Health Library Quinidine Gluconate for MalariaFrom Healthwise

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.

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.

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

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.)

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.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF)(What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

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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