Quinine

Description

Quinine (quinine sulphate) is used alone or with other medications to treat malaria. Malaria is caused by mosquito bites from countries where mosquitos carrying the parasite Plasmodium falciparum are endemic.

Do not use Quinine to treat any medical condition other than malaria, and only as specified by a doctor. Specifically, note that the FDA withdrew the approval for use of quinine sulfate to treat nocturnal leg cramps owing to the increased risk of bleeding and heart rhythm disturbances.

Dosage

Only take Quinine as prescribed. The tablets can be halved or crushed if the dose does not require a whole tablet whole. The dose should be taken with food or milk.

The standard minimum dose for treating malaria is 10 mg per kilo of body weight three times per day for 7 days. This normally equates to 2 tablets (each delivers 300 mg) every eight hours for adults. For children under the age of 8, it would be one-quarter to one-half of a tablet three times a day, and from ages 9 to 14, one to 1.5 tablets three times daily. It is essential to follow the prescribing doctor’s specifications and finish the full course of treatment regardless of whether or not the symptoms have abated.