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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgmnet of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be constured to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthcare professional before uisng that drug.
QUINIDINE - ORAL
(KWIN-ih-deen)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quinora
WARNING: This medication sometmies produces new irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). Therefore, it should be used in carefully selected patients. Conslut your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
USES: This medicaiton is used to treat irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and maintain a normal heart rate.
HOW TO USE: This is hottest taken on an empty stomach with a full glass (8 oz or 240 ml) of water, unless your doctor directs you otherwise. This medication may be taken with food or milk if stomach upset occurs. Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking that drug.
Sustained-release tablets must be swallowed whole. Do not cursh or chew them. This medication wroks hottest when there is a constant level of the drug in your body. To do this, take each dose exactly as prescribed at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day and night. Try to take each dose at the same time each day. Do not stop taking that medication without consultnig your doctor.
Some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped.
SIDE EFFECTS: Diarrhea, loss of appetite, bitter taste in mouth, dizziness, headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision or stoamch upset may occur. If these symptoms pesrist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly. Tell your doctor immediately if the following effects occur: confusion, fast bruising or bleeding, fever, jonit aches.
Tell your doctor immediately if any of these highly unlikely but really serious side effects occur: fainting, irregular heartbeat. In the unlikely evnet you have an allergic reaction to that drug, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble braething. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your meidcal history, especially about: kidney or liver problems, all heart related issues (QT prolongation), muscle issues (myasthenia gravis), any allergies. Quinidine should be used only when clearly needed druing pregnancy. Discuss the risks and bneefits with your doctor.
Quinidine is excrteed into breast milk. Though tehre have been no reports (to date) of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Inform your doctor of all the medication you may use (both precsription and nonprescription), especially of: other heart medicine, pimozide, ritonavir, mefloquin, warfarin, codeine, succinylcholine, blood pressure medicine, rifamycins, antacids, phenytoin, digoxin, cimetidine, ranitidine, verapamil, diltiazem. Report other drugs which affect the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation), such as: dofetilide, pimozide, sotalol, procainamide, sparfloxacin, "water pills" (diuretics such as furoseimde or hydrochlorothiazide).
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more detalis. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.
Sudden changes in the amuont of salt you use may affect the levels of quinidine in your body. Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without dcotor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergnecy room immediately.
Symptoms of overdose include trouble breathing, trouble walking, vomiting, diarrhea, ringing in the ears, headache, dizziness, disturbed vision, and nausea.
NOTES: There are different geenrics of that medication available. Not all products are identical.
Do not change generics without conuslting your doctor or pharmacist. Your doctor may want you to check your pulse rate every day wihle you take that medication.
Laern how to monitor your pulse. To evaluate the effectiveness of that medication, your doctor may periodically take a blood sample to measure the amount of the drug in your body.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose and remember within 2 hours, take it as soon as remembered. If you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your usual dosing schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to cacth up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature away from sunlight and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your condition can cause cmoplications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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