Quinidine Sulfate Side Effects
There have been reported side effects with patients taking quinidine sulfate on a regular basis. Side effects that have been reported are diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain or cramping, burning sensation in throat or chest, eg. heartburn. It is advised to consult with a pharmacist or doctor upon these side effects occurring on a persistent basis.
More serious side effects have been severe dizziness, irregular variations in heartbeat and fainting. Other serious side effects included are vision changes, pain in the muscles and eyes, intense sweating, and shakiness which might be a sign of low blood sugar. A patient who might be getting an allergic reaction from quinidine sulfate may experience rash, swelling and itching of the throat, face and tongue, dizziness and having trouble with breathing.
It is strongly advised to consult with a doctor if adverse reactions experienced by a patient include signs of infection, unexplained fever and chills, easily getting bruising and bleeding, chronic sore throat, tiredness, dark coloration of urine, vomiting and nausea, yellowing of the skin and eyes, or lupus like symptoms such as pain in the muscles and joints, variation in the amount of urine, and chest pain.
A distinct kind of reaction can occur from even a single dose of this drug which is called cinchonism, which can result in ringing of the ears and hearing problems, blurry vision, confusion and headache. As a result of these symptoms, it is strongly advised to consult a pharmacist or doctor as soon as possible, as the dosage may need to be adjusted.
Quinidine Sulfate Treatment and Use
Quinidine Sulfate | Quinidine is marketed in the US by Mutual Pharmaceutical Company, Inc., and is prescribed specifically for the correction of disturbances in the rhythm of the heart such as atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia and atrial flutter. Its classification is that of an antiarrhythmic medication and can only be prescribed by a doctor. It has also been known to treat malaria. It is derived from the bark of a tree in Peru called the cinchona.
There are 3 actions which enable quinidine sulfate to work as an antiarrhythmic and to stop arrhythmia from occurring again. It decreases the speed of the electrical current which travels through the heart muscle which causes its cells to contract. It lengthens the period in which heart muscle cells become electrically stimulated to contract and prolongs recovery after contraction during which the cells can’t be contracted through stimulation. Quinidine sulfate was approved by the FDA in 1950. It can be administered orally through a pill or be given by injection.
Before or during a heart physician prescribes a patient quinidine sulfate, they usually give them warfarin, which works as an anticoagulant and doctors have also been known to prescribe beta-blockers like metoprolol to alleviate blood clots and slow a patient’s pulse. When administering quinidine sulfate, a doctor usually gives a test dose to see if the patient might have an adverse reaction to it. It is strongly advised to take the medication on an empty stomach and it also advised to not lie down after taking this medication for 10 minutes. The amount of sodium a patient ingests also plays a crucial role when it comes to this medication, so it is advised that a patient should keep a regular correspondence with a doctor when it comes to this medication.
