quinidine (oral/injection)

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

What is quinidine?

Quinidine is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with certain heart rhythm disorders, usually after other treatments have failed. Quinidine has not been proven to lower the risks of stroke or death.

Quinidine is also used to treat a life-threatening form of malaria.

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

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using quinidine?

• a serious heart condition called "AV block" (unless you have a pacemaker);
• myasthenia gravis; or
• a history of bruising or bleeding after using quinidine or quinine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• a heart condition called "sick sinus syndrome";
• slow heartbeats;
• congestive heart failure;
• a heart valve disorder, a hole in your heart, an enlarged heart, or mitral valve prolapse;
• long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);
• Marfan syndrome;
• heart rhythm problems with past use of quinidine;
• liver or kidney disease; or
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood).

How is quinidine given?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Your blood pressure and heart rate should be monitored in a hospital or clinic setting when you start using quinidine, and whenever your dose is changed.

Quinidine oral is taken by mouth. Quinidine injection is given as an infusion into a vein. A healthcare provider will give you this injection if you are unable to take the medicine by mouth.

When quinidine is given to treat malaria, you may also be given antibiotic medication. Keep using the antibiotic for as long as your doctor has prescribed.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Because you will receive quinidine injection in a clinical setting, you are not likely to miss a dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Overdose can cause vomiting, diarrhea, ringing in your ears, hearing loss, severe dizziness, double vision, confusion, irregular heartbeats, or feeling like you might pass out.

What should I avoid while using quinidine?

Grapefruit may interact with oral quinidine and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products.

What are the possible side effects of quinidine?

• fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out);
• vomiting and diarrhea;
• confusion, ringing in your ears, hearing loss;
• severe eye redness, vision problems, increased sensitivity to light;
• wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing;
• easy bruising, unusual bleeding;
• pale or yellowed skin, stomach pain (upper right side), dark urine;
• fever, chills, sore throat, mouth sores, swollen glands;
• skin itching, flaking, blistering, peeling, or rash on your cheeks or arms that worsens in sunlight;
• muscle or joint pain; or
• dry mouth, trouble swallowing.

Common side effects may include:

• chest pain, pounding heartbeats;
• dizziness;
• heartburn, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);
• feeling weak or tired; or
• pain or tenderness where the medicine was injected (may last for several weeks).

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 other drugs will affect quinidine?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Many drugs can affect quinidine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about quinidine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.01. Revision date: 5/29/2019.