# What do you do the morning after ''cramp''. The MD said get some quinine in Canada. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 15, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993 "2016-07-15T17:59:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/1 "2016-07-15T17:59:57Z")
What do you do the morning after ‘‘cramp’’? Drink pickle juice? Stretch? (Seriously, the doctor said find some Quinine to prevent cramp. She was unsure she was even allowed to suggest that.) But chasing off to Canada is not a morning after remedy. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/2 "2016-07-15T18:05:48Z")
Color me naïve - what “cramp” are we talking about? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/3 "2016-07-15T18:23:09Z")
If you’re talking about nocturnal leg cramps, then [quinine can be used](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10335049) to keep them from happening but it is not known to do anything about the resulting muscle soreness (“the morning after”). [Quinine can be found in tonic water in the US](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_water). No need to go to Canada. But you are better off keeping hydrated, and possibly adding more electrolytes (salt, potassium, magnesium) to your diet. Eat some bananas or walnuts. Drink some Gatorade. Hydration will help the muscle tenderness too, but you can do with an anti-inflamatory med like Ibuprofen or Naproxin. Rest and ice and massage. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/4 "2016-07-15T18:30:32Z")
They’ve reduced the amount of quinine allowed in the US to nearly homeopathic levels. (In fact, if you buy “quinine” medicine for restless legs and such it’s probably _is_ homeopathic.) You can no longer buy anything OTC here that has a therapeutic dose of quinine. ---
**Author:** ![janeslogin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@janeslogin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janeslogin)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/5 "2016-07-15T18:56:00Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > …Quinine can be found in tonic water in the US… Any usefulness of this information was obsolete back in the '90s but still persists. [(FDA) limits the quinine content in tonic water to 83 ppm[3] (83 mg per liter if calculated by mass), while the daily therapeutic dose of quinine is in the range of 500–1000 mg,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_water) Perhaps if one could drink 10 liters of tonic per day one could …nm … Is there any safe and legal way to set on ones butt here in the US and purchase quinine from Canada? ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/6 "2016-07-15T19:37:39Z")
So is that the only solution you are looking to follow? Quinine? Have you considered hydration? ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/7 "2016-07-15T21:09:22Z")
what is a morning after cramp? Obviously it occurs in the morning, but after what? Running a marathon? Attending an orgy? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/8 "2016-07-15T21:26:14Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > What do you do the morning after ‘‘cramp’’? What precisely do you mean by this? As a physician who has treated a lot of muscular complaints in addition to other ‘cramp’ phenomena, and who long ago actually prescribed quinine for certain conditions both muscular and cardiac, I’m rather lost as to what sort of disorder you’re complaining about. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/9 "2016-07-15T23:43:07Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > They’ve reduced the amount of quinine allowed in the US to nearly homeopathic levels. (In fact, if you buy “quinine” medicine for restless legs and such it’s probably _is_ homeopathic.) > > You can no longer buy anything OTC here that has a therapeutic dose of quinine. Prescription quinine has become very expensive, due to changes in the generic laws. :mad: Legatrin used to be heavily advertised on senior-oriented programs, and at one time it did contain quinine but now it’s just acetaminophen and diphenhydramine. :rolleyes: > **[Legatrin PM Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings &...](https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-15621/legatrin-pm-oral/details)** > > Find patient medical information for Legatrin PM oral on WebMD including its uses, side effects and safety, interactions, pictures, warnings and user ratings. Hydrating with tonic water is actually not a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/10 "2016-07-16T02:22:53Z")
quinine sulfate had some loopy side effects for me … its one of the few medicines that made it where I was basically wasted … I have cerebal palsy and It was given to me for cramps and one day I wanted a refill and my doc said ya couldn’t get it anymore … ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/11 "2016-07-16T03:01:07Z")
Muscle cramps are a symptom of, among other things, kidney failure. Look for multi-mineral supplements, or, as I do, straight magnesium supplements. I have not had a cramp (2 months) since taking magnesium. Used to have one at least once a week. Again, OP - what are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/12 "2016-07-16T17:02:47Z")
Do you mean charley horses? I’m susceptible to ones in my calf, where my foot gets pulled into a “wearing high heels” point (so the toes are still bent) and I have to either work really hard to make the muscles stretch out or get out of bed and stand on the foot to get them stretched. Like others have said, get more electrolytes, especially potassium. It’ll help reduce or get rid of them happening. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/13 "2016-07-16T17:11:12Z")
> [@zweisamkeit](#): > > Like others have said, get more electrolytes, especially potassium. It’ll help reduce or get rid of them happening. Maybe, maybe not. We still don’t know what the problem is. And many leg complaints don’t respond to potassium, magnesium, calcium, hydration, etc. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/14 "2016-07-16T19:02:55Z")
The only think I can think of that the OP might be referring to is what we used to call “Drinkers Legs” where your legs ache after a particularly bad night of boozing. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/15 "2016-07-17T02:14:07Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Maybe, maybe not. We still don’t know what the problem is. And many leg complaints don’t respond to potassium, magnesium, calcium, hydration, etc. Good point. It might help but there’s no guarantee. ---
**Author:** ![mage-girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@mage-girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mage-girl)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/16 "2016-07-18T03:17:50Z")
Could the OP be referring to the morning-after pill? I’m pretty sure those cause cramps… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/17 "2016-07-18T05:03:16Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Prescription quinine has become very expensive, due to changes in the generic laws. :mad: Just as a point of reference, my pharmacy (OptumRX, United HeathCare’s online pharmacy) has generic quinine. The “recommeded” dosage (that they use just so you can guesstimate a price) is, for 6x324mg caps $1300 for a 90 day supply. However, they also have a powder. It has the same name and recommends a 1 gram bottle, per month, for a total of about $15. Not to expensive, but I can’t tell what you’re supposed to do with it? Mix and inject it? Weigh and eat it? Insert rectally? I don’t know. Quinidine Sulfite is $75 for 360 tablets. Quinidine Gloconate injectible is $50 for 90 days worth. Yes, some of them (including some I didn’t list) are very expensive, but some aren’t. I’ve had some good luck with telling asking docs to write a script for one (similar) med over another due to the price. Also, it’s always worth checking GoodRx. I’ve save a ton with with them. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/18 "2016-07-18T13:41:45Z")
Magnesium supplements have worked wonders for my near nightly leg cramps. Completely eliminated them. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/19 "2016-07-18T14:04:16Z")
Cramps often indicate a shortage of potassium. What I do is hobble to the shops and buy a bunch of bananas. Eat 2-3 a day. Legs usually stop hurting after 2 days, but I continue to eat bananas for another 2 or 3 days after that. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993/20 "2016-07-18T14:11:12Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Cramps often indicate a shortage of potassium. What I do is hobble to the shops and buy a bunch of bananas. Eat 2-3 a day. Legs usually stop hurting after 2 days, but I continue to eat bananas for another 2 or 3 days after that. > [@MikeG](#): > > Magnesium supplements have worked wonders for my near nightly leg cramps. Completely eliminated them. See post #13 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-do-the-morning-after-cramp-the-md-said-get-some-quinine-in-canada/759993.md?page=2)