Brand Names: Quin-G

Generic Name: quinidine (Pronunciation: KWIH nih deen)

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

What is quinidine (Quinidex)?

Quinidine affects the way that the heart beats.

Quinidine is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with certain heart rhythm disorders.

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

Quindine 324 mg ER-WAT

round, white, imprinted with 5538, DAN

Quinidine 200 mg-WAT

round, white, imprinted with 5438, DAN DAN

Quinidine 300 mg ER-TEV

round, white, imprinted with 93 175

Quinidine 300 mg-WAT

round, white, imprinted with 5454, DAN DAN

Quinidine Gluconate 324 mg-URL

round, white, imprinted with MP 66

What are the possible side effects of quinidine (Quinidex)?

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

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• vomiting and diarrhea;
• ringing in the ears, hearing loss, severe dizziness;
• feeling like you might pass out;
• changes in vision, pain behind your eyes, increased sensitivity of your eyes to light;
• white patches on your eyes;
• cloudiness in the pupils or iris of your eyes;
• a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern;
• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
• nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools;
• seizure (convulsions);
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin; or
• bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing).

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;
• heartburn;
• depressed mood;
• muscle or joint pain;
• headache, dizziness;
• mild skin rash;
• skin dryness, peeling, or flaking; or
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

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.

Read the Quinidex (quinidine) Side Effects Center for a complete guide to possible side effects »

What is the most important information I should know about quinidine (Quinidex)?

You should not take this medication if you have ever had an allergic reaction to quinidine or quinine (Qualaquin), including easy bruising or unusual bleeding. You should not take quinidine if you have myasthenia gravis or certain heart conditions, especially "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker).

Before you take quinidine, tell your doctor if you have a slow heart rate, congestive heart failure, a serious heart condition such as "sick sinus syndrome," kidney or liver disease, low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood, a history of "Long QT syndrome," if you are on a low-salt diet, or if you have ever had an abnormal electrocardiogram or ECG (sometimes called an EKG).

If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using quinidine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.

Ask your doctor how to adjust your quinidine dose if needed. Do not change your medication dose or schedule without your doctor's advice.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as: vomiting and diarrhea, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, severe dizziness, changes in vision, pain behind your eyes, white patches or cloudiness in your eyes, pale or yellowed skin, dark urine, easy bruising or bleeding, wheezing, trouble breathing, or a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern.