[tang-soo]

I don’t think there IS any quinine in tonic water. There used to be a little bit but they took it out when they discovered it could be dangerous.

Listed in the link below. Looked this up before and saw articles that said small amounts and not enough for treatment. I wonder why it is added? Anti-biotic maybe?

Schweppe's ingredients

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Can it really be called “Tonic Water” if the tonic, quinine, isn’t in the water?

[ichabod1]

OK, lets look this up:

the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limits the quinine content in tonic water to 83 ppm[3] (83 mg per liter if calculated by mass), while the daily therapeutic dose of quinine is in the range of 500–1000 mg,[4] and 10 mg/kg every eight hours for effective malaria prevention (2100 mg daily for a 70 kg adult).[5] It is often recommended as a relief for leg cramps, but medical research suggests some care is needed in monitoring doses.[6] Because of quinine’s risks, the FDA cautions consumers against using “off-label” quinine drugs to treat leg cramps.[7]

So, small amounts are apparently legal. I too have had leg cramps and obtained relief with the mild otc quinine pills that melt under the tongue. It works VERY well.

Fun Fact: In Boston all carbonated products are called ‘tonic’.