Quinine
About Quinine
Quinine is an oral prescription medication primarily used to treat uncomplicated malaria, a serious and sometimes life-threatening infection caused by parasites transmitted through mosquito bites. This medication works by targeting and destroying these parasites inside your red blood cells, helping to clear the infection from your body.
To ensure the infection is fully cleared, it is crucial to take Quinine at regular, evenly spaced intervals and to complete the entire course prescribed by your doctor. You should take Quinine with food or a glass of milk to help protect your stomach and reduce the likelihood of nausea. Drinking plenty of fluids and getting adequate physical rest can also support your body’s recovery process.
While taking Quinine, some people may experience mild side effects, such as a mild ringing in the ears, temporary headaches, or slight stomach upset. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious symptoms, including unusual bruising, sudden visual changes, or a rapid, irregular heartbeat.
Do not take this if you have a history of serious heart rhythm problems, severe blood disorders, or inflammation of the optic nerve. Before starting Quinine, talk to your doctor if you have kidney or liver issues, or a genetic condition known as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
Quinine can interact with alcohol, which may increase your risk of stomach irritation and drowsiness, and with certain medications that affect heart rhythm. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or are an older adult, talk to your doctor to carefully weigh the safety risks and benefits before starting this treatment.
Uses of Quinine
Medicinal Benefits
Quinine helps treat malaria by eliminating the parasites responsible for the infection and supporting recovery. By controlling the infection, it helps relieve symptoms and reduces the risk of serious malaria-related complications.
Benefits may include:
- Helps eliminate malaria parasites from the bloodstream.
- Relieves symptoms such as high fever, chills, sweating, muscle aches, and fatigue.
- Helps prevent the progression of malaria to more severe forms of the disease.
- Supports faster recovery and restoration of physical strength.
- Reduces the risk of malaria-related complications when taken as prescribed.
- Promotes complete recovery by effectively treating the malaria infection.
Directions for Use
- Quinine should be taken with food.
- Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
- Swallow Quinine as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Storage
Side Effects of Quinine
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Mild ringing or buzzing in the ears
- Headache
- Nausea, mild stomach discomfort, or loss of appetite
- Mild sweating or skin flushing
Serious Side Effects (Call a doctor right away):
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as a severe skin rash, itching, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Unusual or easy bruising, nosebleeds, or bleeding gums
- Sudden changes in vision, blurred vision, or altered color perception
- A fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat
- Severe dizziness, confusion, or fainting
Drug Warnings
- Inspect Quinine before use: Do not take Quinine if the packaging is damaged or if the Quinine appear discolored, broken, or otherwise altered.
- Complete the full course of treatment: Take Quinine exactly as prescribed and finish the entire course, even if you feel better, to help prevent the malaria infection from returning and reduce the risk of drug resistance.
- Watch for signs of bleeding: Seek medical attention immediately if you notice unusual bleeding, such as black or bloody stools, unusual bruising, or tiny purple spots on your skin.
- Use caution during activities requiring alertness: Quinine may cause dizziness, blurred vision, or hearing changes. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or performing hazardous tasks until you know how Quinine affects you.
- Inform healthcare providers before procedures: Tell your doctor, dentist, or other healthcare professionals that you are taking Quinine before undergoing any medical, dental, or laboratory procedure.
Drug Interactions
- Antacids (e.g., aluminum or magnesium): These medicines may reduce the absorption of Quinine and make it less effective. Take them at least 2 hours apart.
- Heart rhythm medicines (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol): Taking these medicines alongside Quinine may increase the risk of serious irregular heartbeats.
- Heart medicines (e.g., digoxin): Quinine may increase digoxin levels in the body, raising the risk of side effects and toxicity.
- Blood thinners (e.g., warfarin): Combining these with Quinine may increase the risk of bleeding or bruising.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
cautionAvoid alcohol consumption while using Quinine since it may cause serious side effects.
Pregnancy
cautionQuinine is not recommended during the first three months of pregnancy. Your doctor may recommend other alternative medication. Please consult your doctor if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy before taking Quinine.
Breast Feeding
cautionQuinine is not recommended during breastfeeding. Once you have completed the course, you should wait at least one week to start breastfeeding again. Please consult your doctor for more information.
Driving
unsafeQuinine may make you sleepy or dizzy or cause blurry vision. In such cases, do not drive or operate machinery.
Liver
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of liver diseases before using Quinine. Your liver functioning should be monitored closely while being treated with Quinine.
Kidney
cautionLet your doctor know if you have any history of kidney diseases before using Quinine. Your doctor may suggest tests to monitor your kidney function if required.
Children
consult your doctorQuinine should be used in children only when prescribed by a child specialist. If necessary, your doctor may suggest a lower dose.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Take Quinine with food: Take each dose with food or milk to help reduce stomach irritation and improve comfort during treatment.
- Stay well hydrated: Drink plenty of water, broths, or oral rehydration solutions to replace fluids lost through sweating and fever.
- Get adequate rest: Allow yourself plenty of physical rest to help your immune system fight the infection and support recovery.
