Quinidine (Systemic)
Brand Names : Cardioquin, Quinaglute Dura-tabs, Quinidex Extentabs, Quin-Release, Apo-Quinidine, Biquin Durules, Novoquinidin, Quinate
Before Using This MedicineIn deciding to use a medicine,
the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will
do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For quinidine, the following
should be considered:
Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or
allergic reaction 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 - Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done
in either humans or animals. However, quinidine has been used 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 - 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.
Children - Quinidine has not been widely studied in children;
however, it is used in children 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.
Older adults - Many medicines have not been studied specifically
in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly
the same way they do in younger adults. Although there is no specific information
comparing use of quinidine in the elderly with use in other age groups, this
medicine is not expected to cause different side effects or problems in older
people than it does in younger adults. However, quinidine may remain in the
bodies of older adults longer than it does in younger adults, which may increase
the risk of side effects and which may require lower doses.
Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used
together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together
even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your 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 medicines (heart medicine) - Effects may be increased
because levels of digitalis in the body may be increased
-
Antidepressants, tricyclic, such as amitriptyline (e.g., Elavil),
clomipramine (e.g., Anafranil), desipramine (e.g., Norpramin), doxepin (e.g.,
Sinequan), imipramine (e.g., Tofranil), and nortriptyline (e.g., Pamelor)
or
-
Astemizole (e.g., Hismanal) or
-
Chloroquine (e.g., Aralen) or
-
Clarithromycin (e.g., Biaxin) or
-
Cisapride (e.g., Propulsid) or
-
Diphenhydramine (e.g., Benadryl) or
-
Erythromycin (e.g., Erythrocin, Erytab) or
-
Fludrocortisone (e.g., Florinef) or
-
Halofantrine (e.g., Halfan) or
-
Haloperidol (e.g., Haldol) or
-
Indapamide (e.g., Lozol) or
-
Maprotiline (e.g., Ludiomil) or
-
Mefloquine (e.g., Lariam) or
-
Other heart medicine, including bepridil (e.g., Vascor), beta-adrenergic
blocking agents such as propranolol (e.g., Inderal), diltiazem (e.g., Cardizem),
disopyramide (e.g. Norpace), encainide (e.g., Encaid), flecainide (e.g., Tambocor),
ibutilide (e.g., Corvert), lidocaine (e.g., Xylocaine), procainamide (e.g.,
Procanbid), propafenone (e.g., Rythmol), sotalol (e.g., Betapace, Sotacor),
tocainide (e.g., Tonocard), and verapamil (e.g., Calan, Isoptin) or
-
Pentamidine (e.g., NebuPent, Pentam) or
-
Phenothiazines (e.g., chlorpromazine [e.g., Thorazine], perphenazine
[e.g., Trilafon], prochlorperazine [e.g., Compazine], thioridazine [e.g.,
Mellaril]) or
-
Pimozide (e.g., Orap) or
-
Risperidone (e.g., Risperdal) or
-
Sparfloxacin (e.g., Zagam) or
-
Tamoxifen (e.g., Nolvadex) or
-
Thiothixene (e.g., Navane) or
-
Trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole combination (e.g., Bactrim, Septra) - Effects
on the heart may be increased
-
Urinary alkalizers (medicine that makes the urine less acid, such
as acetazolamide [e.g., Diamox], dichlorphenamide [e.g., Daranide], methazolamide
[e.g., Neptazane], and sodium bicarbonate [baking soda]) - Effects may
be increased because levels of quinidine in the body may be increased
Other medical problems - The presence of other medical
problems may affect the use of quinidine. Make sure you tell your doctor if
you have any other medical problems, especially:
-
Electrolyte disorders - Quinidine may worsen heart rhythm problems
-
Heart disease or
-
Myasthenia gravis - Quinidine may make these conditions worse
-
Kidney disease or
-
Liver disease - Effects may be increased because of slower removal
of quinidine from the body
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