Quinidine : Before Using - Cardioquin, Quinaglute Dura-tabs, Quinidex Extentabs, Quin-Release, Apo-Quinidine, Biquin Durules, Novoquinidin, Quinate

Quinidine - Systemic

Brand Names

Cardioquin, Quinaglute Dura-tabs, Quinidex Extentabs, Quin-Release, Apo-Quinidine, Biquin Durules, Novoquinidin, Quinate Quinidine *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For quinidine, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to quinidine or quinine. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or pets. However, quinidine has been using during pregnancy and, although serious side effects are uncommon, it has been shown to cause mild uterine contractions, premature labor and blood problems in the neonate.

Breast-feeding problem

Quinidine passes into breast milk and, because of the potential for problems in the nursing infant, it is generally not recommended in mothers who are breast-feeding.

Use for Children

Quinidine has not been widely studied in child; however, it is using in child to treat abnormal heart rhythms and to treat malaria. Children may be able to take higher doses than adults and may have fewer side effects - such as vomiting, loss of appetite and diarrhea than adults.

Elderly care

Many medication have not been studied specifically in elderly people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in adults people. Although there is no special info comparing use of quinidine in the elderly with use in other age groups, this drug is not expected to cause various side effects or problems in older people than it does in adults people. However, quinidine may remain in the bodies of older adults longer than it does in adults people, which may increase the risk of side effects and which may require lower doses.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking quinidine, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Amiodarone Effects may be increased because levels of quinidine in the body may be increased

Digitalis medication - heart drug Effects may be increased because levels of digitalis in the body may be increased

Antidepressants, tricyclic, such as amitriptyline - Elavil, clomipramine - Anafranil, desipramine - Norpramin, doxepin - Sinequan, imipramine - Tofranil and nortriptyline - Pamelor
Astemizole - Hismanal
Chloroquine - Aralen
Clarithromycin - Biaxin
Cisapride - Propulsid
Diphenhydramine - Benadryl
Erythromycin - Erythrocin, Erytab
Fludrocortisone - Florinef
Halofantrine - Halfan
Haloperidol - Haldol
Indapamide - Lozol
Maprotiline - Ludiomil
Mefloquine - Lariam
Other heart drug, including bepridil - Vascor, beta-adrenergic blocking agents such as propranolol - Inderal, diltiazem - Cardizem, disopyramide - e.g. Norpace, encainide - Encaid, flecainide - Tambocor, ibutilide - Corvert, lidocaine - Xylocaine, procainamide - Procanbid, propafenone - Rythmol, sotalol - Betapace, Sotacor, tocainide - Tonocard and verapamil - Calan, Isoptin
Pentamidine - NebuPent, Pentam
Phenothiazines - chlorpromazine " Thorazine ", perphenazine " Trilafon ", prochlorperazine " Compazine ", thioridazine " Mellaril "
Pimozide - Orap
Risperidone - Risperdal
Sparfloxacin - Zagam
Tamoxifen - Nolvadex
Thiothixene - Navane
Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole combination - Bactrim, Septra Effects on the heart may be increased

Urinary alkalizers - drug that makes the urine less acid, such as acetazolamide " Diamox ", dichlorphenamide " Daranide ", methazolamide " Neptazane " and sodium bicarbonate "baking soda " Effects may be increased because levels of quinidine in the body may be increased

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of quinidine. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Electrolyte disorders Quinidine may worsen heart rhythm problems

Heart disease
Myasthenia gravis Quinidine may make these conditions worse

Kidney disease
Liver disease Effects may be increased because of slower removal of quinidine from the body