FDA Warns Against Nighttime Cramp Cure

A medication sometimes used to treat painful nighttime leg cramps may have some severe side effects including death. The FDA is advising you to stop using the Quinine, a drug sold under the brand name Qualaquin, unless otherwise directed.

Quinine is primarily a malaria drug, but has a long history of off-label use to prevent leg cramps. An FDA study shows the prescription drug reduces the frequency of cramps by up to one-half.

Nearly one in 25 may suffer serious side effects such as permanent kidney damage and thromobocytopenia, or severe bleeding due to loss in platelets.

The FDA reports the severe side effects occurred in 38 known cases between April 2005 and Oct. 1, 2008. Two people died after taking Quinine.

The warning is the second since 2006, when the FDA cautioned consumers because of serious safety concerns and risks.

Regular exercise and stretching appears to be the main option for preventing sleep-related leg cramps.

Nighttime leg cramps are most common in older adults and pregnant women. A typical episode involves suddenly waking with sharp pain in your leg or foot when a muscle contracts and tightens. Lingering soreness may prevent you from getting back to sleep.

More than Insomnia: Other Sleep Disorders Are Common in Older Adults

Many older adults struggle with insomnia. Now a new study shows that in older adults other sleep disorders are common too.

The study involved 892 people between the ages of 70 and 89. Results show that 59 percent had signs of at least one sleep disorder other than insomnia.

Data were gathered by questionnaire. Symptoms were reported by a person who sleeps in the same room as the participant.

Sleep-related leg cramps was the most common sleep disorder. Symptoms were present in 32 percent of participants.



The second and third most common sleep disorders were obstructive sleep apnea and periodic limb movements in sleep. Other common sleep disorders were REM sleep behavior disorder, restless legs syndrome and sleepwalking.

“All of these sleep disorders can disrupt a person’s quality of life, because they affect sleep,” lead researcher Dr. Jennifer Molano said in a Mayo Clinic statement. “But if these problems are recognized, an accurate diagnosis could lead to successful treatment.”

Older adults can get help for sleep problems at an AASM-accredited sleep center. Get sleep tips for older adults on SleepEducation.com.