According to drugs.com, Qualaquin has the potential to "adversely affect almost every body system" and cause "life-threatening" reactions.

Even so, if you were faced with a deadly case of malaria, it might be your only chance.

But if you were dealing with...leg cramps?!

Yes, in a case of off-label usage that's somewhere between medically negligent and borderline criminal, doctors have been recommending a malaria drug, called Qualaquin -- that seems to put every system in your body at risk -- to treat restless leg syndrome.

And on this topic the FDA finally offers us some good advice: Don't even think about it.

Because it's one thing to risk Qualaquin's outrageous adverse side effects when you're fighting a potentially fatal disease. But to risk them for leg cramps?

Any doctor who even thinks about writing a prescription under these circumstances should have his license taken away. Period.

Here's just a partial list of potential side effects: permanent kidney damage, cardiovascular problems, severe nose bleeding, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, deafness, and blindness.

Drugs.com cheerfully notes that most of these reactions are reversible. Good to know!

Also good to know: Leg cramps and restless legs can be easily treated with common minerals and vitamins, and virtually zero adverse side effects.

Bob's your uncle

First, try cutting out your caffeine intake. For some, just a couple of cups of coffee in the morning can set off restless legs and cramps later that night.

I've read that certain supplements might help the cause, so I checked with Dr. Spreen. He started off by recommending potassium, especially for patients who are athletes. (Dr. Spreen has coached diving at the Olympic level.)

Next on the list: magnesium. Dr Spreen: "Magnesium usually took care of the problem about 75 percent of the time. If that failed, I'd go for calcium, which usually nailed most of the rest.

"Occasionally, when nothing worked on the mineral side I would try vitamin E and a strong B-complex (or all together if the patient would do it). Rarely did I fail to stop leg cramps, and usually it was magnesium or a calcium/magnesium duo.

Dr. Spreen also notes that some people have success in calming restless legs by drinking tonic water.

A century ago, quinine medicine was mixed with soda water to create a "tonic" to treat and prevent malaria. That concoction became known as tonic water. When British officers attempted to mask the unpleasant taste with sugar and gin, they created a classic cocktail: gin and tonic.

Today, the tonic water you'll find at your grocery store contains only a very small amount of quinine. Apparently it's enough to help some patients ease leg cramps, but without the horrific side effects of Qualaquin.

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