QUINIDINE

Quinidine is a drug that is also known as an anti-arrhythmic, meaning that it is used to treat abnormalities in heart rate and rhythm. It normalizes the action potential of the heart cells and controls the way potassium, calcium and sodium moves in and out of the heart muscle cells. It is also used in the treatment of malaria. It is available in oral form and injectable forms.

Uses

Quinidine is used in the treatment of abnormal heart rate and rhythm disorders, such as atrial and ventricular premature contractions, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, and atrial fibrillation. It is also used in the treatment of malaria.

Warnings

Quinidine should not be given in people with the following conditions:

Hypersensitivity
Complete heart block
History of thrombocytopenia during treatment with quinine or quinidine
Digitalis intoxication

Side Effects

Quinidine may give rise to the following side effects:

Muscle weakness
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Cinchonism symptoms including impaired hearing, headache, blurred vision, dizziness and vomiting
Urticaria and skin reactions
Stopping of heart beat
Fainting
Ventricular fibrillation
Thrombocytopenia or low platelet count
Exfoliative dermatitis
Granulomatous hepatitis (hypersensitivity)
Congestive heart failure
Heart block
Ventricular arrhythmias
Tachycardia
Seizure
Coma

Precautions

Precautions

Take extra precautions in people who have the following:

Atrial flutter
Widening QRS complex in ECG
Incomplete AV block in ECG
Uncompensated heart failure
Myasthenia gravis
Acute infections
Fever
Patients on digitalis
Low blood potassium or hypokalaemia
Heart attack
Gastrointestinal obstruction
Liver problems
Kidney problems
Elderly
Prolonged QT interval in ECG
History of torsade de pointes
Myocarditis
Severe myocardial damage
Pregnancy
Breastfeeding

Interactions

Quinidine may interact with the following drugs:

Antihypertensives
Vasodilators
Myocardiac depressants
Oral anticoagulants
Non-depolarizing muscle relaxants
Drugs that alkalinise the urine e.g. thiazides
Cimetidine
Amiodarone
Enzyme inducers e.g. phenobarbital, phenytoin and rifampicin
Verapamil
Procainamide
Haloperidol
Digitalis

Overdose & Brands

Overdose of Quinidine may lead to the following symptoms:

Ventricular arrhythmias
Hypotension
Nausea
Vomiting
Tinnitus
Blurred vision
Confusion
Delirium

Available Brand/s:

Cardioquine
Cin-Quin
Duraquin
Quinidex
Quinora
Quinact
Quinatime
Quinaglute
Quinalan