky condition to deal with. Keeping my fingers crossed that

the neurologist may help

marg123

[foxlady]

I have been taking Quinine Sulphate Tablets (300mg) for over 20 years for my jumping legs which I inherited from my mum. I take one tablet when my legs start jumping at night and it works for me.