Quinine sulfate

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.