A double-blind comparison of quinine sulphate and placebo in muscle cramps.

Muscle cramps are painful and common in elderly patients but have largely escaped medical investigation. Quinine sulphate is usually the sole drug prescribed, even though firm evidence for its efficacy is not available. The results of the present double-blind cross-over study show that quinine was significantly superior to placebo in decreasing the number, severity and duration of nocturnal cramps. Since quinine is not a primary drug in any other condition, further studies of drugs with similar pharmacological actions may thus improve our management of this painful complaint.