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The Pharmaceutical JournalVol 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. The list is not intended to be comprehensive but to cover some important points.
By Carina and Duncan Livingstone

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