Verapamil vs quinine in recumbent nocturnal leg cramps in the elderly.

Abstract

In an open-labeled trial with eight elderly patients (aged 62 to 87 years) suffering from nocturnal leg cramps refractory to treatment with quinine sulfate, we ruled out other active disease processes and substituted verapamil hydrochloride therapy (120 mg at bedtime). Response to treatment was assessed by biweekly observations by the primary care physician and nightly by the research registered nurse for the entire duration of the trial, lasting eight weeks. Observations made and clinical conditions reported were indicative of improvement and disappearance of cramping when therapy was changed from quinine to verapamil. This noteworthy improvement in patients with recumbent nocturnal leg cramps is an important finding and merits further investigation.

• Authors: N Baltodano, B V Gallo, D J Weidler
• Journal: Archives of internal medicine (Arch Intern Med) Vol. 148 Issue 9 Pg. 1969-70 (Sep 1988) ISSN: 0003-9926 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3046538 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Quinine
• Verapamil

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Circadian Rhythm
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Female
• Humans
• Leg
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Muscle Cramp (drug therapy)
• Posture
• Quinine (therapeutic use)
• Verapamil (therapeutic use)