Thigh pain

[acer565]

Have a sharp pain in my thigh about 5 times a day which comes on with no warning at all,when it happens it prevents my legs from moving and this is not because of the pain they just dont seem to work for a second or two...Been for blood test and all comes back normal,doctor is now trying quinine sulph tablets

[Tuckamore]

Hello Acer,

Welcome to the Pain Management Community. I am glad that you found us and took the time to post... however we are not a Diagnostic Forum.

Your PCP has probably prescribed Quinine Sulfate because he beleives you are having nocturnal muscles cramping. Some years ago it was fairly common for the drug to be used off-label in treating leg/muscle cramps. Apparently some physicians are still doing so. However this medication was designed solely to treat Malaria ... and continues to be utilized for it.

In June of 2007 the FDA took action concerning quinine-containing drugs. It did approve a quinine drug product some years earlier solely for the treatment of malaria caused by a parasite. In the 2007 report the FDA
said, "Quinine is associated with a variety of serious adverse events, some of them potentially fatal."

Drugs.com has this to say, "Because of reports of serious and life-threatening adverse reactions, the risk associated with quinine use in the absence of evidence of its effectiveness in the treatment or prevention of nocturnal leg cramps outweighs any potential benefit."

In another Web Article, "In late 1995, the FDA ruled that quinine could no longer be prescribed for leg cramps because the risks clearly outweighed the benefits."

In April of 2011 the HSA published this: "..Would like to highlight that quinine sulphate is known to be associated with serious and life-threatening haematological reactions. Healthcare professionals are advised not to use it off-label for the management of nocturnal leg cramps due to its unfavourable benefit-risk profile for this condition."

I think you get the picture. Please do some research on this drug and take it to your Health Care Provider. DO NOT stop taking any medication based on what I or someone else suggests..... But DO consult your Medical Provider very soon.  

Have you consulted a Neurologist or a Rheumatologist for this pain? If not I would request a referral to one of both if required by your insurance carrier. Maybe even a second opinion would be beneficial.

I wish you the best and hope you will find some answers. Please let us know how you are doing and what you discover.

Good Luck and Take Care,
~Tuck

[TooScaredToSpeek]

Does it feel like a charlie horse? It could be the nerves over firing in your legs, maybe you could request a tilt-test?