Guest guest Posted May 12, 1999 Report Share Posted May 12, 1999 Hi to All, I am forwarding this from another list (not RLS) I subscribe to - yes, I have more than one ailment. Anyhow, it may be of interest. Dr. Jenike is associated with Harvard Medical School. Sorry about the format, but that's how I got it and right now I don't have time to get rid of the >>>'s. Jane ---- > > > >Subject: cramps and restless legs > > > > > > > >last week, i gave some confusing advice about > treating leg cramps > > > >and restless leg syndrome, and Dr. C correctly > pointed out that > > > >quinine is used for nocturnal muscle cramping. > i am not sure how > > > >this topic got on this list, but here are some > data i have found. > > > > > > > >with restless leg syndrome or RLS (also called > Ekbom's syndrome), > > > >patients constantly feel a need to move their > legs. RLS may be an > > > >exceedingly unpleasant disorder that prevents > sleep by compelling one > > > >to walk around to relieve an obnoxious > subcutaneous aching or > > > >crawling sensation. These sensations are > experienced in the muscles > > > >and bones. They always occur at rest, most > frequently at night, and > > > >disappear temporarily with movement. The causes > are still unknown. > > > >The incidence is stated to be 5%. RLS is the > fourth most frequent > > > >cause of insomnia. Treatment has been > empirical. The benzodiazepines > > > >(especially Klonopin or clonazepam) are > considered by most > > > >clinicians to be the treatment of choice in > mild cases, especially in > > > >young subjects. In the experience of one group, > however, L-dopa and > > > >bromocriptine were more effective treatments, > although they noted > > > >that no controlled studies have ever been > conducted to compare > > > >therapeutic benefits and side effects of > benzodiazepines and > > > >dopaminergic drugs. Opioids (eg, codeine) are > used rarely in > > > >patients who have severe symptoms and who fail > to respond to > > > >benzodiazepines or L-dopa. > > > > > > > >here is a good reference for the use of quinine > in muscle cramps. > > > > > > > >Jansen PH, Veenhuizen KC, Wesseling AI, de Boo > T, Verbeek AL: > > > >Randomised controlled trial of hydroquinine in > muscle cramps. > > > >Lancet 1997 Feb 22;349(9051):528-532. > > > > > > > >in this study, 300 mg hydroquinine was safe to > take in the > > > >short-term and significantly more effective > than placebo in the > > > >prevention of frequent, ordinary muscle cramps. > > > > > > > >for both RLS and muscle cramps, there are a few > case reports that i > > > >have found noting that magnesium deficiency may > be associated with > > > >symptoms. it may be worth checking magnesium if > you have these > > > >symptoms. > > > > > > > >i am sure this is more than you wanted to know. > > > > > > > >all best wishes, > > > > > > > > Jenike, MD > > > >------------------------------------ > > > > > _________________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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