Before taking quinine

Before taking quinine make sure your doctor or pharmacist knows:

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby or breast-feeding.
• If you have any problems with your eyes, or with hearing.
• If you have heart problems.
• If you have kidney or liver problems.
• If you suffer from myasthenia gravis (a muscle weakening disorder).
• If you are taking other medicines, including those available to buy without a prescription, herbal or complementary medicines.
• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to this or to any other medicine.

How to take quinine

For malaria:

• If you are taking quinine in a tablet form, follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Before beginning treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet.
• If you are having quinine as an injection by infusion, this will be given to you in hospital.

• Quinine tablets are usually taken at bedtime. At first, you will be given a four-week trial of quinine to see if it helps you. After this, your treatment will be checked every three months to make sure you are still benefiting from it.
• If you develop a ringing noise in your ear, difficulty seeing, sickness, flushing or pain in the abdomen, you must tell your doctor straight away as your treatment may need to be stopped.

Getting the most from your treatment

• If you are taking quinine for malaria it is important that you take the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
• Quinine is present in drinks such as tonic water and bitter lemon - try to avoid these while taking quinine.
• Your doctor may check your blood-sugar while you are on this medication.
• Seek medical attention immediately if you take too many tablets or if anyone takes any of these tablets by accident.
• If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are safe to take with quinine.

Can quinine cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, all medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. These usually improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following side-effects continue or become troublesome:

• Any difficulty breathing, or any swelling of the mouth, throat or face.
• An unexplained sore throat or unusual bruising.
• Any bleeding in the skin, tiny red dots in the skin on the lower legs, small scattered bruises, bleeding gums, blood in the stool or urine, or unusually heavy periods (women).

How to store quinine

• Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines

References

• Manufacturer's PIL, Quinine Sulphate Tablets 300 mg, Actavis UK Ltd, electronic Medicines Compendium. Dated June 2009, accessed June 2010.
• British National Formulary; 59th Edition (March 2010) British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, London (link to current BNF)