Quinine Sulphate
About Quinine Sulphate
Quinine Sulphate belongs to the class of 'anti-malarial drugs', primarily used to treat and prevent malaria. Malaria is a condition caused by a plasmodium parasite transmitted by the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. When an infected mosquito bites a healthy person, it transmits the 'Plasmodium parasite' into the bloodstream, which affects the red blood cells and liver cells. 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.
Quinine Sulphate contains Quinine sulfate, which treats malaria. It increases the levels of hemozoin (a toxic substance to the malarial parasite) in the blood, killing the parasite and helping prevent the infection from spreading further.
Quinine Sulphate should be given as prescribed by the doctor. Your doctor will decide the dose and duration based on the child’s medical condition. Common side effects of Quinine Sulphate include vomiting, fever, headache, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite, problems with vision or hearing, nausea, diarrhoea, dark urine, and yellow skin/eyes. These side effects are not familiar to everyone and vary individually. If you notice any side effects that are not manageable, please consult your doctor.
Before using Quinine Sulphate, inform your doctor if your child has recently taken any prescription and non-prescription medications, including other anti-malarial or antibiotic drugs. Tell your doctor if the child is allergic to Quinine Sulphate or its components. Please let your doctor know if your child is having any liver or kidney problems or severe heart disease.
Uses of Quinine Sulphate
• Treatment of falciparum malaria: Quinine Sulphate is effective against Plasmodium falciparum, especially in areas with chloroquine resistance.
• Severe malaria cases: Quinine Sulphate is used when other antimalarial drugs are ineffective.
Medicinal Benefits
Quinine Sulphate belongs to the class of 'anti-malarial drugs' containing Quinine Sulphate. It is primarily used to treat and prevent malaria and nighttime leg cramps. It treats malaria by increasing the levels of hemozoin (a toxic substance to the malarial parasite) in the blood. This kills the parasite and helps prevent the infection from spreading further.
Directions for Use
Storage
Side Effects of Quinine Sulphate
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
- Problems with vision or hearing.
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Dark urine
- Yellow skin/eyes
Drug Warnings
Let your doctor know if the child has used any antibiotic drugs or has recently undergone treatment with other anti-malarial drugs. Inform your doctor if your child has any allergic reactions to Quinine Sulphate or any of its components. Brief the child's medical history to the doctor if having any liver or kidney problems, malarial infection of the brain, lungs, or kidneys, severe heart diseases, electrolyte imbalance, hypokalemia (low potassium levels), or hypomagnesemia (low magnesium levels) before taking Quinine Sulphate. This medicine may affect QT prolongation, which can cause serious fast/irregular heartbeat. Hence, it is advised to inform your doctor if your child has any heart-related problems like heart failure, slow heartbeat, QT prolongation in EKG or ECG (electrocardiogram), and a family history of heart disease.
Drug Interactions
Drug-Drug Interactions: Quinine Sulphate is known to interact with anti-asthma medicines (aminophylline, theophylline), antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin, levofloxacin, tetracycline), antidepressants (citalopram, amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine), anti-fungal medicines (itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole), cholesterol-lowering medicines (atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin), decongestants (dextromethorphan), HIV medications (atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir), seizure medicines (carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, primidone), stomach ulcer medicines (cimetidine, ranitidine), anti-tuberculosis medicines (rifampicin, rifabutin), mental illness medicines (haloperidol, thioridazine), antiparkinson disease (amantadine).
Drug-Food Interactions: No interactions were found.
Drug-Disease Interactions: Quinine Sulphate is known to interact with patients with heart disease or who have irregular heartbeats, severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD), liver or kidney problems, myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakness problem), or ocular toxicity (visual disturbances).
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
not applicable-
Pregnancy
not applicable-
Breast Feeding
not applicable-
Driving
not applicable-
Liver
cautionPatients with mild to moderate liver disease may still use Quinine Sulphate under careful supervision from a healthcare professional, but patients with severe liver disease should not take Quinine Sulphate because the drug's clearance is greatly reduced in these patients. Instead, alternative therapies should be explored in these situations.
Kidney
consult your doctorLimited data is available on the use of Quinine Sulphate in children with kidney disease. If your child has kidney impairment, inform your doctor before using Quinine Sulphate.
Children
safe if prescribedQuinine Sulphate is safe to use in children when a doctor prescribes it.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Give nutritious food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, to your child that helps to recover from malarial fever.
- During malarial fever, the patient(child) may experience appetite loss. In such cases, ensure your child drinks glucose water, fresh fruit juices, and coconut water.
- Include high-fibre foods like green leafy vegetables and fruits to aid digestion.
- Remove any stagnant water around your home to prevent mosquito breeding.
- Dress your child in long sleeves and pants, especially during the evening and night.
- Make sure your child sleeps under a mosquito net treated with insecticide.
Special Advise
- Inform your doctor about taking Quinine Sulphate if your child is 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.
- Regularly, undergo eye tests while taking Quinine Sulphate. Ensure your child has regular blood tests and check-ups as advised by their doctor.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
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 4 weeks after the infection. They include chills, high fever, profuse sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia, muscle pain, convulsions, coma, and bloody stools.
FAQs
Quinine Sulphate is used to treat malaria in children.
Quinine Sulphate belongs to the class of anti-malarial drugs containing Quinine Sulphate, which 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.
No, finish the prescribed course even if your child starts to feel better. Stopping it early may make the infection come back and harder to treat.
Yes, Quinine Sulphate can cause dizziness as a side effect in some children. It is better to make your child to have sleep for some time after giving Quinine Sulphate.
Yes, Quinine Sulphate 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.
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. Consult your doctor if you experience any symptoms of malaria.
The common side effects of Quinine Sulphate that occur in some children are vomiting, fever, headache, dizziness, tiredness, loss of appetite, problems with vision or hearing, nausea diarrhea, dark urine, and yellow skin/eyes. However, these side effects do not require any medical attention. If any of these side effects persist or worsen in your child, please consult your doctor.
