Type of medicine: antimalarial
Generic and brand names: quinine sulfate, oral; Qualaquin
This medicine is taken by mouth to treat malaria. Do not confuse this medicine (quinine) with quinidine. Quinidine is used to treat heart conditions.
Because of the potential for severe side effects, quinine is no longer recommended to treat night-time leg cramps. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Tell your provider if you smoke. Smoking cigarettes can affect how this medicine works.
Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. Taking too much of this medicine may cause side effects.
Take this medicine with or after meals to lessen stomach upset, unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. Take the capsules whole. Do not chew, break, or crush them. If you take the medicine at bedtime, eat a snack or drink a glass of milk or juice.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. If it has been more than 4 hours since the missed dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: headache, confusion, dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, vision problems, stomach pain, severe nausea or vomiting, sweating, irregular heartbeat, lightheadedness, fainting.
This medicine may cause dizziness, blurred vision, or other changes in your vision. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and can see clearly.
You may need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.
You may have low blood sugar while taking this medicine. Symptoms of low blood sugar include confusion, shaking, weakness, strong hunger, cold sweats, headache, nausea, vision problems, and feeling faint. You can eat honey or candy, or drink a glass of orange juice or nondiet soda to quickly raise your blood sugar level. Do not use chocolate because the fat content slows down the sugar entering the bloodstream. Talk about this with your healthcare provider.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Irregular or fast heartbeat, chest pain, flushing, ringing in your ears, trouble seeing or hearing, change in color vision, severe headache, severe dizziness, fever, trouble urinating, blood in the urine, unusual bleeding or bruising or red spots on the skin; unexplained swelling.
Other: Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, confusion, sweating, loss of appetite, headache.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
