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Brand Names: Qualaquin

Generic Name: quinine (Pronunciation: KWYE nine)

• What is quinine (Qualaquin)?
• What are the possible side effects of quinine (Qualaquin)?
• What is the most important information I should know about quinine (Qualaquin)?
• What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking quinine (Qualaquin)?
• How should I take quinine (Qualaquin)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Qualaquin)?
• What happens if I overdose (Qualaquin)?
• What should I avoid while taking quinine (Qualaquin)?
• What other drugs will affect quinine (Qualaquin)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is quinine (Qualaquin)?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of all non-approved brands of quinine because of the risk of serious side effects or death. As of December 2006, Qualaquin is the only brand of quinine that is approved by the FDA.

Quinine is used to treat malaria, a disease caused by parasites. Parasites that cause malaria typically enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. Malaria is common in areas such as Africa, South America, and Southern Asia.

Quinine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of quinine (Qualaquin)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using quinine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• fever, chills, confusion, weakness;
• severe vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea;
• problems with vision or hearing;
• trouble breathing;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• chest pain;
• fast, pounding, or fluttering heartbeats;
• weak or shallow breathing, feeling like you might pass out;
• pale skin, easy bruising, purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin;
• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; o
• loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• headache, ringing in your ears, blurred vision;
• dizziness, spinning sensation;
• increased sweating;
• mild nausea, diarrhea, or stomach pain;
• muscle weakness; or
• warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under the skin.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about quinine (Qualaquin)?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has banned the sale of all non-approved brands of quinine because of the risk of serious side effects or death. As of December 2006, Qualaquin is the only brand of quinine that is approved by the FDA.

Quinine can cause serious or life-threatening side effects, and is approved for use only in treating malaria. Some people have used quinine to treat leg cramps, but this is not an FDA-approved use.

Do not use quinine to treat any medical condition if your doctor did not prescribe quinine for that condition. Do not purchase quinine on the Internet or from vendors outside of the United States. Using this medication improperly or without the advice of a doctor can result in serious side effects or death.

Do not use this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to quinine or similar medicines such as mefloquine (Lariam) or quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute).

You should not take quinine if you have a history of "Long QT syndrome," or if you have glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency, myasthenia gravis, or optic neuritis (inflammation of the nerves in your eyes).

Before taking quinine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease or a heart rhythm disorder, low potassium levels in your blood (hypokalemia), kidney disease, or liver disease.

Serious side effects of quinine include fever, chills, confusion weakness, severe vomiting or stomach pain, diarrhea, pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, chest pain, pounding or fluttering heartbeats, hearing or vision loss, purple spots under your skin, a blistering or peeling skin rash, or urinating less than usual or not at all.

No medication is 100% effective in treating malaria. For best results, keep using the medication as directed. Talk with your doctor if you have fever, vomiting, or diarrhea during your treatment.