In order to compare the efficacy of a daily dose of 300 mg
hydroquinine hydrobromide and placebo in preventing frequent ordinary
muscle cramp, we designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of three consecutive 2-week periods viz. a qualification period, a medication period and a wash-out period. Twenty healthy adult volunteers experiencing at least 3
muscle cramps a week (6 men, 14 women aged 38-78 yrs) were enrolled into this study, and 19 of them completed it.
Hydroquinine hydrobromide (300 mg/day) was administered to group 1 (10 women) and placebo to group 2 (4 women, 6 men). The frequency, severity, duration and location of
muscle cramps as well as short-term adverse
drug effects were recorded in daily diaries. Compared with placebo the decrease in the mean number of
muscle cramps (16.1 or 58%) in the active
drug treatment group during the medication period was highly significant (Wilcoxon test p = 0.004). During the wash-out period this decrease partly persisted (8.9 or 33%). In this study a daily dose of 300 mg
hydroquinine hydrobromide was effective in preventing frequent ordinary
muscle cramp in healthy female volunteers. The effects of
hydroquinine outlasted its administration. The
drug was well tolerated.