The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 265 No 7115 p439
September 23, 2000 Clinical

Advice to patients

(47) Quinine tablets (for night cramps)

1. Quinine tablets are usually used to help prevent night-time leg cramps.
2. The tablets should be taken regularly at bedtime, swallowed with a drink of water.
3. This medicine can take some time to work fully. You may need to take it for several weeks before your symptoms improve.
4. Like all medicines, quinine can occasionally have some unwanted effects. If you have unusual itching, a rash, hearing or vision problems tell your doctor straight away.
5. Problems can occur if quinine is taken with some other medicines. Are you taking any other prescribed medicines or medicines you have bought?

This series of “advice tips” on commonly used drugs is written by pharmacists from the Sussex Pharmacy Academic Practice Unit. It is intended as a reminder of points to be made by pharmacists as they hand out dispensed medicines. Cards for sale: Sets of 50 “tips” are now available for sale as 12 x 15cm cards, supplied with a ring binder, at a cost of £18 (UK); £22 (elsewhere). For those who already have the first 25 cards and binder, cards 26-50 are available separately at a cost of £8 (UK); £11 (elsewhere). Orders should be sent to Pharmacy Practice Consultants, 12 Firle Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN15 0NZ, with cheques payable to Pharmacy Practice Consultants.

By Carina and Duncan Livingstone