8/11/2019 About Quinine for Malaria

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Malaria is a disease which is passed on to humans by infected mosquitoes. A parasite called plasmodium lives

inside the stomachs of infected female mosquitoes and is passed on to humans by a bite. There are four types of

plasmodium that cause malaria. Of the four,Plasmodium falciparumis usually the most serious, so this type of

malaria is likely to be treated in hospital.

Quinine works by killing the parasites passed into your body from the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is thought to

do this by interfering with the way the parasite reproduces.

overdose

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In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not

breathing, call local emergency services at 911.

Symptoms of overdose may include:

blurriness or changes in color vision

symptoms of low blood sugar

changes in heartbeat

headache

nausea

vomiting

stomach pain

diarrhea

ringing in the ears or difficulty hearing

seizures

slow or difficult breathing

Quinine is a natural white crystalline alkaloid having antipyretic, anti-malarial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties

and a bitter taste. Quinine occurs naturally in the bark of the cinchona treethough it has also been synthesized in the

laboratoryQuinine was the first effective Western treatment for malaria

Quinine is used for:

Treating malaria. It is usually used with other antimalarial medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as

determined by your doctor.

Quinine is an antimalarial. It works by killing the malaria parasite.

How to use quinine:

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8/11/2019 About Quinine for Malaria

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Use quinine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

Quinine comes with an extra patient information sheet called a Medication Guide. Read it carefully. Read it

again each time you get quinine refilled.

Take quinine by mouth with food to reduce the risk of stomach upset.

Do not take an antacid that has aluminum or magnesium in it within 1 hour before or 2 hours after you take

quinine.

Do not take more than 2 capsules at 1 time or more than 3 doses in 1 day.

Take quinine for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days. Do not miss

any doses.

If you miss a dose of quinine, take it as soon as possible. If it has been more than 4 hours since the missed

dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use quinine.

Possible side effects of quinine:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if

any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Dizziness; flushing; headache; nausea; sweating.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth,

face, lips, or tongue, unusual hoarseness); black, tarry, or bloody stools; blurred vision, changes in how you seecolor, double vision, light sensitivity, blindness, or other unusual vision changes; chest pain; confusion; dark or

bloody urine; decreased amount of urine or trouble urinating; decreased hearing, hearing loss, or ringing in the

ears; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fatigue; fever, chills, or sore throat; loss of appetite; low blood sugar

symptoms (eg, anxiety, dizziness, fast heartbeat, headache, tremors, unusual sweating); mood or mental

problems; muscle weakness; nervousness; pale skin; personality changes; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin;

seizures; severe dizziness, light-headedness, or flushing; severe nosebleed; severe or persistent nausea,

vomiting, or diarrhea; speech problems; stomach or back pain; sudden onset of cold sweat; unusual purple,

brown, or red spots on your skin; unusual bleeding or bruising; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellowing of the

eyes or skin.

quinine,drug obtained fromcinchonabark that is used chiefly in the treatment ofmalaria,an infection caused by

the protozoan parasitePlasmodium,which is transmitted to humans by the bite of various species of mosquitoes.

During the 300 years between its introduction into Western medicine and World War I, quinine was the only

effective remedy formalaria.As a specific treatment for this disease, quinine has benefited more people than any

other drug used thus far to fight infectious diseases. The treatment of malaria with quinine marked the first

successful use of achemical compoundin combating an infectious disease. Quinine was first synthesized in a

laboratory in 1944; however, synthesis of the drug on a commercial scale is not economically feasible.

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