Quinidine injection

What is this medicine?

QUINIDINE (KWIN i deen) is an antiarrhythmic drug. It helps make your heart beat regularly. This medicine also helps to slow rapid heartbeats. It is also used to treat certain types of malaria.

How should I use this medicine?

This medicine is for injection into a muscle or infusion into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue

• breathing problems

• changes in vision

• confusion

• feeling faint or lightheaded

• fever

• headache

• irregular heartbeat

• nausea, vomiting

• pain on swallowing

• peeling or loose skin

• ringing in the ears

• unusual bruising or bleeding

• unusually weak or tired

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• diarrhea

• flushing of the skin with intense itching

• heartburn

• loss of appetite

• stomach pain

What may interact with this medicine?

Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:

• abarelix

• amiloride

• amoxapine

• apomorphine

• arsenic trioxide

• certain antifungal medicines like itraconazole or ketoconazole

• certain quinolone antibiotics

• cisapride

• droperidol

• haloperidol

• hawthorn

• levomethadyl

• maprotiline

• medicines for malaria like chloroquine and halofantrine

• medicines for mental depression such as tricyclic antidepressants

• mefloquine

• methadone

• other medicines to control heart rhythm

• pentamidine

• phenothiazines like chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, thioridazine

• pimozide

• ranolazine

• sertindole

• vardenafil

• voriconazole

• ziprasidone

This medicine may also interact with the following medications:

• acetazolamide

• antacids

• barbiturates, like phenobarbital

• cimetidine

• diuretics

• medicines for high blood pressure or angina

• medicines for surgery that relax muscles or block pain

• methazolamide

• phenytoin

• prescription pain medicines like codeine and hydrocodone

• rifampin

• sodium bicarbonate

• warfarin

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply.

Where should I keep my medicine?

This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• heart disease or previous heart attack

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• low blood pressure

• lung or breathing disease, like asthma

• myasthenia gravis

• you have a pacemaker

• an unusual or allergic reaction to quinidine, quinine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives

• pregnant or trying to get pregnant

• breast-feeding

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medicine.

You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. Do not stand or sit up quickly, especially if you are an older patient. This reduces the risk of dizzy or fainting spells. Alcohol can make you more dizzy, increase flushing and rapid heartbeats. Avoid alcoholic drinks.