Chloroquine (Aralen) can be used for leg cramps.

Some prescribers are turning to chloroquine (Aralen) or hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) as alternatives to quinine for nighttime leg cramps.

But not because they work better. In fact, there’s not much evidence that they work for leg cramps. But hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are derived from quinine. It’s hoped they will help patients who claim quinine is the only drug that helps.

Qualaquin is now the only quinine available. Older quinine products were pulled from the market after FDA said they were “unapproved.”