The Department of Health (DH) today (April 6) advised healthcare professionals and the public not to use pharmaceutical products containing quinine sulphate for the treatment of nocturnal leg cramps because of possible serious and sometimes fatal adverse reactions.
The DH, through its pharmacovigilance scheme, noted a recent warning issued by the Health Sciences Authority of Singapore against the use of quinine sulphate for leg cramp management because of unpredictable, serious and life-threatening blood reactions in addition to hypersensitivity, heart and kidney adverse events which may require medical intervention, including hospitalisation.
Quinine sulphate is an antimalarial drug which is also used in some places for the treatment of nocturnal leg cramps. However, as night leg cramps do not lead to serious consequences, the benefits of using quinine to treat this condition is outweighed by the risks of potentially fatal blood reactions.
In fact, several drug regulatory authorities, including Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration and US' Food and Drug Administration, have already required the removal of leg cramps from quinine-containing products' list of indications.
In Hong Kong, there are four registered pharmaceutical products containing quinine sulphate or quinine bisulphate. Nocturnal leg cramp treatment is an approved indicated use here. So far, no adverse event report has been received by DH.
A spokesman for DH said, "The above indication will be revisited in the coming meeting of the Registration Committee of the Pharmacy and Poisons Board. Meanwhile, healthcare professionals and the public are advised not to use quinine products for the management of nocturnal leg cramps. A letter will be issued to the healthcare sector to bring the situation to their attention. Patients using these drugs should consult healthcare professionals if in doubt or feel unwell."
The DH will also be closely monitor related developments both locally and worldwide.
(Reprinted from HKSAR Government web page
http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201104/06/P201104060271.htm )