Details

Quinidine affects the way that the heart beats. Quinidine is used to help keep the heart beating normally in people with certain heart rhythm disorders. To make sure you can safely take quinidine, tell your doctor if you have slow heart rate congestive heart failure a serious heart condition such as "sick sinus syndrome" kidney disease liver disease low levels of potassium or magnesium in your blood a history of "Long QT syndrome" if you are on a low-salt diet or if you have ever had an abnormal electrocardiogram or ECG.

Typical Uses

Quinidine is used to treat or prevent many types of irregular heartbeats (heart arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation). Quinidine can greatly improve your ability to perform normal activities by decreasing the number of irregular heartbeats you have. However, it may not stop all your irregular heartbeats completely. It works by blocking abnormal heartbeat signals. Before and while you are using quinidine, your doctor may prescribe other medications (e.g., "blood thinners"/anticoagulants such as warfarin, beta blockers such as metoprolol) to shrink any blood clots in the heart and to slow your pulse. Quinidine may also be used to treat malaria.

Side Effects

Quinidine side effects may include vomiting and diarrhoea ringing in the ears, hearing loss, severe dizziness feeling like you might pass out changes in vision, pain behind your eyes, increased sensitivity of your eyes to light white patches on your eyes cloudiness in the pupils or iris of your eyes a new or a worsening irregular heartbeat pattern pale or yellowed skin, dark coloured urine, fever, confusion or weakness nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, clay-coloured stools seizure (convulsions) easy bruising, unusual bleeding (nose, mouth, vagina, or rectum), purple or red pinpoint spots under your skin or bronchospasm (wheezing, chest tightness, trouble breathing).

Drug Interactions

• Quinidine+alfuzosin- Using quinidine together with alfuzosin can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Quinidine+atomoxetine- Using quinidine together with atomoxetine can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a relatively rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances.
• Quinidine+bepridil- Using bepridil together with quinidine is not recommended. Combining these drugs can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, or fast or pounding heartbeats during treatment with bepridil or quinidine.
• Quinidine+gatifloxacin- Using quinidine together with gatifloxacin is not recommended. Combining these drugs can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, light-headedness, fainting, or fast or pounding heartbeats during treatment with quinidine or gatifloxacin.

Mechanism of action

Quinidine acts as a class I antiarrhythmic agent and belongs to class of medications called sodium channel blockers. It works by regulating the abnormal heartbeat in patients with heart rhythm disorders.

Pregnancy Category : C