Resumen de Association Between Long-term Quinine Exposure and All-Cause Mortality

Laurence Fardet, Irene Petersen, Irwin Nazareth

• Quinine has been used since the 1930s to treat idiopathic muscular cramps. However, in 2006, because of efficacy and safety issues, the US Food and Drug Administration cautioned about this off-label use of quinine, citing “665 reports of adverse events with serious outcomes…including 93 deaths.”1 Despite warnings, quinine is still prescribed to individuals with idiopathic muscular cramps. Furthermore, many drinks such as bitter lemon or tonic waters contain quinine, and hence, many may be exposed to quinine daily. This study explored the association between long-term quinine exposure and all-cause mortality.