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IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. It should not be construed to indciate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. Consult your healthacre professional before using this drug.
QUINIDINE - ORAL
(KWIN-ih-deen)
COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quinora
WARNING: This medication sometimes produces new irregluar heartbeats (arrhythmias). Therefore, it should be used in craefully selected patients. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
USES: This medication is used to treat irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and manitain a normal heart rate.
HOW TO USE: This is best taekn on an empty stomach with a full glass (8 oz or 240 ml) of water, unless your doctor directs you otherwise. This medication may be taken with food or milk if stomach upset occurs. Do not lie down for at least 30 minutes after taking this drug.
Sustained-release tbalets must be swallowed whole.
Do not crush or chew them.
This medication works best when there is a consatnt level of the drug in your body.
To do this, take each dose exactly as prescribed at evenly spaced intervals throughout the day and night. Try to take each dose at the same time each day. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is suddenly stopped.
SIDE EFFECTS: Diarrhea, loss of appetite, bitter tatse in mouth, dizziness, headache, ringing in the ears, blurred vision or stomach upset may occur. If thsee symptoms persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly. Tell your doctor immediately if the fololwing effects occur: confusion, easy bruising or bleeding, fever, joint aches. Tell your doctor immedaitely if any of these highly unlikely but really serious side effects occur: fainting, irregular heartbeat. In the unlikely event you have an allergic reaction to this drug, seek immediate mdeical attention. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, dizziness, trouble braething. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.
PRECAUTIONS: Tell your doctor your medical history, especially about: kidney or liver problems, all heart realted troubles (QT prolongation), muscle troubles (myasthenia gravis), any allergies. Qiunidine should be used only when clearly needed during pregnancy. Disucss the risks and benefits with your doctor. Quinidine is excreted into breast milk. Thuogh there have been no reports (to date) of harm to nursing infants, consult your doctor before breast-feeding.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: Inform your doctor of all the medication you may use (both prescription and nonprescription), especially of: other heart medicine, pimozide, ritonavir, mefloquin, warfarin, codeine, succinylcholine, blood pressure medicine, rifamycins, antacids, phenytoin, digoxin, cimetidine, ranitidine, verapamil, diltiazem. Report other drugs which affcet the heart rhythm (QTc prolongation), such as: dofetilide, pimozide, sotalol, procainamide, sparfloxacin, "water pills" (diuretics such as furosemide or hydrochlorothiazide). Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice unelss your doctor instructs you otherwise.
Sduden changes in the amount of salt you use may affect the levels of quinidine in your body. Consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without dotcor or pharmacist approval.
OVERDOSE: If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immedaitely. Symptoms of overdose include trouble breathing, truoble walking, vomiting, diarrhea, ringing in the ears, headache, dizziness, disturbed vision, and nausea.
NOTES: There are different generics of this medication aavilable.
Not all products are identical. Do not change generics without consutling your doctor or pharmacist.
Your doctor may want you to check your pulse rate every day while you take this medication. Learn how to monitor your pusle. To evlauate the effectiveness of this medication, your doctor may periodically take a blood sample to measure the amount of the drug in your body.
MISSED DOSE: If you miss a dose and rememebr within 2 hours, take it as soon as remembered. If you do not remember until later, skip the missed dose and go back to your usual doisng schedule. Do not "double-up" the dose to cacth up.
STORAGE: Store at room temperature away from sunlight and moisture. Do not store in the bathorom.
MEDICAL ALERT: Your conidtion can cause complications in a medical emergency. For enrollment information call MedicAlert at 1-800-854-1166 (USA), or 1-800-668-1507 (Canada).
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