QUININE SULFATE

Posology For the treatment of falciparum (malignant tertian) malaria:

Adults (including elderly) and children aged 12 years and over: 600mg every eight hours for 7 days. The dose may depend upon the size of the patient, severity of infection, and evidence of renal or liver disease (when the intervals should be increased), due to a prolonged half-life of the drug.

If quinine resistance is known or suspected on completion of the course additional treatment may be given. This may be one of the following: 1. doxycycline 200mg daily (as a single dose or in 2 divided doses) for at least 7 days. 2. clindamycin 300mg four times daily for 5 days.

Children aged 10-12 years: 10mg/kg every eight hours for 7 days.

Children under 10 years:

Not recommended For the treatment and prevention of nocturnal leg cramps: Adults (including elderly): The recommended dose is 200mg at bedtime. The maximum dose is 300mg. A reduction in frequency of leg cramps may take up to 4 weeks to become apparent.

Patients should be monitored closely during the early stages of treatment for adverse effects. After an initial trial of 4 weeks, treatment should be stopped if there is no benefit. Treatment should be interrupted at approximately three monthly intervals to assess the need for continuation of treatment with quinine.

Method of Administration For oral administration.

Adverse drug reactions are ranked by frequency, the most frequent first, using the following convention: very common (≥ 1/10); common (≥ 1/100 to < 1/10); uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100); rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000); very rare (< 1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).

Adverse Drug ReactionSystem Organ Class Frequency Not Known Blood and lymphatic system disorders Thrombocytopenia, intravascular coagulation, hypoprothrombinaemia, haemoglobinuria, haemolytic-uremic syndrome, pancytopenia, haemolysis agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune system disorders Eczematous dermatitis, oedema, erythema, lichen planus, hypersensitivity reactions (asthma, angioneurotic oedema, photosensitivity, hot and flushed skin, fever, pruritis, thrombocytopenic purpura and urticaria).

Metabolism and nutrition disorders Hypoglycaemia. Psychiatric disorders Agitation, confusion. Nervous system disorders Headache, vertigo, excitement, loss of consciousness, coma, death. Eye disorders Blurred vision, defective colour perception, visual field constriction.

Ear and labyrinth disorders Tinnitus, impaired hearing. Cardiac disorders Atrioventricular conduction disturbances, a fall in blood pressure coupled with a feeble pulse, prolongation of the QT interval, widening of the QRS complex, T wave flattening.

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders Bronchospasm, dyspnoea. Gastrointestinal disorders Diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain*. Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders Flushing, rash, urticaria, eczematous dermatitis, oedema, erythema, lichen planus, pruritis, photosensitivity , Stevens- Johnson syndrome.

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders Muscle weakness, aggravation of Myasthenia gravis Renal and urinary disorders Renal insufficiency, acute renal failure (may be due to an immune mechanism or to circulatory failure), oliguria.

Reproductive system and breast disorders Abortion** General disorders and administration site conditions Cinchonism*** * May occur after long term administration of quinine. ** Toxic doses of quinine may induce abortion, but it is unwise to withhold the drug if less toxic antimalarials are not available.

*** More common in overdose, but may occur even after normal doses of quinine. In its mild form symptoms include tinnitus, impaired hearing, rashes, headache, nausea and disturbed vision. 9). Visual disorders (blurred vision, defective colour perception, visual field constriction and total blindness).

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.

Cinochonism Administration of quinine may give rise to cinchonism, which is generally more severe in overdose, but may also occur in normal therapeutic doses. Patients should be warned not to exceed the prescribed dose, because of the possibility of serious, irreversible side effects in overdose.

Treatment for night cramps should be stopped if symptoms of cinchonism emerge. 9). Hypersensitivity Hypersensitivity to quinine may also occur with symptoms of cinchonism together with urticaria, flushing, pruritus, rash, fever, angioedema, dyspnoea and asthma.

Serious hypersensitivity reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome have been reported with quinine. Cardiac disorders Quinine has dose-dependent QT-prolonging effects. Caution is recommended in patients with conditions which predispose to QT-prolongation and in patients with atrioventricular block.

Quinine should be used with caution in patients with atrial fibrillation, heart block, other cardiac conduction defects, or other serious heart disease. Quinine may cause hypoprothrombinaemia and enhance the effects of anticoagulants.

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) Deficiency Quinine has been implicated in precipitating blackwater fever when given for prolonged periods, although in some cases, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency may have been involved.

Patients with glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency may be at increased risk of haemolysis during quinine therapy and may develop acute haemolytic anaemia. 6). Treatment with quinine should be monitored in case signs of resistance develop.

8), should be carefully considered relative to the potential benefits. These risks are likely to be of particular concern in the elderly. Quinine should only be considered when cramps are very painful or frequent, when other treatable causes of cramp have been ruled out, and when non-pharmacological measures have not worked.

6). Quinine may cause unpredictable serious and life-threatening thrombocytopenia, which is thought to be an idiosyncratic hypersensitivity reaction. Quinine should not be prescribed or administered to patients who have previously experienced any adverse reaction to quinine, including that in tonic water or other beverages.

Patients should be instructed to stop treatment and consult a physician if signs of thrombocytopenia such as unexplained bruising or bleeding occur. Reduce the dosage (or increase intervals between doses) in renal or hepatic disease.

This medicine contains less than 1 mmol (23mg) sodium per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

1. • Haemolysis or Haemoglobinuria • Optic neuritis • Tinnitus • Myasthenia gravis, quinine may cause severe respiratory distress and dysphagia in these patients. • As quinine has been implicated in precipitating blackwater fever, it is generally contraindicated in patients who have already suffered an attack.