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Quinine Hazards

Quinine is a drug made from the South American cinchona tree. It's marketed in the United States as quinine sulfate under the brand name Qualaquin. The Food and Drug Administration has approved quinine for the treatment of malaria only. The FDA warns that other uses of the drug have serious health hazards.

  1. Ingestion and Inhalation

    • The unauthorized ingestion or inhalation of quinine sulfate can affect the cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Ingestion can produce drowsiness, lethargy, confusion, weakness, stomach pain, irritability, ringing in the ears, headache, chest pain, pale or yellowed skin, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flushed skin, skin rashes and allergic responses. Large ingested doses of quinine sulfate can lead to heart and respiratory failure. If quinine is accidentally ingested, induce vomiting immediately and seek medical attention. If quinine is accidentally inhaled, move the victim to fresh air; if she isn't breathing, give artificial respiration.

    Skin and Eye Contact

    • Quinine sulfate is also extremely hazardous if it comes in contact with skin or eyes. This can cause skin rashes, irritation, redness, pain, purple spots under the skin, blisters, peeling, vision loss and other problems. In case of skin contact with quinine sulfate, flush with soap and water for 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothes and wash before re-use. Remove contaminated shoes and clean well before re-use. In case of eye contact, flush eyes with water for 15 minutes, lifting lower and upper eyelids occasionally. Seek medical attention immediately in case of skin or eye contact.

    Pre-existing Conditions Precluding Quinine Use

    • Though quinine is approved as a treatment for malaria, it's not recommended when you have certain pre-existing conditions. These include heart disease, heart rhythm disorders, low potassium levels, kidney disease, liver disease, low QT syndrome, myasthenia gravis, glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency -- G-6-PD -- and inflammation of the nerves of the eye. It's not known what effect quinine sulfate has on unborn children. Malaria patients should make sure their doctors are aware of any of these conditions before taking quinine sulfate.

    FDA Recommendations

    • According to the FDA, the number of prescriptions written for quinine sulfate each year far outnumber the possible number of malaria cases -- which means doctors are prescribing the drug for other uses. One of the most common is leg cramps, but the FDA warns there is no scientific evidence to show that quinine is effective in treating cramps. According to the FDA, doctors also prescribe quinine sulfate to treat diarrhea cramps and musculoskeletal disorders. FDA data show that some people have had to be hospitalized when treated with quinine sulfate for reasons other than malaria.

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