Quinine Sulphate 300 Mg Tablets
PACKAGE INFORMATION LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
1. What Quinine Sulfate tablets are and what they are used for
Quinine Sulfate belongs to a group of medicines called anti-malarials. It is used in the treatment of a type of malaria known as falciparum malaria. It is also used in the treatment of night leg cramps in adults and the elderly.
Please read the entire leaflet before you start taking this
medicine.
• Keep the leaflet; you may need to read it again.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you personally and you should not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
• If you have any further questions, please ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
2. Before you take Quinine Sulfate tablets
In this leaflet:
1. What Quinine Sulfate tablets are and what they are used for
2. Before you take Quinine Sulfate tablets
3. How to take Quinine Sulfate tablets
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Quinine Sulfate tablets
6. Further information
Do not take Quinine Sulfate tablets if you:
• are allergic to quinine or any other of the ingredients used in the tablets (these are listed in section 6. Further Information)
• suffer from myasthenia gravis (symptoms are abnormal muscle fatigue)
• suffer from optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve which may result in partial loss of vision and pain)
• suffer from the blood disorder haemoglobinuria (symptoms are dark red or brown urine)
• suffer from tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sound in the ears)
• are pregnant or breastfeeding (unless considered absolutely essential by a doctor).
Take special care with Quinine Sulfate tablets if you:
• suffer from an irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation)
• have heart disease
• suffer from severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD), this can cause episodes of anaemia after eating certain foods such as fava beans (favism) or
certain drugs including drugs to prevent malaria and dapsone
• have had malaria for a long time
• you should not take more than the prescribed dose as a condition called 'cinchonism' may occur even with normal doses. Please see section 4, 'Possible side effects' for symptoms of cinchonism and tell your doctor if you experience any of them.
Taking other medicines:
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or
have recently taken any of the following medicines or any
medicines obtained without a prescription, especially:
• anticoagulants such as Warfarin (used to stop your blood clotting)
• chloroquine, mefloquine or halofantrine (used to treat malaria)
• flecainide, digoxin, quinidine or amiodarone (used to treat heart conditions)
• pimozide or thioridazine (used to treat some mental disorders)
• rifampicin or moxifloxacin (antibiotics)
• barbiturates, carbamazepine or phenytoin (medicines to treat epilepsy)
• drugs to treat diabetes
• ciclosporin (used following transplant surgery and to treat various inflammatory diseases)
• drugs to treat HIV infection such as ritonavir
• suxamethonium (a muscle relaxant used in surgery, tell the anaesthetist you are taking quinine tablets)
• drugs to treat fungal infections such as ketoconazole.
If you see another doctor or go into hospital, let them know what medicines you are taking.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
• You should not take Quinine Sulfate tablets if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you think you have become pregnant whilst taking Quinine Sulfate Tablets or if you intend to become pregnant.
• Quinine Sulfate tablets should not be used for night cramps during pregnancy.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or operate machinery if you experience any problems with your vision while you are taking this medicine.
Important information about some of the ingredients in Quinine Sulfate tablets
The tablets contain lactose and sucrose. If you have been told that you have an intolerance to some sugars, please check with your doctor before taking these tablets.
3. How to take Quinine Sulfate tablets
• Always take Quinine Sulfate tablets exactly as your doctor has told you.
• The dose your doctor has prescribed may be slightly different from the usual doses stated below.
• You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• The tablets should be swallowed with a drink of water. Dosage
For the treatment of malaria
Adults, the elderly and children over 12 years: The usual dose is 2 tablets every eight hours for 7 days.
Children under 12 years of age: The dosage will be determined by your doctor according to the bodyweight of the child; this dosage should be taken every eight hours for 7 days.
For the treatment of night cramps Adults and the elderly: Take 1 tablet at night.
If you take more tablets than you should:
Emergency help is required as an overdose is very dangerous. Contact your doctor or nearest A & E department immediately, as further medical treatment is essential.
Take your medicine in its original packaging with you in order to enable the doctor to identify your medication easily. Signs of overdose include convulsions, sickness, nausea, headache, ringing in the ears, deafness, effects on eyesight, rashes, abdominal pain and confusion.
If you forget to take Quinine Sulfate tablets:
If you forget to take a dose, take another dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose then do not take the missed dose. Never double the dose to make up for the missed dose.
4. Possible Side Effects
Like all medicines Quinine Sulfate tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking the tablets straightaway and contact your doctor at once if you:
• experience an itchy skin rash, wheezing, generalised swelling or swelling of the lips, face or tongue. These are signs of an allergic reaction to quinine
• are bruising easily, have frequent nose bleeds or other unusual bleeding, notice a reddish or brown discolouration of your urine, appear paler than usual or feel weak, or have more sore throats and infections than usual. Your doctor may want to take a blood test
If you are particularly sensitive to quinine you may experience any of the following symptoms. Consult your doctor if these effects are troublesome or continue:
• ringing in the ears
• deafness
• headache
• dizziness
• feeling sick or being sick
• visual disturbances
• abdominal pain
• feeling confused or agitated
• diarrhoea
• fever
• flushed skin
Other side effects include:
• low blood pressure
• low blood glucose levels
• muscle weakness
• a reduction in the function of the kidneys
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Quinine Sulfate tablets
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Tablet Containers: Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original container. Keep the container tightly closed.
Blister cartons: Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package. Keep the blister in the outer carton.
Do not use the tablets after the expiry date shown on the label or carton.
Do not keep any tablets that you no longer need. Take them back to your pharmacist.
6. Further Information
What Quinine Sulfate tablets contain
• The active substance is Quinine Sulfate 300 mg.
• The other ingredients are Lactose, Colloidal Anhydrous Silica, Potato Starch, Magnesium Stearate, Sodium Starch Glycollate (Type A), Sodium Laurilsulfate, Gelatin, Talc, Sucrose and Titanium Dioxide (E171) and Carnauba Wax.
What Quinine Sulfate tablets look like and the contents of
the pack
• The tablets are bi-convex, white and sugar coated.
• The tablets are supplied to your pharmacist in packs containing 28, 56 or 500 tablets, who will then provide you with the required number of tablets as prescribed by your doctor. (Not all packs may be marketed).
The Marketing Authorisation Holder is:
Dalkeith Laboratories Ltd., 2 Park Street, Woburn,
Bedfordshire, MK17 9PG.
The Manufacturer is:
Bristol Laboratories Ltd., Unit 3, Canalside, Northbridge
Road, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 1EG.
Leaflet revised May 2015.
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