quinine bisulfate at a glance
Medicine class
Cinchona alkaloid and antimalarial agent
Licensed uses
Falciparum malaria; selected sleep-disrupting nocturnal leg cramps in adults and older people
Form
Oral film-coated tablet
Key safety point
Stop and seek advice for unexplained bruising, bleeding, hearing changes or visual disturbance
What is quinine bisulfate used for?
The selected product is licensed for:
Treatment of falciparum malaria.
Treatment and prevention of nocturnal leg cramps in adults and older people when cramps regularly disrupt sleep. For cramps, quinine should only be considered after treatable causes and non-medicine measures have been addressed.
How does quinine bisulfate work?
Quinine acts against malaria parasites within red blood cells, although its precise molecular action is uncertain. It also changes electrical activity at skeletal-muscle nerve endings, which may reduce cramping.
quinine bisulfate preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 300 mg
How to take quinine bisulfate
Take the tablet by mouth exactly as prescribed. Do not exceed the prescribed amount because toxicity can occur during ordinary use and overdose can cause irreversible harm.
Check that the prescription specifies quinine bisulfate; quinine salts are not directly interchangeable.
If vision, hearing or balance is affected, do not drive or operate machinery.
quinine bisulfate side effects
Common or expected effects
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
- Headache, dizziness or vertigo, flushing, rash, itching and sensitivity to sunlight.
- Tinnitus, impaired hearing and visual changes can form part of quinine toxicity known as cinchonism.
Get urgent medical advice
- Unexplained bruising, pinpoint spots, nosebleeds or other bleeding may indicate severe thrombocytopenia.
- Swelling, wheezing, breathing difficulty or a widespread blistering rash may indicate serious hypersensitivity.
- Marked visual or hearing loss, confusion, severe weakness or heart-rhythm symptoms require urgent assessment.
- Low blood sugar, haemolysis, severe blood disorders and kidney injury have been reported.
quinine bisulfate in pregnancy
Quinine bisulfate should not be used for night cramps during pregnancy. Malaria can be life-threatening for mother and baby, so quinine may still be used when a clinician considers it the best antimalarial option.
quinine bisulfate while breastfeeding
Quinine passes into breast milk. The selected product advises use during breastfeeding only when the expected benefit outweighs the potential risk.
quinine bisulfate interactions
Quinine has clinically important cardiac, bleeding and other interactions. Check all prescribed, over-the-counter and complementary products before use.
Medicines that prolong the QT interval
Combining them with quinine can increase the risk of dangerous ventricular arrhythmias; examples include amiodarone, moxifloxacin and some antipsychotics.
Digoxin and other cardiac glycosides
Quinine can increase blood concentrations and toxicity risk.
Warfarin and other anticoagulants
Quinine may strengthen anticoagulant effects and increase bleeding risk.
Common questions about quinine bisulfate
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Is quinine bisulfate a routine treatment for leg cramps?
No. Stretching and assessment for treatable causes are considered first; quinine is reserved for selected people whose cramps regularly disrupt sleep.
Can quinine bisulfate treat malaria?
Yes. The selected product is licensed for falciparum malaria, which requires urgent clinician-led management.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.