Quinidine (Systemic)

Brand name(s): Cardioquin

Proper Use of This Medicine

Take this medicine exactly as directed. Do not take more of this medicine and do not take it more often than your doctor ordered. Do not miss any doses.

Taking quinidine with food may help lessen stomach upset.

For patients taking the extended-release tablet form of this medicine:

• Quinidex Extentabs or Biquin Durules-Swallow the tablets whole; do not break, crush, or chew before swallowing. Note that Biquin Durules may sometimes appear as a whole tablet in the stool; this tablet is just the empty shell that is left after the medicine has been absorbed into the body.
• Quinaglute Duratabs or Quin-Release-These tablets may be broken in half; however, they should not be crushed or chewed before swallowing.

Dosing-

The dose of quinidine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of quinidine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The number of tablets that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are taking quinidine.

• For regular (short-acting) oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For abnormal heart rhythm:
    • Adults-200 to 650 milligrams (mg) three or four times a day.
    • Children-30 to 40 mg per kilogram (kg) (13.6 to 18.2 mg per pound) of body weight per day. Your doctor may increase the dose if needed.
• For long-acting oral dosage form (tablets):
  • For abnormal heart rhythm:
    • Adults-300 to 660 mg every eight to twelve hours.
    • Children-30 to 40 mg per kilogram (kg) (13.6 to 18.2 mg per pound) of body weight per day. Your doctor may increase the dose if needed.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For abnormal heart rhythm:
    • Adults-190 to 380 mg injected into the muscle every two to four hours. Or, up to 0.25 mg per kg (0.11 mg per pound) of body weight per minute in a solution injected into a vein.
    • Children-Dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For malaria:
    • Adults-10 mg per kg (4.54 mg per pound) of body weight in a solution injected slowly into a vein over one to two hours. Then, 0.02 mg per kg (0.009 mg per pound) of body weight per minute is given. Or, 24 mg per kg (10.91 mg per pound) of body weight in a solution injected slowly into a vein over a four-hour period. Then, eight hours after the first dose, 12 mg per kg (5.45 mg per pound) of body weight, injected slowly into a vein over a four-hour period, and repeated every eight hours.
    • Children-Dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose-

If you miss a dose of this medicine and remember within 2 hours of the missed dose, take it as soon as possible. However, if you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage-

To store this medicine:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
• Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.

Last Revised: 5/26/1999

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