Quinine is a drug used to treat severe forms of malaria and is said to have anti-cramp effects. It is also found in tonic or Schweppes type drinks.
What is quinine?
Quinine is an alkaloid (molecule with pharmacological properties) used to treat malaria (or malaria), combined with another medicine. It is also used to treat muscle cramps and regulate the heart rate. Quinine comes froma shrub (quinquina) found in South America, in the Andes. Although effective in treating malaria, quinine is toxic to the nervous system. This is why it is nowadays replaced by derivative substances such as quinacrine or chloroquine..
What are the benefits of quinine?
“It is an effective antimalarialalthough some strains have become resistant due to its very wide use, which means that it is no longer the reference treatment for severe malaria attacks (ie resuscitation), explains Dr. François L’Hériteau, infectious disease specialist and coordinator of the CPias Ile de France surveillance networks. Its therapeutic margin (i.e. the difference between the therapeutic dose and the toxic dose) is narrow, which makes it difficult to handle outside ofclose medical supervision. The beneficial effect is that it saves the patient’s life in case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria (the only species of malaria responsible for potentially fatal forms). Apart from malaria no benefit. And the taste is bitter !”.
Is it effective against malaria?
Quinine is a treatment for malaria, a mosquito-borne tropical disease that causes acute, potentially fatal febrile attacks. Malaria is caused by the infestation of the body by parasites. Quinine has an action of elimination on these parasites. It brings down the fever and prevents the malaria crisis from becoming more complicated. Quinine also has udoes preventive action and reduces the appearance of new crises. Quinine is metabolized in the liver and eliminated in the urine.
Is it effective against cramps?
Studies recommend using it only as a last resort
Studies indicate that quinine and its derivatives moderately reduce the frequency of cramps. But overdose is associated with serious and sometimes fatal deleterious effects. Studies recommend using it only as a last resort after warning patients of the risk of adverse effects. The doses of quinine used in the studies (concerning cramps and not malaria) were 200 to 300 mg per day.
Where do you find quinine? In the Schweppes?
“Quinine can be found in different sources. continues Hélène Dauptain, Pharmacist.
- In some drugs: these are medicines intended to treat attacks of malaria resistant to other antimalarials or medicines intended to relieve nocturnal cramps in the calves. They are therefore drugs prescribed by a doctor for a specific situation.
- In some food supplements containing cinchonathe shrub from which quinine is extracted.
- in food : bitter, it is used as an aroma in soft drinks without alcohol (such as bitter lemon, Schweppes, tonic water…), brandies to drink, drinks containing wine or certain sweets, such as calissons from Aix for example. Obviously at very low concentrations (up to 0.1 g of quinine per litre) and harmless to health. However, it is recommended that people with heart conditions avoid consuming excessive amounts as a precaution.
What are its side effects and dangers of quinine?
“Its most dangerous side effects are hypoglycemia and cardiac conduction disorders (requiring to monitor the ECG, blood sugar, etc.), insists the infectiologist. A less serious but much more common (almost constant in fact) effect is cinchonism. This is tinnitus during infusion which subsides at the end of the treatment“.
What are the contraindications to quinine?
This medicine is contraindicated in case of:
- history of hypersensitivity to quinine or to one of the components,
- of myasthenia gravis (autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction),
- intraventricular conduction disorders,
- concomitant administration of quinine or derivatives, including the consumption of drinks containing quinine.
Thanks to Dr François L’Hériteau, infectious disease specialist and coordinator of the CPias Ile de France surveillance networks and Hélène Dauptain, Pharmacist at Pharmacie Lafayette