[Blessings2You]

Related to my previous post about meds for muscle spasms: has anyone bought capsules, opened them, and repacked them in empty gel capsules? Seems difficult, but is it safe?

[SallyC]

Sometimes I've cut capsule contents in half by putting half into another capsule. The only thing is that, if you are taking a high dose capsule and dividing it into smaller doseage portions, you don't know how much med or how much filler you're getting in each lesser capsule??

[mrsD]

The powder in the capsules should be mixed well when you receive them. But for potent drugs it is rather risky depending on the drug.

I do half caps on some supplements (tryptophan), for example.
But there it is less of a risk.

And yes you can buy empty capsules. Some health food stores, and online.

http://www.iherb.com/Empty-Capsules?...FYe5Kgodhn_hjA

Some people do this when tapering off certain drugs, like SSRIs that don't come in smaller doses. You just have to be very careful.

[Blessings2You]

I was thinking about getting the 325 (?) mg quinine and divvying it up into four doses of about 75 mg, w hich is what I've been taking as tablets.

[SallyC]

Originally Posted by Blessings2You

I was thinking about getting the 325 (?) mg quinine and divvying it up into four doses of about 75 mg, w hich is what I've been taking as tablets.

I thought that was what you were thinking. Ask your Chemist/pharmacist if he/she will do it for you.

[mrsD]

It should be okay....

Divide one capsule up into a line about 3 mm high, and divide into 4 parts, with a knife.

You'll be pretty close.... 1/2 of 200mg is not terrible or too risky in this case.

But you know, quinine is not great--it has a toxic effect
on the eyes...and MSers don't need that. Have you tried magnesium lotion or supplements. In many many cases,
magnesium is fabulous. Have you tried soaking in epsom salts?

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...5JE9NiKnlnijHg

The blindness, cardiac and hematological damage of quinine is why it was taken off the market in US.

[Blessings2You]

I dont soak--can't get in and out of the tub. I tried magnesium--it didn't help the spasms, and it did something (can't remember what) to me gastronintestinally (is that a word?).

I would NEVER recommend that anyone else use a med off-label, much less purchase it across the border...I probably need to listen to myself. I guess I'm more scared of those spasms than the effects of the quinine, but I know, that's ignorant. *sigh

I communicate better with my PCP than my neuro (understatement) but I don't think my PCP will prescribe to what probably are MS symptoms. But I can at least ask his opinion about the various muscle relaxants.

I don't guess there's anything out there pharmaceutically that doesn't have a certain percentage of dreaded possible side effects, is there?

[mrsD]

There is topical magnesium.

1)A cream by Kirkman.

2)CVS Epsom lotion... being discontinued due to poor sales. I've been using this with great success. It takes the swelling off my left foot, applied to my inner arms and wrists it is absorbed, lowers my blood pressure, and relaxes my muscles.
My store still has it on the shelf (but the tag says only while supplies last)

Epsom-IT available still online. (amazon and some foot care places)

If you don't want to soak, you can use topical to help. Some people on MS use the lotion for muscle spasms in fact.

[mrsD]

You can also make a concentrated soak in a cloth or towel, of the epsom salts and put them on the area affected. This is more messy than lotions. But I have done it upNorth where a tub is not available.

The sulfate in the epsom salts is as effective as the magnesium.

Dr. Seneff has a long video on sulfate and health:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QUChSlUEH0

part 3 of this 7 part series discusses epsom salts and how they work on muscles.