Content
Quinine was the first drug to be used to treat malaria, having been later replaced by chloroquine, due to its toxic effects and low effectiveness. However, later, with the resistance of the P. falciparum to chloroquine, quinine was used again, alone or in combination with other drugs.
Although this substance is not currently marketed in Brazil, it is still used in some countries to treat malaria caused by strains of Plasmodium resistant to chloroquine and Babesiosis, an infection caused by the parasite Babesia microti.
How to use
For adult malaria treatment, the recommended dose is 600 mg (2 tablets) every 8 hours for 3 to 7 days. In children, the recommended dose is 10 mg / kg every 8 hours for 3 to 7 days.
For the treatment of Babesiosis, it is usual to combine other medications, such as clindamycin. The recommended doses are 600 mg of quinine, 3 times a day, for 7 days. In children, daily administration of 10 mg / kg of quinine associated with clindamycin is recommended every 8 hours.
Who should not use
Quinine is contraindicated for people with allergies to this substance or to any of the components present in the formula and should not be used by pregnant or lactating women without the doctor's guidance.
In addition, it should also not be used by people with glucose -6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, with optic neuritis or a history of swamp fever.
Possible side effects
Some of the most common side effects that can be caused by quinine are reversible hearing loss, nausea and vomiting.
If visual disturbances, skin rash, hearing loss or tinnitus occur, one should stop taking the medicine immediately.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- BOULOS, Marcus. CLINICAL EVALUATION OF QUININE FOR THE TREATMENT OF MALARIA BY PLASMODIUM FALCIPARUM. Magazine of the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine. Vol.30. 3.ed; 211-213, 1997
- LABESFAL. Quinine. 2014. Available at:. Accessed on 02 Apr 2020