What Is the Effect of Quinine Pills on the Pulmonary System?

Quinine is a prescription drug that is sold under the Qualaquin brand name. Doctors prescribe this drug to treat malaria, an infectious disease that is caused by a parasite and is spread by mosquitoes. Malaria is a common public health concern in southern Asia, Africa and South America. Quinine users may experience serious side effects in the pulmonary system and other parts of the body.

Pulmonary Effects

• Quinine users may experience pulmonary effects including breathing that is shallow or weak, according to Drugs.com. Chest pain and other breathing problems have been reported by patients who took this drug. These breathing difficulties may be accompanied by fluttering, pounding or rapid heartbeats. Individuals who experience pulmonary side effects while they are treated with quinine pills should stop using the medication and seek prompt medical assistance.

Other Side Effects

• Patients who are taking quinine to treat malaria may develop serious side effects that require immediate medical help including vision or hearing problems, reduced urination and fever. Abdominal pain, severe vomiting and diarrhea may occur with this drug. Patients who take quinine may notice headaches, sore throat and a loss of appetite. Stools may develop a clay colored appearance and the eyes and skin may turn a yellow color.

Allergic Reaction

• Some patients are allergic to quinine and may develop a serious or life threatening allergic reaction to the drug during treatment. Individuals should get prompt help from a doctor if they develop skin hives. The face and lips may become noticeably swollen during an allergic reaction to quinine. Patients may also experience throat and tongue swelling.

Warnings

• People with a history of a medical condition called Long QT syndrome should not take quinine. Individuals with a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase should refrain from using this medication. Patients with optic neuritis or myasthenia gravis should not use this drug. People with liver disease, kidney disease or low blood potassium levels may require dose adjustments or special monitoring while they are receiving quinine treatment. Individuals with heart rhythm disorders or heart disease may also require special monitoring of their quinine treatment.

Drug Interactions

• Quinine users should only take antacids under a physician’s specific guidance. Antacids can reduce the amount of quinine that the body absorbs. Patients should not take quinine concurrently with migraine headache medications such as zolmitriptan or sumatriptan, blood thinning drugs such as warfarin, and cough medicines such as dextromethorphan unless a doctor has specifically approved this combination of medications. Common medications such as atorvastatin, cimetidine and ranitidine may also interact with quinine.