Quinine sulfate for malaria
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Examples
| Generic Name |
| quinine sulfate plus an antibiotic such as doxycycline or tetracycline |
| Generic Name |
| quinine sulfate plus clindamycin |
| Generic Name |
| quinine sulfate plus pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine |
| Generic Name |
| quinine sulfate (rarely used alone) |
How It Works
Quinine sulfate prevents the development of malaria parasites in the blood.
To treat malaria, you can take quinine sulfate alone for 3 to 7 days, but it is more commonly used in one of three different combinations:
- Quinine sulfate plus doxycycline or tetracycline is taken for 7 days.
- Quinine sulfate plus pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine is taken as a single dose of three tablets.
- Quinine sulfate plus clindamycin is taken for 7 days.
You usually take quinine sulfate as a tablet (orally).
Why It Is Used
Quinine sulfate plus another medication is the medication of choice for chloroquine-resistant malaria (where chloroquine is no longer effective against the malaria parasite).
How Well It Works
Quinine sulfate is effective against all species of Plasmodium.
Side Effects
Side effects of quinine sulfate include:
- Nausea.
- Blurred vision.
- Headache.
- Ringing in the ears.
See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)
What To Think About
Quinine sulfate given through a needle directly into a vein (intravenously, or IV) is not available in the United States, but intravenous quinidine gluconate, as a substitute, works just as well.
Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.
Credits
| Author | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Editor | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA |
| Associate Editor | Denele Ivins |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman, MATC |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease |
| Last Updated | May 16, 2007 |
| Last updated: | May 16, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS |
| Reviewed By: | Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC |
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