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- $Unique_ID{BRK03320}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{quinidine}
- $Subject{Cardioquin Purdue Frederick Cin-Quin Reid-Rowell Duraquin Parke-Davis
- Quinaglute Dura-Tabs Berlex Quinatime CMC Quinidex Extentabs Robins gluconate
- sulfate Quinora Key Quin-Release Major Antiarrhythmic quinidine heart
- arrhythmias irregular heartbeats normal rhythm}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (C) 1993 Publications International, Ltd.
-
-
- quinidine
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- 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.
- Take it at the same time(s) each day. Quinidine works best when the
- amount in your bloodstream is kept constant. This medication should,
- therefore, be taken at evenly spaced intervals day and night. For example, if
- you take quinidine four times per day, the doses should be six hours apart.
- The sustained-release tablets should be swallowed whole.
- 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, rash, 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 that can be very harmful.
- 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 currently taking this medication.
- * 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.
-
- ----------------
-
- 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.
-