I have been on Quinine for so many years I can't tell you when I started. I get muscle cramps in my calf muscles. So severe that jumping up and coming down on the ball of my foot with 200+ pounds does not always "release" the cramp.

It almost always happens in the middle of the night. I told the Dr. I was afraid I would tear the muscle off the bone. I have had to "jump" like that more than once to get the cramp to go away. Hence Quinine.

Quinine is hard on our bodies and I would like to get off it. I have been on 324mg x 3 capsules a night for months, then get it down to two a night and then a single one every other night. Done this more than once, then the horrible cramps come back.

I have been to PT, I have tried various stretching exercises, nothing helped. Only one company makes Quinine in the USA (so I was told) and that is under the brand name of
Qualaquin (spelling??). I eat two bananas a day, take pro-biotics, the regimen of vitamins Mrs D suggested and still can't seem to rid myself of these muscle cramps.

No other muscles cramp up like this and the cramps started after heavy doses of Prednisone. I have not taken Prednisone in over a year. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Bless your heart, I know what that's like. Mine are caused by spinal problems but I know that's not your problem.

I would ask for a complete bloodcount from my doc. Even tho you eat bananas, you still could be low on potassium. Plus there are other things you could be low on that could cause this. A CBC may possibly pick up what it is. This would be the first step for me, if I were you. I'm surprised your doc didn't order one when you told him about this. Hmmm. Or did he???

Best of luck, and I PRAY these stop! They are HORRIBLE, I know. God bless and take care. Peace, Lee

Did you ever get your Vitamin D tested?

Vitamin D can be very low in people with chronic neuro pain.

Once you normalize this the cramping may improve.

watch this new medical video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ-qekFoi-o

Leesa, I have had a CBC done and nothing was "out of limits" per the Dr. Let me rephrase that, nothing that would point to leg cramps was bad. I am not saying this very well, but it is about 3:30am so I am not awake yet. Having a Colonoscopy and Endoscopy done this morning. Or is it an upper GI? I forget. Been on Twilite or whatever they call it, to clean my body out. Did I mention it is 3:30AM and I am .... up.

mrsD, I had the Vit D checked and it was in the "normal" range. I take a Vit D supplement anyway. The Quinine is hard on our bodies and I would love to quit it. Been on it for many years.

Sorry, falling asleep while typing. Thanks again...Dave

I'd get your numbers for the D, Dave.

Some doctors are telling people that 25 is normal when it is not!

How much D3 are you taking? Your goal should be at least 50ng/ml of D3. The current range is 50-80ng/ml.

http://www.grassrootshealth.net/

SOmething intersting helped my muscle cramps. Borage Oil. Seems I over produce prostaglandgins and inflammation and prostglandgins cause menstrual and muscle cramps.

So while I was supplementing fish oil only a lot for the inflammation I was not getting better. I remembered the borage oil used to help and I added that back in and its getting better slowly.

Plus I read somewhere that after taking steroids you need to supplement GLA - gamma linoloec oil (Borage or Evening Primrose).

Just a thought.