- Avoid alcohol consumption: Do not drink alcohol while taking Quinine, as it can worsen stomach upset and increase dizziness.
- Prevent mosquito bites: Use insect repellent, wear protective clothing, and sleep under bed nets to help prevent additional mosquito bites and reduce the risk of reinfection.
Special Advise
- Inform your doctor that you are taking Quinine if you are undergoing medical tests.
- Regular monitoring of heart function with ECG or EKG is necessary.
- Liver and kidney function tests are recommended to rule out any chances of kidney or liver impairment.
- Quinine may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control such as pills, patches or rings. This could cause pregnancy.
- Regularly undergo eye tests while taking Quinine.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Malaria: Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites entering the body through mosquito bites. This is a common disease in countries like Africa, South America and Southern Asia. This disease usually occurs when an Anopheles mosquito (infected with the parasite 'Plasmodium') bites a healthy individual and transfers the parasite into the bloodstream. Parasites that cause malaria include Plasmodium vivax, P. ovale, P. malaria and P. falciparum. Malaria symptoms usually start ten days to four weeks after the infection. They include chills, high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, anaemia, muscle pain, convulsions, coma and bloody stools.
FAQs
Quinine is used to treat malaria.
Quinine belongs to the class of 'anti-malarial drugs', containing Quinine, that treats malaria by increasing the levels of hemozoin (a toxic substance to the malarial parasite) in the blood. As a result, it kills the parasite and helps to stop the infection from spreading further.
If you have or have previously had Long QT syndrome, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G-6-PD), myasthenia gravis (a muscular problem), optic neuritis (inflammation of the nerves in your eyes), or if taking Quinine in the past caused bleeding, you should not take it.
Quinine can cause a lowering of blood sugar levels. So, if you are diabetic, please inform your doctor before starting Quinine, and dose adjustment might be required depending upon your medical condition.
No, finish the prescribed course even if you start to feel better. Stopping it early may make the infection come back and harder to treat.
Quinine may affect the heart rhythm and cause QT prolongation (heart muscle takes longer than usual to recharge between beats). This QT prolongation can cause a serious fast/irregular heartbeat. Hence it is advised to inform your doctor if you have any heart-related problems like heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in EKG or ECG (electrocardiogram) and a family history of heart diseases.
It is advised to have regular eye checkups while using Quinine. Consult your doctor if you face any change in vision.
Yes, Quinine can cause dizziness as a side effect. It’s important to be cautious when taking this Quinine, especially if you need to drive, operate machinery, or perform tasks that require alertness. If you experience excessive dizziness, it’s best to avoid such activities.
No, Quinine should not be used to treat dengue. It is only used to treat and prevent malaria and nocturnal (night time) leg cramps. If you have any concerns, consult your doctor.
No, Quinine is not effective for typhoid. Quinine is an antiparasitic drug, whereas typhoid is a bacterial infection. If you have any concerns, consult your doctor.
Inform your doctor if you have any other medical conditions and about all the other medicines you are taking. Also, tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast-feeding before starting Quinine.
Yes, Quinine is generally safe when used as prescribed by a doctor. However, it’s important to follow your doctor's instructions and report any side effects or concerns you may have while taking the medication.
If you forget to take a dose of Quinine, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it's almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your regular dose. Do not double the dose to make up for the missed one.
The time it takes for malaria symptoms to show can vary, but generally, symptoms appear 7 to 30 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. However, in some cases, symptoms may not appear for several months after exposure. However consult your doctor if you experienced with any symptoms of malaria.
We can prevent getting malaria by applying mosquito repellent with DEET (diethyltoluamide) to exposed skin. Drape mosquito netting over beds. Put screens on windows and doors. Treat clothing, mosquito nets, tents, sleeping bags and other fabrics with an insect repellent called permethrin and wear long pants and long sleeves to cover your skin.
Quinine should be used with caution if you have kidney disease as it can increase the risk of severe adverse effects. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking Quinine.
No, Quinine is not recommended during pregnancy as it may harm your unborn baby. So consult your doctor before taking Quinine if you are pregnant.
The common side effects of Quinine are headache, dizziness, loss of appetite, weakness, fever, chills, tiredness, muscle/joint pain, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, cough and trouble sleeping. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
No, Quinine is used to treat active, uncomplicated malaria infections, not to prevent them. Talk to your doctor to find a suitable preventive medicine for your travel destination.
If you vomit within one hour of taking Quinine , your body may not have absorbed Quinine. Do not take another dose on your own. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for guidance.
You should avoid alcohol while on this medication. Alcohol can increase side effects such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and stomach irritation. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
While it was used for this purpose in the past, medical guidelines advise against using Quinine for leg cramps because the potential risks, such as severe bleeding and heart issues, outweigh the benefits. Talk to your doctor about safer alternatives.
You should always take Quinine with food or a glass of milk to protect your stomach lining. If stomach pain or nausea continues, talk to your doctor.
Cinchonism is a group of mild, temporary side effects associated with this type of medicine, including mild ringing in the ears, headache, and sweating. While mild symptoms are common, severe symptoms require attention. Talk to your doctor if these symptoms become intense.
