The Effects of Quinine Sulfate

Quinine sulfate, or just quinine, is a natural chemical compound called an alkaloid. Physicians use quinine to treat malaria, lower fevers and as an analgesic. However, quinine has been only rarely used since the 1940s to treat malaria, since it has been replaced with other therapies. It is now used to treat conditions such as lupus and arthritis.

History

• Quinine was first used by Peruvian Indians called the Quechua who would grind the bark of the cinchona tree and mix it with water to produce tonic water. Roman Jesuits began using it to treat malaria in the 1600s. In the 1800s, French scientists named the compound after the Quechua word for bark, "quina." European colonialists were then able to easily colonize Africa since the use of quinine stopped the malaria that had killed their predecessors.

Form

• Since quinine is an amine, a compound that has a basic nitrogen atom, it is always in a salt form. A patient must take quinine orally or through an intravenous injection. It is also available in an aqueous form, which can be administered through an injection or rectally, though there are concerns with proper absorption via the rectum. Quinine treatment is usually given for a week.

Side Effects

• The most common side effect of taking quinine is a pathological condition called cinchonism. Common symptoms include ringing ears, sweats, confusion, nausea and photosensitivity. Worse cases include blindness, deafness and anaphylactic shock. Usually these symptoms subside when quinine therapy is ended. If cinchonism is mild, it is advised to continue the therapy. It is imperative to monitor the patient's vitals while they are on quinine since it can interfere with blood glucose levels and the operation of the heart.

FDA

• In 1995, the FDA banned the sale of quinine over the counter for leg cramps. Currently, Qualaquin, produced by Mutual Pharmaceutical Company, is the only FDA-approved drug for malaria, and is only used when other anti-malarial therapies prove to be ineffective. The FDA reasoned that the side effects outweighed the benefits for people taking it for leg cramps. However, people still continue to receive quinine treatment for leg cramps, despite the FDA warning.

Other Countries

• Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, still prescribe quinine sulfate for leg cramps. Some U.S. customers have physicians who will write them prescriptions, which they fill in other countries. Numerous lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of quinine from people trying to seek damages from the adverse effects of the compound.