$Unique_ID{BRK02125}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{QUINIDINE}
$Subject{Cardioquin (Purdue Frederick)
Cin-Quin (Reid-Rowell)
Duraquin (Parke-Davis)
Quinaglute Dura-Tabs (Berlex)
Quinatime (CMC)
Quinidex Extentabs (Robins)
quinidine gluconate (various manufacturers)
quinidine sulfate (various manufacturers)
Quinora (Key)
Quin-Release (Major)}
$Volume{}
$Log{}

Copyright (C) 1991 Publications International, Ltd.


QUINIDINE
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BRAND NAMES (Manufacturers):
     Cardioquin (Purdue Frederick)
     Cin-Quin (Reid-Rowell)
     Duraquin (Parke-Davis)
     Quinaglute Dura-Tabs (Berlex)
     Quinatime (CMC)
     Quinidex Extentabs (Robins)
     quinidine gluconate (various manufacturers)
     quinidine sulfate (various manufacturers)
     Quinora (Key)
     Quin-Release (Major)
TYPE OF DRUG:
     Antiarrhythmic
INGREDIENT:
     quinidine
DOSAGE FORMS:
     Tablets (100 mg, 200 mg, 275 mg, and 300 mg)
     Sustained-release tablets (300 mg, 324 mg, and 330 mg)
     Capsules (200 mg and 300 mg)
STORAGE:
     Quinidine tablets and capsules should be stored at room temperature in
       tightly closed, light-resistant containers.

USES

     Quinidine is used to treat heart arrhythmias.  It corrects irregular
heartbeats and helps to achieve a more normal rhythm.

TREATMENT

     To increase absorption of the drug, take quinidine on an empty stomach
with a full glass of water one hour before or two hours after a meal.  To
lessen stomach upset, ask your doctor if you can take it with food or milk.
     Try to take it at the same time(s) each day.  Quinidine works best when
the amount of the drug in your bloodstream is kept constant.  This medication
should, therefore, be taken at evenly spaced intervals day and night.  For
example, if you are to take quinidine four times per day, the doses should be
spaced six hours apart.
     The sustained-release tablets should be swallowed whole.  Breaking,
chewing, or crushing them destroys their sustained-release activity and may
increase side effects.
     If you miss a dose of this medication and remember within two hours, take
the missed dose immediately and then return to your regular dosing schedule.
If more than two hours have passed (four hours for the sustained-release
tablets), do not take the missed dose at all; just return to your regular
dosing schedule.  Do not double the next dose.

SIDE EFFECTS

     Minor.

     Abdominal pain, bitter taste in mouth, confusion, cramping, diarrhea,
flushing, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, restlessness, or vomiting.
These side effects should disappear as your body adjusts to the medication.

     Major.

     Tell your doctor about any side effects that are persistent or
particularly bothersome.  IT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about
blurred vision, difficulty in breathing, dizziness, fainting, fever, headache,
light-headedness, palpitations, ringing in the ears, sore throat, or unusual
bleeding or bruising.

INTERACTIONS

     Quinidine interacts with several foods and medications:
     1. It can increase the effects of warfarin, which can lead to bleeding
complications.
     2. Acetazolamide, cimetidine, thiazide diuretics (water pills), sodium
bicarbonate, antacids, and citrus fruit juices can increase the blood levels
and thus the possibility of side effects of quinidine.
     3. Nifedipine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, and rifampin can decrease blood
levels of quinidine.
     4. The combination of quinidine and phenothiazine tranquilizers,
reserpine, nifedipine, amiodarone, or other antiarrhythmic agents can lead to
cardiac side effects.
     5. Quinidine can increase blood levels of digoxin, leading to serious
side effects.
     BE SURE TO TELL YOUR DOCTOR about any medications you are currently
taking, especially any listed above.

WARNINGS

     * Tell your doctor about unusual or allergic reactions you have had to
any drugs, especially to quinidine or quinine.
     * Before starting to take this medication, be sure to tell your doctor if
you have ever had heart block, hypokalemia (low blood levels of potassium),
kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis, or
thyroid disease.
     * Although many quinidine products are on the market, they are not all
bioequivalent; that is, they may not all be absorbed into the bloodstream at
the same rate or have the same overall pharmacologic activity.  Do not change
brands of this drug without consulting your doctor or pharmacist.
     * Do not take any over-the-counter (nonprescription) products for asthma,
allergy, sinus, cough, cold, or weight reduction unless you first check with
your doctor or pharmacist.
     * If this drug makes you dizzy or light-headed, do not take part in any
activity that requires alertness, such as driving a car or operating
potentially dangerous machinery.
     * Before having surgery or other medical or dental treatment, tell your
doctor or dentist you are taking this drug.
     * Do not stop taking this drug without first consulting your doctor.
Stopping quinidine abruptly may cause a serious change in the activity of your
heart.  Your doctor may, therefore, want to reduce your dosage gradually.
     * Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant.  Although this drug
appears to be safe, extensive studies in pregnant women have not been
conducted.  Also, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding an infant.  Small
amounts of quinidine pass into breast milk.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
