Quinidine gluconate for malaria

Examples

Generic Name
quinidine gluconate

How It Works

Quinidine gluconate prevents the development of malaria parasites in the blood.

Quinidine gluconate is given through a needle directly into a vein (intravenously, or IV) for a maximum of 7 days.

Why It Is Used

You use quinidine gluconate for severe malaria infection if:

• You cannot take oral antimalarial medications.
• You have serious complications (such as heart or kidney failure).
• The percentage of red blood cells infected (density of parasites) is greater than 5% and the infection is very severe.

How Well It Works

Quinidine gluconate is effective in the treatment of severe Plasmodium falciparum infections.

Side Effects

Side effects of quinidine gluconate include:

• Very low levels of sugar in the blood (hypoglycemia).
• Nausea.
• Blurred vision.
• Headache.
• Belly pain.
• Ringing in the ears and temporary loss of hearing.
• An abnormal heartbeat.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

You should stop taking intravenous (IV) quinidine gluconate as soon as you can take oral medications.

In the United States, intravenous quinidine gluconate is used because intravenous quinine sulfate is not available.

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Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: May 16, 2007
Medical Review:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
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